New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-22
HLrTTlIED PESSINISM.
A COLD FIT FOLLOWS THE HOT ONE IN
GREAT BRITAIN DISMAL FORE
BODINGS ABOUT AFRICA.
Copyright: 1899: BY The NewYork Tribune.l
my CAnIr 10 TIE TRIBuNE.l

[BY CABLE TO TRIBUNE.l
London. Dec. 30, l a. ma cold it of sus-
p!ciousness and depression has followed the hot
ht Of patriotic ardor with which the country met
the Minister'S call to arms The embargo upon
news from the front leaves the newspapers under
pressure for filing their columns with croaking
criticism. explanations Of defeat. structures upon
oacial shortcomings and general pessimism.
aThe Daily Mail" and other journals by opening
their columns to popular discussion Of the
Methods Of conducting the war are enabling all
sorts and conditions of dispirited Britons 10
grumble aloud and sniff at the numerous Jonahs
who ought 10 be thrown overheard. Amateur
yrategists are advising the withdrawal of
Ns,huen's force from Modder River, the aban-
anment Of the Kimberley garrison to a hopeless
anggle against starvation. and even so desper-
sts an expedient as an attempt by White to cut
bis way south with the bayonet, since the Boer
line Of ntrenchments Is too strong to be attacked
again IN front The croakers are finding fault
with every branch Of the fighting services, and
are Joining in a frantic hunt after scapegoat
PLAYING lNlO LIZ I 1T = hH-NI'S.
More dismal and disheartenng reading could
hardly he invented by Dr Leyds's Press Bureau
,or the disbursement Of recruiting than the
English press. with few notable exceptions, is
supplying at a critical time when the nation
itself is pulsating with patriotism, when the
militia hattalons are volunteering for foreign
service and the Reservists are rallying 10 their
oolors. and when new imperial forces are being
organized from the yeomanry cavalry, cross
country riders and citizen soldiers. one effect
Of this doleful reading may be salutary. There
may be a relaxation Of the press censorship, in
order 20 give the newspapers employment less
harmful than wailing and gnashng Of teeth
Rigorous as that censorship has been, ii has not
prevented the publication Of reports that Lady
smith was short of ammunition. while IT has cut
on daily news from the armies that would have
Interested the public without benehting the
enemy II has rendered descriptions OF the
chief battles OF the war unintelligible. Buffers
battle remains mystery week after IL was
fought with a maze Of contradictions respecting
the various features of the engagement and
futile surrnses regarding the responsibility for
the loss Of the guns Englishmen have been
denied one of the most precious consultations for
defeat that Of reading detailed accounts Of the
gallantry Of their soldiers. and have been sur
tei,ed with generalizations upon the superior
mobility OF the BOer burghers and their complete
success in concealing their positions. so that a
hontal attack across exposed ground was
doomed 20 failure whenever an order was re-
eeiyed for an advance.
Proof that General Methuens communications
have not been cut behind him was supplied
Yesterday from the War Office in a short bull
etn respecting correspondence with General
Cronje over the arrest Of a British officer as a
spy Cronjes manners are OF slight conse-
q1ence in comparison with the importance Of
open communications between Modder River
md the base OF supplies. There is no evidence
nat General Methuen is preparing to retreat
70 Orange River, where his army would be as
Tseess as at the Modder, unless heavily rein
tcced for the invasion OF the Orange Free
Ste and cooperation with French on the
Oesberg line. Methuen remains in communi-
eation with Kimberley by fashght. AS the
htrenchments In front OF him have been eX-
tended right and left until they touch the river
al each end. maneuvrng now seems out OF the
question. and a frontal attack is his desperate
resource
General Buffers army is practically in the
same position. with single point OF difference
mat the river has not been crossed. Yet Bulier
ana White have more British soldiers than
Joubert has Beers
casually lists OF the battle are still coming
IN with an Increased number wounded in al
most every battalion and a formidable array
OF prisoners
THE ARMY CORPS TIED UP.
The opinion among military experts has be-
come general that both Butler and Methuen
nave been tied 70 the railway by failure Of
o'her methods OF transport by mule train and
wagons. and they have been unable this
account TO attempt turning movement and
compelled TO attack IN front precisely where the
invisible enemy was prepared 10 meet them.
EXPERT RAILROADING