The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-11-12

Beers VIII Not Miss the OppOrtu-
nifty for Administering n Telling
Blow by Routing or Capturing
Gen. White-StnrtIing News From
Front Expected soon.
Copyright by the Associated Press)
LONDON, Nov. u.-As each day and
zach week of the war draws to a close
without a decisive action at Ladysmith
the probability that the Beers will risk
nm assault upon that garrison becomes,
IT is said, more and more imminent. In
fact it is claimed that the campaign
seems TO have reached a stage where it is
absolutely necessary for the Beers to de-
liver a telling stroke Unless they de-
ride to do this their only alternative Is
to retire within their own lines and
strengthen themselves against the i'm
pending onslaught by superior numbers.
That the latter course will be followed
without first making a determined at
tack to oust or capture Gen. White
seems out of all reason.
Gen. Buffers cablegrams indicate that
the campaign has been we'll planned and
the main objective mapped out. Even
If the Beers discover they are likely to
meet with determined resistance, it is
hardly likely that they will give up their
impending prey without a determined
struggle. Already they may be tasting
the delights Of victory and reveIling in
anticipation of a still further conquest
over the main unit opposing them, which
alone would have great moral effect
in persuading them to risk much
against Ladysmith but now 1t is too
late for them to change the main OBJ
jective. .....
Mobile as are the Beers they could
scarcely transfer the body of their forces.
which are at present concentrated about
Laaysmith, to any other vulnerable Brit
ish point, without running the risk Of en-
cOuntering superior numbers, which are
already pouring northward. Moreover,
any weakening Of the Boer force at Lady
smith would give Gen White a splendid
opening, and even against overwhelming
odds he had shown no hesitation in ac-
cepting every opening for assuming the
offensive.
BOERS' TINE SHORT.
p The Beers must know, just as well as
the British military authorities that
twentythree transports will arrive in
South Africa before Nov. 19.-They must
also realize that their time is short, for
in the emergency it is believed Gen.
Butler will not wait to organize an army
corps, but will content himself. with
rushing to the front every regiment he
can dispose of. Hence news telling of
Gen. Joubert's complete rout, or Gen.
:;
daily.
It's believed the encounter at Lady
smith will prove the most important con-
f1ict of the campaign. If victory rests
with Gen. Joubert it will be a month
before Gen. Butler can dispute with him
the possession of Natal, for while it is
still feasible to send reinforcements to
Gen. White, it would be absolutely i'm
possible to assume the offensive if Gen.
White was no longer a military factor
The destruction Of the railway bridges
would seriously affect the onward march
even minor reinforcements, while it
would seriously affect the onward march
of any considerable British force
However, there is no reason to believe
that Ladysmith is not in position to
Withstand the most determined Boer at
tack. Gen. Whites ability to hold his
own UP to now, and the successes attend
ing his sOrties, hav5 done much to re-
store confidence in him. If Gen Butler
has ordered transports TO Dunbar and
will disembark them, Gen. White will
only have to wait a fortnight before he
receives reinfCrcements, or, at any rate
before the reinforcements create a di-
version with the Beers. But if it is
found impossible to make rapid progress.
IL
ports, which have developed q remarkable
penchant fo" breaking down after leaving
port, or that their coal or other supplies
are worthless, the delay may be protract-
ed. But Gen. White may not be content
to wait On this score the naval and
military record says:
1T looks as though Gen. White will not
be content to await the arrival Of rein
fo"cements, and the supremacy Of Gen.
Fuller. But the spirited soldier who held
high command over the whole Indian
army might be pardoned for being slight
ly influenced by personal ambitions"
CRITICISM OF GEN WHITE.
Nearly all the authorities, while with
holding decisive criticism until further in
formation is obtainable, fail to see wbv
Gen. White did hot retire back south of
the Tugela, thus drawing the Beers into
the arms of Gen. Butler. 1t is charitablv
supposed that the government of Natal
exercises influence over Gen White and
is to a degree responsible fer his gallant.
yet, from strategic point of view, doubt
full, efforts to hold the mex of Natal But
1t is held that no general has been ex-
onerated in history merely because he
allowed his actions to be hampered by
civil government to which he was not
directly responsible. Naturally, there
was a great division of opinion on this
point. One of the most humane con-
tributions to the controversy comes from
Gen. Butler, who writes:
"I am loath to give an opinion on the
merits of the case, though my opinion
is that Gen. White has done difficult
duty well On enc point there can be no
doubt-that Gen. Sir George White has
proved himself to be a gallant and chiv-
alrous gentleman"
Gen. Butler expresses better than any
expert criticism, the feeling Of the nation.
The general opinion is that Ladysmith is
not in so great peril as last week, caused
by the nations renewed confidence in
Gen. White and the lack of bad news.
This applies equally to Mafeking, Kimber-
ley and other points. The popular and
expert impression now is that these places
and Ladysmith will not fall into the hands
of the Beers, though some people add it
Is hard to see any grounds for making a