New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-27
BRITISH PUBLIC DEPRESSED
OVER NEWS FROM NATAL.
DEPRESSION CAUSED BY THE DEATH
OF GENERAL SYMONS AND
THE CAPTURE OF
THE HUSSARS.
rBY CABLE TO THE rRpuSEl

news at midday that General SymOns was "e""
Medical men and the officials had placed niue
hope in the slight rally reported in his eohnl-
ton but the pu)c mind was more mercu''d
and Mr. Wyn1ham's announcement OF the emu
was received in the House Of Commons with
sudden start and in silence. all the members eN-
ccpt a small group Of irreconcilables uncovering
and by the whole country with sorrow and dis
Appointments The feeling OF public irritation
was more subtle. and not wholly exrlicabe on
the ground Of the capture OF the Hussars There
was conviction that the courage and skill OF
the British troops which have drawn forth en-
comiums from the English press, have been
doubtfuly expended in the engagements or Glen
coe and Elandslaagte, when 1t was uncertain
that it was necessary to defend these points,
which have been abandoned by the concentration
Of the troops at Ladysmith
The depression caused by the war news in
many circles is a unreasonng reaction against
overconndence. The field force in Natal has
not met with disaster. II has won three battles
and has greatly increased It's fighting power by
the concentration OF its forces and the ahan-
donment Of an unscientihc plan Of defensive
operations Unpleasant as 1t may be for club
men to hear that squadron Of Hussars is in
Pretoria like Or. Jameson. under guard; that
the guns reported to have been captured at
Glencoe were not taken; that the wounded were
left behind at Glencoe and that killed. wounded
and missing in three battles number nearly seven
hundred out OF twelve thousand under arms, 1t
still remains true that the British have won
every battle, although they have been greatly
outnumbered by the enemy
STRUCTURES ON WAR OFFICE UNJUST
Structures upon the War Office for issuing de.
ccptive bulletins are unjust The authorities
acted properly in suppressing information when
a retreat was ordered from Dundee and even IN
creating the erroneous impression that Glencoe
was the point Of concentration instead OF Lady
smith. Lord Wolseleys commentaries upon the
dispatches which it was imprudent 10 publish
were not as lucid Casars military notes but
they served the purpose OF filing the pauses
until the junction Of the two forces could be
Effected The main fact is that General Yules
retreat was rendered unavoidable by the bad
rlan Of military defence which had been adopted
by General Symons before General Whites ar
/ rival in response to the urgent solicitations OF
| the Colonial authorities in Natal. I am Informed
On high authority tnat the military staff con-
! sidered Ladysmith as the real position Of de-
fence and heavily fortified it. but that they only
expected to hold Glencoe temporarily. They dii
not intrench the camp strongly and anticipated
withdrawal from it in the presence Of over
whelming numbers.
While this explanation Is made after the re-
treat. and consequently g open TO suspicion OF
being lahored apology it is probably correct
Certainly the War Office should not be criticised
for the rigid censorship of news when the neces-
sitv for it has been proved by General fule ;
march across country under conditions when
rendered publicity dangerous.
Tho war co-respondents continue 10 send be-
lated accounts Of battles fought during the week.
bnt they are not allowed ~ tell the news Day
bv day nor 10 give any information IN time 20
be retelegraphed 10 South Africa for the oeneht
of the Boer generals.
prominent member Of the Foreign Office re-
marked 10 me last night: Those Indian soldiers
are ant 10 treat war too much like football
match Men can be TOO used to desperate meas
nres You can have too much Victoria Cross
Standard
POLITICAL. RESULTS OF THE FIGHTING
on the other hand. 7 find that the foreign
military critics now IN London praise the british
nerforn,ance as not only admirable in design ana
execution but I'm the features OF a well con-
sidered whole since the importance or an early
demonstration Of the British fighting quality
must have influenced powerfully the Boer gen.
erals and men Politically. moreover the erect
e daily apparent in the modified behavior OF the
Cape Dutch
Dr Ievds is busily contradicting the rumor OF
q nrobable attempt Of the Transvaal to capitu-
late on the best terms II can get learn from
q trustworthy source that the statement OF the
great numbers Of the Boer forces given In the
e,ro,.,r and to some extent in the English press,
and attributed TO Leyds had purpose behind
q His object IS believed 10 be attempt by
,,flft Of ROprq
still to be reckoned with, to induce England in
rho event Of General Whites being defeated
hy 1oubert's army. which undoubtedly outnum-
hers the Natal field force in the proportion OF
: 10 2 into accepting some sort Of a compromise
nv which the inevitable humiliation Of the
rransvaal may be much lessened. The strength
of the Boer forces is known at the Colonial or
fee where It was pointed out yesterday that
Leyds's contention that the Free States had
thirtv-ave thousand men in the field is OBJ
,,,ouelv untrue since there was such number
Of men capable Of bearing arms
Gereral Joubert now receives more credit than
he probably deserves for brilliant tactics. HIS
general plan OF attack was admirable Dut i's
execution was poor and the retreatng ror'e was
auo,,ed 20 retire almost without observation
and certainly without interference. NO au-
,,ontage was taken OF the opportunity OF mar
- :, T., ,hs retreat and overwhelming IL In
H. onan country. The Beers most useiui
s.,ouAs uere the colonial politicians. VINO IN
oist.d that Glencoe must be occupied TOT the sane
y, protecting the coal fields The british he''
farce was divided and retreat rendered neces-
sarv By an mpracticable line OF defence Inc
80 consequently are able 10 boast that they
have driven the British out OF upper Natal
o,,red one Of their two strongholds and broken
un their first line Of defence. With the wounded
AZ their mercy in Dundee and with the Hussars
locked UP at Pretoria they can all sing Halle
lujah."
MAY BE DELAY IN AFRICA
The irri,ated Briton casually remarks that the
British system OF military organization ia work.
Ing well. but not with absolute perfection. There