The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-01
NAP OF the rERnrroRr INVOLVED IN THE wAn

demand for reprisals against the commanders
or the Government Gen. Whites manly as
SUMPTION o, all responsibility checks It in one
case. and It Is too early 20 eIpect reaction
against the Government.
Forebodings OF worse 20 come and anxiety
as to the details OF the present disaster are tho
main features OF tho public mind at this
moment All the military authorities agree
that the situation OF Gen. Whites force at
Ladysmith Ia precarIous Its capture or an nj
hllatlon 10 by no means impossible. and such a
blow to British prestige might easily have
grave consequences elsewhere as we'll as In
South Africa,
Gen. Whites despatch telling Of the disaster
10 dated Ladysmith. Oct 30. 1l:35 2. NJ. and
says:
Il have to repor; disaster TO the column
rent BY me 70 take position on a hill an guard
pur left flank The troops In those operations
'o-iay-the Royal Irish Fusiliers. No. 10
Mountain Battery and tho Gloucsstershirs
Eegiment-had to captulats. The casualties
have not yet been ascsrtained.
"A man belonging To the Irish FusIlIers and
employed as a hospital orderly came in under
a flag Of truce with a letter from the survivors
who asked assistance to bury their dead. |
fear there 10 no doubt o'the truth oiths report
y formed the plan in the carrying out OF
which tho disaster occurred and am alone re-
sponsbe FOR that plan. No blame can be at
tschei 10 the troops. rs the position was unten-
abe. The list included forty-two officers. one
newspaper man and two battalions o. troops"
The prisoners captured include Star- MAJOR
Adv. one lieutenant colonel. six majors. Ave
eap'ains. twen'y-nine lisutenants. a chaplain
end q uswspaper correspondent named Hyde.
Five ~ these are wounded.
There Is divergence OF opinion In military
af. -. NJ l.
withdraw from Ladysmith and fall back on
fisternaritzburg, tho capital OF Natal. or act
strictly on the defensive until he 10 relieved by
Gen Butler.
Gen. Wehbvr Wolseley. who was Quarter
naS'er-G.neral in the South African campo On
o. 1919, said In an interview to-day that with a
superior force marching against him Gen.
White had M option but to take tho offensive.
Nobody. unless on the spot. could Justly Judge
the situation. He would not venture TO crlti-
else, though he knew the country well. Tho
public must RENE m Der that they. through their
Political representatives, had placed 10000
men in the POWER OF 10000 equally good
fighters,
Gen, stephen Chamier. Of tho Royal Artillery.
retired. accused Gen. White OF a serious error
o'!uagment In sending troops out In tho dark
ness. ami said that such course was danger
Gus, almost negligent.
The number OF men captured Is estimated at
1000.
LONDON. Nov. The newspapers do not at
tempt TO conceal the gravity OF tho disaster.
which, they contend. must act as
warning and as an incentive In the flu
ture, especially as tho enemy will be
greatly encouraged by their success. Gen.
Whites past record and his present chivslry
d!sarm much criticism and elicit sympathy.
AIlthA "a ofpf frnn he vi n nn
that the present reverse will not affect the ulti
mate result
The Standard says: 1T cannot be doubted
thhta grave error was made. nor IL military
knowledge needed to recognize the character
o'the blunder. The position in which tho lost
battalIons were posted was radically vicious,
AMI precautions to cover their retreat
were not taken. Moreover. they were
not kent In touch with tho column. Gen.
White Ia now on tho horns OF q dilemma.
II lie retires down tho railway he
will have to abandon his wounded and his
stores. II he stays In Ladysmith the road will
be cut. II II Is not cut already. and he will be
Isolated"
The bai'y Netos's military expert ascribes
n" disaster to neglect OF cavalry scouting
The battaiOns were thus cut Off from COM
mNnichtion, Nothing was easier than for tho
boer. to surround them unseen. The sit
uNton was precisely such rs to favor the tactics
OF the Beers
This Ne'cS says edtorlaly that Lord Rose
be'ys remark that the war would not be =
small one will now be made more than ever
good The capture OF the bsttalions will un-
donbtedly tand to prolong the struggle. by
ih'ang the spirits and encouraging the
hopes OF the enemy who. In any case. are
sure 70 be resoute and courageous. and who
are already able with much justice 10 point to
very considerable success. Tho reverse. the
pAp'r adds Will only increase tho determine
won of the British to see tho war through to the
ler"s'ay aud inevitable end,
Inc R""ng Post. reviewing the operations
declares that little moro daring on the part
OF me enemy would have sufficed to make
haI business much worsa.g as he could
rracI'aUy have put himself between Gen.
"h'e and Ladysmtth. 1t adds: The lesson
mas Deem severe. but we hope We have