The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-12-12
DEFEAT OF GA7ACAE.
London Critics Had Him Sized Up wrong al
the Beginning
THE Beers ARE SHOWING ADAPTABlLlIi
ro,ti,uc to Fight In Their own
Wny. But they HIVE lie"
the British Methods.

New York December. ia dispatch TO
the Tribune from London says; Wnen the
amy corps first went out TO Africa, Cen
eral Gatacre was generally regarded ~
military circles as the strongest OF 'lS
three division commanders. General Meth
uen was called 1.-The ideal guardsman anu
tactlclan of the parade ground General
e,erv was known as 1.-THE schoo'uaster IN
strategy owing 10 his connection VITA
the staff college and with manuals on nii-
tary science and also as the best dresser
officer in the army and the most popular
ciub man and epicure General 1'a'.'rs
had tho reputation Of being seasonel
soldier who had seen more military serVite,
than either of his colleagues ana had u'he
brilliant work in Chitral and IN hSEpV
hefore omdurman. Both Gatacro ana
Nethuen were known as military martinets
,yho expected the men under them to WORK
hard, whereas Clery was less rigorous
discipllnarian ana more considerable IN MS
treatment Of his soldiers
General Clery has not yet had snow To
demonstrate his strategy and GeheFul
/ Nethuen has so far proved to be poor
tactician. although a strong hgn'er anu
fine enemy has not been able to entfap any
norton of his force. General Gatacre has
shot his bolt and the best that his admir-
ers can saw Is that South Africa has always
been the graveyard of military regulations
If General Gatacre RECEIVERS his prestige'
it will be because sympaNhy Is eNclteu ny
premature attacks like that made ny boFn
durham Yesterday, who. in the safe retire
ment of "A fat stock sale luncheon de-
scribed Gatacre as man unnt TO cnm-
mand troops in South Africa
General Younghusband and other mill
tary experts who were Wiling to discuss
the question publicly yesterday ssA.tente'
themselves with laying stress upon thS
necessity of having cavalry FOR scout
ing and with explaining Gatacre's motive
of surprising an entrenched position "hei
he did no. consider himself strong enough
TO force by frontal attack as sound one
Later details of the retreat from Storm
berg do not prove easier reading for Eng
lishmen that Gatacre's first bulletin,
which was ruItailed by the war office am
rendered uninteligible What hurts Tn
Englishmans pride is the humiliating fac
that battalions famous for lighting as w
Fifth and the Royal Irish Rifles are. viii
historic records of splendid service in tn
peninsula campaign, in the Lucknow an
in recent campaigns down to 0mdurmon
have been entrlpped aud forced TO sur
render. Notwithstanding the warning fror
the Nicholson Mex and the Majuba hill
battles.
The Dutch warriors for their part, dis
play remarkable fexibiity. While con
, tinuing TO fight in their own way. The
have learned that the British open battle
with artillery fire in order to clear groun
for front attack and they adapt them
selves 20 these tactics by suspending gu
fire and holding back rifle volleys unit
they can be most destructive. They liav
: also found out that the British command
, ers attempt to surprise their positions h
!. forced marches at night and they get thei
foes in well placed ambuscades