The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-12-20


Butler:
sour losses in the battle on Dec. Is |
were: Officers and men killed, 80;
wounded, 667; missing, 34S.
1.-The foregoing includes Z officers
killed, Al wounded, Ia prisoners and
missing"
LONDON, Dec. 17.-Amid the gloom
and grief which overwhelmed England
} yesterday, the confidence in the final
triumph of the British arms throughout
South Africa remains mistaken. The
determination to win regardless of the
cost, is, however, coupled with another
grim resolve, namely, to fix and enforce
the responsibility for the disasters
which have brought the darkest days
Great Britain has known within the
memory of living man. This purpose
is not directed 30 much against the in
competency OF the commanders in the
field, which all agree is painfully obvi-
oue, but against some of the officials
who plunged the country into war
which it was not prepared to meet.
The BRUSH authorities, both at home
and in Cape Colony, confess that they
were surprised at being obliged to
fight both the South African Republics
instead of one, and also at the strength
of the Boer armament. There is no
excuse for ignorance on either of these
points. The one feature whereof they
may fairly plead partially excusable
surprise is the size of the rebellion in
Cape Colony itself. This has now
reached appalling proportions. No ca
BILE Information concerning it is allow
ed to reach London, but there is abun-
dant intelligence in the many mail ad-
vices received, showing that Cape
Dutch Afrikanders in thousands have
been joining the Boer standards in the
past few weeks.
Dispatches indicating the number of
Beers engaged in the battles of the cur
rent week make it clear that the Boer
forces are many thousands greater
than their own resources explain. This
week of British disaster will almost
certainly spread the rebellion to a large
part of Cape Colony, and then Gen
eral Methuen, General Gatscre and
General French will be menaced al
most as seriously in the rear as in
front.
This is the most serious feature OF
the situation and the one ich mos,
alarms this distressed country. The
weeks campaign has practically ended
in the complete defeat of the British
arms. An entirely new campaign on a
new basis must now be undertaken
All military men now recognize this
Not single British column is now IL
condition to act Extensively except a.
desperate risks. The new situation Of
virtual civil war above described has
changed everything. Gen. Methuen
first of all, cannot remain where he is
He must advance to Kimberley or re
treat to the Orange River. The Boert
themselves expect him to retreat.
he should succeed in reaching Kimber
ley it would almost be playing the Doe
game, for he carries only few day s
provisions and his communications will
the Orange River would, unquestion
ably, be cur. Incipient civil war al
ready exists behind him and the Boer
in rapidly increasing numbers are as
sembling near the Orange River, which
is his supply base. Gen. French
force is not large and the enemy nov
has all the prestige of success all alons
the line. There are already rumor
that Gen. Gatacre is menaced in tn
rear and his communication with EAs
London endangered. Gen. Butler, il
the meantime, cannot safely move un
til his lost guns are replaced and tn
whole British army in South Africa i
woefully weak in tr.illery and also il
cavalry. Moreover, the indication
now are that he will be unable to re
leve Lidysmith until he is strongly re
inforced in all arms.
A move which all military men adj
wise and one which is obviously tn
best from all but the political point o
view is the immediate seizure of Dela
goa Bay and the Invasion Of the Trans
vaal through Portuguese territory. Tn
Foreign Office still hestates to n ak
such move. Perhaps it viii be evel
less inclined 10 no so now In view o
the weeks terrible humiliation of Brit
ish prestige, as the move would furnis
the necessary excuse, if any power i
waiting for such an excuse, for de
handing voice in the quarrel. II
however, tie Continental situation Is a
secure as Lord Salisbury declared
month ago, then it would seem tina
the emergency quite justities an actor
which would greatly simplify the mill
tary problem.
The first necessity is the prompt DIES
patch of more infantry, artillery an
cavalry. Great Britain must Low Fl h
not only two Beers republic, but
half-Iebellious colony. 1t is alread
known that the offers of colonial as
sstance, which at the outbreak of tn
war We're treated with scant gra,ilud
by the war office, are now thankful
accepted. The forces now under or
ders to go to South Africa viii brin
the army under Gen. Butler up TO 1870
600 men. Good military judges, a
} we'll as almost unanimous public opin
ion, favor increasing this total by flu
army corps, drawn from the militia an
fir III colonial sources.
The appalling list of British casual
ties, taking only the official reports
has mounted during the fortnight fror
$50 to 6,26l, and this, with Gen
, Buffers losses and the supplemental
lists of other engagements sull t