The Topeka state journal., 1899-11-04
BRITISH ALGER.
He is Lord LansdOWne, the
Secretary For War.
Held Responsible For Disaster
In Africa.
A CASE OF MILES.
Commanding General Of the
Army Overlooked.
BritOns Surprised That They
Have Done So Well.
CASE OF MILES.

Copyright, 1899, by Associated Press.1
London, Nov. Almost the only sub
ject of discussion this week IN England
was the disastrous reverse suffered by
General Sir George Stewart White, the
British commander at Ladysmith, and
this was made the occasion for pouring
out torrents of lay criticism and advice.
Public opinion seems fairly divided. one
section bitterly blaming the general
commanding and the other maintain
ing that he probably is not SO much at
fault as he made himself out. The lat
ter section, which includes many ser
vice men. and nearly all the service
publications. urges the Withholding of
definite criticism pending more detailed
accounts The Naval and Military
Record, after expressing this sentiment,
sums UP the situation as follows:
considering the nature of the cOun-
try. the lamentable unpreparedness OF
England and the unWIIIlngneSS OF the
opposition to allow a British regiment
to go to South Africa until President
Kruger's ultimatum was received. it is
almost surprising we have been able to
hold our own so far. No only have the
Beers proved themselves determined
fighters and splendid sharp shooters, as
we knew them to be, but they have de-
velOped. surprising military and stra-
tegic qualities.
They have nearly surrounded every
garrison we hold. and have invariably
occupied almost unassailable positions,
fighting with great courage. Against
such fighters our little force left iso-
lated, far from our base and without
hope of relief for days to come, has not
only done splendid work, but has gained
successes which we venture to believe
no other soldiers in the world, placed in
similar positions and in similar unfit
conditions, could have achieved"
A STORM GATHERING.
Although this may fairly be said to
represent conservative military opinion,
its reference to the action of the opp0si-
ton as preventing the sending of troops
in good time is entirely erroneous. Since
the first news of the Ladysmith dis
aster reached England, there has been
a storm gathering over the head, not
of Sir George White. but of the sec
retary of state for war. the Marquis of
Lar sdOwne. and this ma1ates not so
much from the opponents of the gov
ernment as from it's Warmest support
ers. Some of the ablest of the latter
have no hesitation in saying privately
thai almost criminal neglect has been
shown in not sending at least 10000
more troops before or by october 4. and
that if Lord Lansdowne's hands were
tied bv higher powers, he ought to eX-
culpate himself beyond the shadow of
a suspicion.
The failure to send out troops enough
can not be charged to the opposition
for parliament was not then sitting
If there were any intention to hold
Natal at all costs an adequate force
should have been sent out by October 4.
when the excuse that such reinforce
nents might be taken by the Beers a s
a menace no longer held good, as the
Indian troops We're already on the way.
Hearing these criticisms in unexpect-
ed quarters. the correspondent of the
Associated Press repeated them to a
high government official. While non
committal regarding the failure to send
reinfOrceInents earlier, this official de-
clared that the broad lines of policy af-
fecting Natal had been much misun-
derstOod.
I'VE are often asked said he. why
we sent Sir George Stewart White up
the neck of the Natal until we were
sure he could hold it. Considering the
tremedOuS reinfOrcementS now on the
way to him, it occurs to almost every
body at first sight that we ought to
have retired without risking engage
ments: but it is forgotten what would
happen in Natal unless we made Wig
Orous stand there.
Natal has risked her little all on be
half of the empire; and the least we can
do is to risk something ourselves and to
prevent the Overrunning of her pros
porous towns and rich fields by hOrdes
of the enemy. Purely military consid-
erations, L admit, might point to the
fact that we ought Immediately to have
withdrawn from our advanced positions
but purely military COnSidera tiOnS have
some times to be subordinated to the
interests of the empire. and although
many good lives have been lost in the
SHORTAGE OF SURGEONS
The acceptance of the offers of Sir
William MacCormack, DR.. Frederick
Treves and other eminent civilian sur
geOns for service in South Africa has
drawn attention to the serious under
manning of the army medical staff. The
total strength of the department is only
$40. which is 20 per cent below the fig
ures of 40 years ago and actually so
officers below the absolute minimum
decided upon in 1884 This state of af-
fairs is due doubtless to the insufficient
compensation offered.
Several small detachments of country
yeOmanry are going out independent of
the war office to the seat of war on the
chance of joining the imperial light
horse Lord Lonsdale and Lord Harris
both yeOmanry officers are aiding this
movement. Heavy losses among the
British officers in Natal have led the
Military Journal to suggest that the
sword be abolished not only on account
of its uselesSneSS but also because its
glitter attracts the aim of an enemy
and indicates the officer
Her majesty, it is reported. has Der-
sonally conveyed to Field Marshal Lord
Garnet Wolseley an expression of her
qualification at the manner in which
the whole military machine has worked |
since it was first set in motion by the |
Boer ultimatum, especially in the mat
ter of mobilization Apparently the
of the chief-a IaDse of
memory to which the public is now
rather prone and which so it is said tho |
Marquis Of Lansdowne committed in
tentionally.
FOREIGNERS WATCHING.
Although agreeing that the mobiliza-
ton, 50 far as it has been carried is /
well done, the foreign military at