The times., 1899-12-18
MONDAY. DECEMBER is. 1889.
The British sIiIisnry situation.


The British Military Situation.
IN the news that Sir Redvers Buffers
losses at the Tugela River fight aggregated
ten hundred and ninety-seven men. we find
fuli oorroboration Of the view that the al
fair was a disastrous defeat. and not
mere repulse. British opinion appears in
clined TO acquit the general -in-chief OF all
blame in connection with the loss Of the
eleven guns and 10 lay it entirely on the
shoulders of his chief OF artillery. Colonel
Lcng. We are not prepared to say that. ac-
cording 10 the art of war as it is prac-
1ieed by the British army in the field. this
officer is net TO be rsprehended for rush
ing his guns TO the river front. IN the ab-
sence of positive knowledge that the
ground was clear Of enemies
As far as the details OF the engagement
have been given in our dispatches. Long
artillery was not attached to any Of the
brigsdes in action. He does not appear 10
have been under the orders CT Hildyard
Har. or Lyttleton. but like each one OF
them his movements seem 90 have been
directed personally by Sir Redyers Butler
II so then it would appear to have been
the duty Of that general 10 provide a
thorough reconnaissance of the precarious
position into which a vital part Of his ar
liIlery was TO be rushed. before ordering
its advance. If 10 this ii be objected tha,
Longs reputation as a trained and scien-
Ji6c officer in his arm Of the service iusri-
fed Butler i'm assuming that he would
take all the precautions with which he
general stan is charged in armies where
strategy is studied and applied ana tactics
regarded in action. then We have only
Jo remark that such an assumption on th,.
part Of q Geld commander would not ey-
euse him for disastrous consequences oG
his personal confidence In the service OF
Germany, Russia, or the United States
The south bank OF the Tugela n0toricusly
offered cover for an enemy. II was not
held by the British vanguard II had NOT
been secuted for the reason that the adj
vance did not occupy CoIensC station until
shortly before Long went beyond it. The
conditions should have been notice 10
Butler not 10 permit the forward move
menJ of the guns. until scouts or sBirmish-
eEs had been sent over the area between the
ion and the river bank IL is possible
that orders in accordance with This view
had been given 30 Long. and that he dis
obeyed them If so that unfcrtunat officer
has forfeited his reputation has inflicted
q serious blow upon his country. and the
same conduct in any European army would
instantly result in his degradation and
summary execution. The unhappy blunde7
is as yet far short Of a satisfactory ex-
PLANTATION.
While Butler was attacking The t'vo fords
near C0ienso. where was Clery? As We
zeuuured to suggest on Saturday, il is
very probable that the frontal attack was
designed as only a part Of a more com
prchensire plan. and that simultaneous
turning movement was assigned to CleTy
somewhere perhaps toward the Zwarls-
berg. Naturally. this IS only conjecture.
bur the effort % secure the western ford
on The Dewdrop Road may have been in
tended as step toward a general con
centrati0n on the south OF Ladvsmith
The reports from the British headquarters
in Natal do not account for Ciery. and
seem to Indicate that Butler did not have
with him anything like the fun strength
81 the relieving column which, before the
fight, must have amounted 10 twenty
thousand men
An interesting question IS thus pre-
scented. and one which may be answered
today or tomorrow, or not at ALL II
Clery was detached with flying column
Frere TO Dewdrop. and was in communica-
tion with Butler. so that he could learn
Of the C0lenso disaster before developing
his part Of the play. then probably he was
promptly recalled and 1t may be a long
time before We shall hear anything about
the matter II be had not heard of the
reDulse and had struck the Beers, the fact
doubtless would have leaked out by now.
i only remains TO be said that in London.
Yesterday. military writer's in close rela-
lions with the authorities were saying that
sir Redvers Butler stin has five batteries
~ artillery. and that be might stlll con
slider himself strong enough to maintain
the aggressive. a successful flank attack
on JOuberts right. by CIery, would rem
der him so AS that is quite unexpected
81 might happen. Otherwise. we are bound
10 regard the first campaign Of the Trans
Haal Har as closed with huge advantage
10 the Beers. Since 1t opened at Glencoe
on the twentieth OF October, the British
losses have been, In killed. wounded, and
prisoners, six thousand eight hundred and
nfty-tWo. and nineteen guns.
There is one mystery il connection with
The movement Of the war during The past
two weeks, which appears to be cleared
up by the latest British admissions. Il
is now confessed that the disaffeotiou or
the Cape Colony Afrlkanders has been
much more widespread. active, and dan
Eerous than the censored news from Cape
Town has disclosed: and that the Dutch
farmers have been focking 10 the Boer
standard by thousands. One English
authority declares. We are now facad by
superior numbers II every point" Il is
easy TO believe that such q state OF affairs
would sufficiently account Tor the strength
q Cronje, Duplessis. and Delarraye in the
west, without the Necessity OF Assum ng