Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-12-02
Criticize the War Office.

New York, Dec. "A dispatch to the
Tribune from London, da ted December 2,
says: There is a remarkable absence of
news from South Africa this morning,
and as the cables are working satisfac-
tofity it is clear that the continued ig-
norance of the public concerning the
fight at Moader river is not the result
Of accident. Nothing is vet intinatcd.
even as to the probable extent of the
damage to the British or that inflicted
on the Beers. It was stated at the war
office last night that dispatches had been
received from General Butler, but they
We're not issued to the press. 1t is men,
toned that the rank and file casualties
at Moader river had not been received
Ihe embargo on war news when the
two relief columns preparing for decisive
battles beyond the Tugela and Modder
has enabled Mr.. Chamberlain to com
mand the attention Of England The aft
terday from the morning press and the
weekly journals today ring the changes
upon this new rendering of Lord Sails
burNs simple theme that lInglanls rela-
tons With both the Emitted States and
Germany were all that could be desired.
Mr. Chamberlain is neither diploma
tist nor Il lawyer. but he knows what is
going on in the world and how to make
practical use OF the opportunities fer in
fluencing public opinion at home and
abroad. He has directed attention Ia
the good feeling now existing between
Anglo-SaNon and Teutonic races as a
fact of Worldwide Importance. and
thereby he has helped to strengthen it.
He uses the phrase triple alliance" only
to Qualify 1t in the next breath by re-
ducing it to an understanding based
upon the common interests to which
Mr.. Reid referred at the New York
chamber of commerce dinner. and Mr..
Choate and everybody else are talking
of the good feeling existing. Mr. Cham
berlain may not be a diplomatist bat
in this instance he has helped TO clear
the atmosphere and brnS the three coun-
tries into closer and more hcIDfu reIa-
tions.
The delay in the publication of the
casualty list and full details of the bat
tie of Modder river has not only pro-
longed and deepened the anxiety of the
sWarms of visitors to the war office but
it has also revived criticism Of the short
comings Of the military staff responsible
for the organization of the army corps
and the direction of the campaign Lord
Methuen's last battle remains a mystery,
but it is plain that it would have been
won more easily if the British army had
been supplied with more horses and field
pieces, and especially with howitzers
that We're capable of firing lyddite shells.
There is much fault finding over the de-
lay in sending out howitzer batteries and
the neglect of the admiralty 10 supply
rapid sea transports for artillery of
every class. The war office has no es-
plantations to offer and military writers
agree that this WAS a serious flaw in the
preparations for the campaign
hn In. Af nIo
airy is another obvious point of criticism.
but the military staff viii have q clear
line of defense against this charge. 1t
contends that India could not b, stripped
of its cavalry service and that this
branch was too small to meet the
urgency of the war in South Africa.
There will be a strong effort made
when parliament meets to add several
regiments of lancers to. the army and
to convert some battalions into mounted