The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-16
THE NEWS IN ENGLAND.
Great disappointment Over the Re
suit of Buffers First Fight.

Great disappointment Over the Re-
suit of Buffers First Fight.
LONDON, Dec 16. 4:SO a. m.-The news of
General Buffers reverse was received so
late that morning newspaper comment to-
day is confined to perfunctory expressions
of extreme regret and disappointment and
efforts to retrieve the position. This latest
check is regarded as the most serious event
in Great Britain's military history since the
Indian mutiny.
The Standard says: General Buffers
dispatch is deplorable reading 1t is the
now familiar story of concealed Beers and
of the British troops marching up blindly
almost to the very muzzles of the enemy S
rifles. 1t cannot be doubted that the moral
effect will be to aggravate our difficulties
over the whole field of operation. The
country has discovered with annoyance and
surprise that subduing Boer farmers is
about the hardest work we have entered
on since the Indian mutiny. Their COM
mandants have shown themselves able to
give our generals useful but expensive les
sons in modern tactics
The Times says: "Since the days of the
Indian mutiny the nation has not been
confronted with so painful and anxious a
situation. Plainly General Buffers ad-
vance is paralyzed for the moment as COM
pletely as Lord Methuens and General
Gatacre's."
The depression over the defeat of Great
Britain's trusted and idolized commander is
all the greater, as during the last forty
eight hours there had been reports of the
relief of Ladysmith. Yesterday the War
position of affairs in Natal was entirely
satisfactory The reaction is all the more
pronounced on this account
The gloomy information came too late to
reach the service clubs, and only a few
journalists and stragglers were waiting at
the War Office. 1t has hardly been realized
until now, even after the experience of the
week. that General Butler could fail vir-
tually nothing had been allowed to leak
through regarding his preparations, but the
public waited patiently i'm the confident be-
lief that he was taking such time and pre-
cautions as would insure success.
No Independent reports of the engage
ment have yet been allowed TO come
through, but General Buffers own dispatch
tells the sad tale in sufficient outline to
show that the British have been entrapped
again by the astute Beers. 1t was not an
ticipated that General Butler would make a
frontal attack. No criticisms of his move
ments are made. however, since apparently
he suffered repulse rather than a defeat,
and did not push the attack home, but
useless sacrifice of life. 1t is expected that
he will renew the attack shortly.
War Office decided to mobilize still another
division and to replace the losses of artil-
lery. The necessary reinforcements will be
hurried off as fast as possible Fifteen
transports are due to arrive at Cape Town
between Dee. II and Jan. s. with about 1900
troops OF all arms. but unless General Bull
Ter Is able TO renew the attack, which is
exceedingly doubtful. the British generals
will be compelled for another fortnight or
more to remain practically on the de-
fensive.
The latest dispatches indicate the con-
tinued bombardment of Ladysmith. whose
position is now periIous-
Maj. Gen. Sir Herbert Charles Cherm-
side has been appoirted to command the