Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-11-01
THE BRlToNs DAzED.
Absence of Further Reports Leads
Morning Papers to speculation US
to Extent of Disaster.

Absence of Further Reports Leads
Morning Papers to Speculation us
to Extent of Disaster.
London. Nov. An ominous curtain
has again descended upon affairs in
Natal. No dispatch, except the official
kilograms OF Gen. Sir George Stewart
White. has thus far been permitted to
mention disaster and no telegram from
Ladysmith has been received since the
advices from the British commander.
This gives rise TO the belief that com
munications have already been cut, in
which event some time must elapse be-
fore details regarding the British losses
are received. If the war office officials
have received information on this
point. they have refrained from pub
fishing it. Gen. Whites estimate that
the British losses We're about ninety
was evidently quite separate from the
probable losses in killed and wounded
among the captured battalions.
On this point there is the greatest
suspense among the relatives of the
prisoners. 1t is supposed that the
stampeding of mules meant the carry
ing away of the reserves of ammuni-
tion and that the troops capitulated
carried.
In the absence of news the morning
papers are reduced to speculation as
to how the disaster occurred. The gen
eral opinion is that a misuse of cav
airy was the real reason for the fall
into the Bocr trap. Apparently there
was no cavalry to watch over the safe
ty of the missing column. The Morn
ing Post pointing out how near the
British were to a "still greater disas-
ter says: I'm capturing the column
the Beers also had the Devonshire reg
iment at their mercy and little more
daring would have made bad busi-
ness much worse and seeing that a
force strong enough to scoop up a
couple of infantry battalions could
have nut itself practically between Sir
George White and his camp we may
be very thankful that things today are
not more serious than they are. The
lesson has been severe one. 1t is
humiliating to find a nation of farmers
beating soldiers at their own game, but
the sooner proper respect Is had for the
Boer strategy and tactics the better for
our fortunes in Natal.
This SOLDERING note Is struck by all the
morning papers. together with express
sions Of determination to carry the
matter through at whatever cost.
The Daily Chronicle in an editorial
on the situation, says: I'm view OF the
patent failure OF the campaign and the
terrible humiliation of the British
army we can only vaguely hope that
Gen. Sir George White In the hard days
that lie before him, may be able to hold
Iadysmith A retreat would be an un-
dertaking which the Imagination falls
to grasp. II this war Is to be a war OF
vengeance, we shall have to wipe out
the disaster before which the memory
Of Matuba Fill fades away. The em-
pire is face to face with the repulse
comparable only to the surrender OF
Burgoyne to the embattled farmers OF
orr American colonies. If the catastro-
nhe calls forth something better than
music hall patriotism we may come to
reckon 1t as timely lesson we'll earned
for the good of our souls.
The Daily News says: If 1t is found
possfble to move the stores, Sir George
White will probably be ordered to with
draw from Colenso. If the order Is no,
given 1t will be because the removal OF
the stores Will be too risky
The Morning Post calls attention tc
Sir George Whlte use Oh the Woto
..capitulation." remarking that 1t sus-
meets the word was used carelessly. 4
says: eve prefer to assume that the
column fought until 1T was cut te
pieces and all the ammunition wa:
gone. Capitulation is word of shame
Troops in the field can not capitulats
without disgrace, and disaster is no
necessarily dishonor."
The Times says: I'VE have met witt
considerable reverse. 1t is for the
nation to show that 1t can bear i'll for
tune with courage and dignity"
There is no general desire evinced OF
the part of the morning papers to criti-
else Sir George White harshly, pend
ing the arrival of further details. Or
the contrary the disposition Is to ad
mire his manly courage in assuming
the full responsibility.
While minor reverses In South AT
rica were not wholly unexpected, moth
ing like the staggering blow Gen. Jou
bert has delivered to Whites forces wa
anticipated. The full extent of tn,
disaster is not yet acknowledged. If it Il
known, at the war Office. The loss II
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