Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-10-26
Complications Feared.

J New York, Oct. ga dispatch to the
Tribune from London says: 1t cannot
be doubted, whatever may be the attitude
of reticence or even denial on the part
OF officials that the superuous proper
! tions of the army dispat ched under
General Butler to the Cape, with the ac-
tivity that prevails, point to expectation
Of possible serious complications with
foreign powers. Russia and France are
the powers indicated. To have a Brit
sh fleet in readiness and to dispatch
a large force to the cape under COM
manding office, and staff who would dj-
rect British arms in the event of a Euro
pean war must be regarded as an eX-
tremely wise and prudent move on the
part of the government. The Persian
gulf is the point where it is most likely
that any active complications Will center
as in the event of war the Suez would he
i blockaded even With great fleets To keep
it open. The Cape is Enyia nd's natural
route ard half way route to India and
Persia.
If the secret history Of the nreselt
crisis could be told, it would be found
that the foreign offices Of Great Britain
ard Germany have never been on more
friendly terms. This fact must be taken
into account by those seeking To forecast
the future. Those most intimate with
the hiah officials of both countries state
that the ,etulant behavior OF section
of the German press toward Ensiaha'
while resented by the German foreign
Ollie, IS t,erided BY ths governing classes
of both countries. Germany and Eng
,,nd are acting together. and hone to
carry the moral support Of America with
them.
Meanwhile the channel neet is bound
fo, Gibraltar and the feaiaf6aef@ afilV-
,ity a the Gack wards POINTS to the nootll-
aation Of an,/ er tyins squadron where- e.
ever il may be needed and il will not be
n demonstration Of nava: force against
Germany this time.
Every day 5000 or 5000 troops 60 out
to the Cape, but the entire army corps
will be ahoat this Week. The usual
phrases are used by the military writer's
here 10 disguise the real nature of Gen.
Yule's movement from Glencoe 1t is
described as a scientific change of base,
a brilliant strategic maneuver. recon
noisanee concentrations X was, in re-
al;tv. a wall conducted retrea. from po-
<ifion which was occupied tor po1tlcal
ra ther than military reasons and which
Oeca me u]le1ldDit " mn th' ID tSi1i s,dt
risons 40 miles apart were naenaced by
a greatly superior force.
Similar unScientific tactics based on
political considerations nave involved
the defense of Mafeking on the western
border when military reasons are valid
for a concentrate tion of forces at himber
ley General Yule's retreat leaves the
Beers in undisnuted possession of the
upper triangle of Natal and enables them
after two defeats and third artillery
duel 10 boast that they have driven back
the British and broken up the first line
Of trenches. The British wounded
have been left in their hands and they
must have secured possession of con-
siderable quantity OF supplies and mill
tary stores al Glencoe. The Beers, with !
out winning a single battle OF skirtrC;h,
can claim the credit cf having forced
Yule to retreat and there is logic enough
in the situation to justify a feeling OF
elation.
Generals Yuie and Whites column
Were within three miles of each other
and virtually in touch al o'clock yes
terday. according to a var office bulletin
issued late in the evening. Runaors Of
a. great battle We're silancei hv this Off
cial repart since General White knew
nothing of an enga cement. The general ,
feeling of army officers is that the Boer
attack has failed and that British valor
has triumphed. The Boer strategy is
considered excellent.