Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-11-30
MUST Do HARD FIGHTING.
Trying Hours Ahead For Brit
ish in Transvaal.
MORE TROOPS NEEDED.
A Second Army Corps Likely to Be
Sent to South Africa at an Early
Date-General Methuen Will March
on to kimberley-Heavy Fighting
For Both Sides.


London, Nov. 2S.--It will not be exag-
serating to say that it is the confident
public belief that the tide has now
turned in South Africa. that General
Methuen will march almost unopposed
TO Kimberley. that Gen. Gatacre will
soon drive the Orange Free Staters
across the Orange River toward Bloom
fontein, and that General Butler viii
start within few days with an in
vincible force to the speedy relief of
Estcourt ana Ladysmith. Opposed TO
this optimism is the most sanguine
military view of the situation, namely,
that Gen. Mcthuen must fight a far
heavier battle at Modder River than he
fought at Belmont, and even then the
relief of Kimberley will not be assured;
that General C;atacre, after being heav-
lily re-enforced, must successfully pros
ccute difficult campaign against
Stormberg and other Boer Strongholds
before he can force the enemy back,
and he must employ large portion of
his force to Subdue the rebellious Cape
Colonists. Eut Gems. Methuen's and
Gatacre'S tasks are easy compared
with the ordeal before the British army
in Natal. Even the patriotic English
masses understand in a vague way that
bloody work is ahead in the difficult
Natal passes.
No account is made in this general
survey of the problem of serious com
plications threatened by a Basuto ris
ing and the urgent necessity for the re-
lief of Col. Baden-Powells gallant lit
tie force at Mafeking. The natural
popular demand for the latter action is
unjustified and impracticable from the
point of view of cold, military science.
The progress of an eXpeditionary force
to Kimberley and Mafeking through a
hostile country of more than zoe miles,
where the enemy is in great force must
necessarily be slow.
In the light of all these hard facts II
is generally admitted by all whose
opinion is valuable that Great Britain
must prepare herself for some trying
hours and sad sacrifices before the
final triumph of her arms.
A second full army corps should bc
sent out at the earliest moment. There
is no official announcement to this
feet, but there is some reason to Le-
lieve that such is now the Govern
ment's intention. Two-thirds of the
transports which carried the first coFrDs
ports before the fresh troops are ready
to sail, and these, with the important
additions to the fleet, like the Majestic
will probably start off for South Africa
within two or three weeks.
4 prominent German general and
staff officer, in friendly criticism. has
been telling the British authorities in
the Times how grave is the necessity
for sending large re-enforcements to
South Africa. He atiirms from positive
knowledge that the Beers are able to
put &C, 600 men in the field. Against this
force the English have 10000 men.
From these, he points out, must be de
Quoted those needed to keep open the
requisite base lines as we'll as the
forces necessary for checking risngs IN
Cape Colony and for garrison duty III
the chief centres. He adds: Il hold
the opinion, one which is freely shared
Ivy brother staff officers, that not less
than 10000 to $4,000 men will be alb
sorbed by such necessities, leaving 80,
600 to 10000 for active military opera
tions. 1t must be further taken into
account that majority of the men
are unused TO the climate and an un-
usual percentage of sickness must be
expected. The local geography is a
sealed book to most of the British and
an unusual number of reserve men
must be pressed into use before the
English are in military condition nee
cSsary for such campaign. l do not
consider that our German view is jus
titled, viz; How can England expect to
crush u force of at least $4,000 Beers
with an army of 10000 available for
offence. when we consider that these
$4,000 Beers are acclimatized and know
every yard of the country and its ca
pacities for traps for the bravest Eur
opean troops? They shoot admirably
and they are manoeuvred with an as
tonishng strategical ability.
An experienced war correspondent, In
despatch mailed to escape the CEN
sor, predicts that by the beginning of
December 10000 British Dutchmen Will
have Joined the invading Beers He
adds that every Boer commando that
has come on British soil has been like
II rolling SNOWFALL, increasing as il
moves. The same correspondent says
that all the staff officers With whom he
has discussed the situation agree in
fixing the middle of March for the end
of the campaign.