New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-22
WAR TALK IN LONDON.
STIRRING DAYS FOLLOW WEEKS OF
WEARISOME SUSPENSE.
NATIONAL ATTENTION RrvETED on GLENCOE
AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS RULERS
PLANS IN SOUTH AFRICA.
tcopyrtgh,. 1899: IN. Associated Press1

some period Of procrastnation and suspense
which preceded the outbreak OF the war Par
lament has quickly and dramatically sanctioned
the momentous action OF the Cabinet. the first
battle worthy OF the name has been fought and
the army corps. England's greatest military
effort In this century. is now on the way. bent
upon administering an eternal quietus TO south
African unrest.
The thrilling scene IN the House OF Commons
OF member Of the Cabinet making an impas-
stoned defence Of mis- own honesty AGAINST the
imputation OF deliberately involving England IN
war: the far reaching significance OF the intima-
ton by the cautious Prime Minister that Eng
lands rule throughout the whole OF South
Africa must be absolute. and many other strik-
Ing points in an epoch making week have been
almost entirely obscured by the overwnelming
interest Of the sharp meaCre bulletins bearing
date at Ladysmith that tell Of victory and OF
how many died to gain It. Historians may dis
miss as insignificant the military operations
which have so far marked the progress Of the
war. but for the people Of England these and
those Of the immediate future have transcendent
importance.
ALL EYES on NATAL
Glencoe and Ladysmith irresistibly rivet ma
tional attention; and when the average Britisher
tires OF laudng the pluck that won tr'da!
battle and still keeps the flag flying over Male
king. he reverts to the universal query, What
viii White do next" Sir Redyers Butler, last
weeks IDEAL has almost passed out Of the popu-
lar mind although that General, despite the
fact that he is in mi1ocean and unaware or
what befell the Beers at Glencoe appears 70 De
the main factor in the situation. The Associated
Press is informed that his last act before ieaV-
ing ENGLAND was 10 cable Sir George Stewart
White forbsdding any British advance pending
the arrival OF che army corps.
II is understood in army circles that Genera
White believed hmsel: quite strong enough 10
advance through Lalngs Mex Sir RedveTs Bull
ler's prohibition. II carried out. resolves all
representations into the simple statement that
upon the extent OF Boer aggressiveness depend
the number and nature Of the engagements that
are to mark the next months AGhting.
Probably the Boer movement will be curoed
by the defeat at Glencoe bat it seems reasona-
he TO believe judging from the determination
and fanaticsm OF tie Boer forces. that they VIII
sooner or later-anyway before Buffers corps
takes the held-return 70 the fray with redou'
bled aggressiveness IN desperate attempt 70
break the backbone OF General Whites force,
having previously endcavored to weaken II oy
feint and flank movements Such supposl-
ton regarding the Boer plans Is based upon the
belief that Commandant General Jouberts main
objective is 10 break up or rout General Whites
command before the British achievements ar
rive But It IS possible the Willy Boer General
has carefully concealed strategy which he In
tends to carry out In an unexpected direction
end that the attack upon General White CD
Friday was merely intended to deceive the
British as TO the main objective. Trustworthy
news from the Boer side is so hard to secure In
London that it IS impossible to predict with
any degree Of certainty what the next few weeks
are likely to bring fortn.
The Associated Press learns that the plans OF
Sir Redvers Butler. subject TO finding on his
arrival that the complexion Of the campaign is
not entirely changed are to have four divisions,
each little army in Itself and each capable OF
meeting the full strength Of the Beers. AS his
force. Will exceed eighty thousand men. this is
regarded as feasible With three armies he in
tends to invade the Transvaal from different
points. personally leading the principal force
through the Free State. sending the other to
mold Natal
GUERILLA WARFARE PROBABLE
Expert military opinion is inclined 10 favor
single line Of operations unless the invader has
a tremendous preponderance Of strength Al
though few are willing to criticise General
Buffers admitted military genius without
knowledge OF the information upon which he
has based his estimate OF the Boer forces. there
is a growing feeling that the will eventu-
ally resolve itself into a guerilla campaign. and
many references made in this connection
to the progress OF the American forces In the
Philippines. Several Englishnen who have lived
among the Beers but are now in London
sert that the Beers will never stick 70 their
artillery, and there is a unanimous feeling
among those who know the Transvaal and its
Inhabitants that the Boer artillery will cut a
small figure only after the first month.
The explanation OF this is twofold In the first
place most Of the Beers are unaccustomed to
fight according to the methods required in con-
junction with heavy artillery; and. second. most
Of them armed with the rife only. Com
paratively few have bayonets revolvers or
swords. and 1t is a military impossibilty for
men to stand up against a cavalry charge un-
less they possess some arm in addition 70 the
rife Hence the only alternative when cold
steel threatens Is 10 desert the guns.
1t Is not believed that the Beers will suffer so
much by the loss Of artillery as might at first
he thought UnencumbeTe1 BY guns they re-
gain that mobility which In the previous war
proved such a thorn in the side of the British
organized troops.
A splendid instance Of the spontaneous CO.
operation Of army and navy is given In the
action Of Captain Lambton commanding the
British first class protected cruiser Powerful
while on the way to the Cape Calling at
Nautilus. he found a line regiment that had
been ordered to Durham unable ,eave for
want Of a transport. Without awaiting instruc-
tions, he EN- barked the whole regiment on board
the Powerful and landed them al Cape Town
making an extra quick passage for their benefit
SENSATIONAL JOURNALISM
The weekly papers and all serious minded
publications voice the general abuse Of the
sensational war reports appearing in the daily
press. especially in the London afternoon Jour
mails. The Speaker" after devoting a long
summary TO the numerous fakes perpetrated.
SAYS:
and all this from organs Of British opinion
which last year stood aghast at the crud.ties Of