The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-11-05
Wheeling the Winner.

wise of the criticisms passed upon Gen.
White, it is palpable that he no longer
possesses the confidence Of the public
that he may be fully able to withstand the
attacks of the superior Boer force, and
may be ready at any moment to execute
a mastery retreat, but as long as he is
cut off from communication with the
outside world there will exist terrible
anxiety regarding the welfare of the 1000
or 5000 men of his command.
The most optimistic believe that a fort
night IS the minimum in which reinforce
ments Of any pOtentiality can be pushed
to Ladysmith, and then 1t may be too
late. 1t is this interim, embittered by the
vivid memory of recent disaster, which
will test the temper of the British nation,
which, as a whole, can be said to have
embarked IN the war with stupendous
over confidence, and which has now
awakened to the realization of the fact
that If Gen. Whites force is annihilated
& will cause an indefinite prolongation Of
hostilities, though, 1t is said here, Of
course, 1t can only be q temporary and
not ultimate result. The British taxpay-
er, however patriotic, objects to a long
against a people whom he has been
brought to believe immensely his inferior.
AS a matter Of fact, granting Gen.
White possesses the qualities Of fair gem
eralship, there are many reasons to be-
HeVe he will be able to hold out until
reinforced, even If completely surrounded
1t is presumed he has employed the past
weeks IN Strengthening his position with
earthWorks and trenches, which, when
manned by such fighters as the Gordons
and Irish fuSileers, cannot be taken with
ont terrible struggle. His artillery has
now been reinforced by the naval brigade
and even if it is not a match for that Of
the Beers, should be able TO keen the
enemy from coming to too close quarters.
He has an abundance of stores and an
parently has been favored by good
weather. Combining these advantages
with the military truism that the oppor-
tunity to select your own position is half
the battle won, 1t is said that there seems
to remain to Gen. White fairly even
chances Of holding his own in spite of
the report that he is outnumbered two or
even three to one.
BRITISH STOICISM
The weeklies exhibit no little self-satis
faction at the British patriotism aud
stoicism as evidenced by the recentior of
the news of the Ladysmith disaster. The
puD1c uLteranceS of public men CuIlv
justify this feeling, and the same can be
Ea:d Of the majority of the more serious
published comments. But beneath this
!, splendid steicism there has prevailed in
all classes a feeling Of intense chagrin
and Gmazement, such as has not stirred
Great Britain in century, and it has
frequently been coupled with the bitter
est abuse of Cen White, the, man held
responsible for the unparalleled surren
der of such a British force to such an
enemy.
The only redeeming feature of the
weeks operations in the opinion Of the
majority is the work of the naval bri
gade. The difficulties which must have
been encountered in getting the guns over
the country, and even when at Lady
smith IN getting them properly mounted,
cam we'll be magined, while the resources
employed can be gagged by the fact that
the carriages were constructed at q
wheelwright's yard at Durham, by naval
artifcers. These guns. from the British
cruiser Powerful, have 2,200 feet initial
velocity, while that of the army pieces
at Ladysmith Is only 1900, and of nearly
two miles less range. The dramatic and
opportune arrival of these guns has
caused the navy's praises 10 be loudly
sung These are coupled with admiration
for Gen. Whites generous acknowledg-
clent of the help from the other arm
It is amusing to note how often the
British correspondents report the Beers