The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-10-22

mind, although that general, despite
the fact that he Is in mid-ocean and
unaware Of what befell the Beers at
Glencoe, appears to be the main factor
IN the situation. The associated press
is reliably Informed that his last act
before leaving was to cable Sir George
Stewart White. forbidding any British
advance pending the arrival of the
army corps.
1t is understood in army circles that
General White believed himself quite
strong enough to advance through
Laing's Neck. Sir Redvers Buffers pro-
hibition, If carried out, resolves all
prognostication into the simple state
ment that upon the extent of Boer ag
gressiveness depends the number and
nature of the engagements that are to
mark the next months fighting.
1t is possible the willy Boer general
has carefully concealed strategy which
he intends to carry out in an unex-
pected direction and that the attack
upon General White on Friday was
merely intended to deceive the British
as to the main objective. Reliable
news from the Beers is so hard to Sc
cure in London that it is impossible to
predict with any degree of certainty
what the next few weeks are likely to
bring forth. 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 a little army in itself
and each capable of meeting the full
strength of the Beers. AS his forces
will exceed $4,000 men this is regarded
as feasible. With three armies he in
tends to invade the Transvaal from diff
ferent points. possibly leading the prin-
cipal force through the Free State,
sending the others to hold Natal.
Expert military opinion. as ascer-
tanned by the associated press, is in
clined to favor a single line of opera
tions. unless the invader has a tre-
mendous preponderance of strength.
Although few are willing to criticise
General Buffers admitted military gen.
ious without knowledge Of the informa
tion upon which he has based his esti-
mate of the Beers forces there is a,
growing feeling that the war will eveis-S
tually resolve itself into guerrilla
campaign and many references are
made in this competition to the prog
ress of the American forces in the
Philippines. Several Englshmen who
have lived among the Beers, but are
now in England, assert that the Beers
will never stick to their artillery and
there is an unanimous opinion among
those who know the Transvaal and its
inhabitants that the Boer artillery will
cut only small figure after the first
month.
The explanation Of this is twofold.
In the first place, most of the Beers are
unaccustomed to fighting according 10
the methods required in conjunction
with heavy artillery. and secondly.
most of them are armed with rifles
only. Comparatively few have bayon-
cts, revolvers or swords; and it is
military impossibility for men to stand
up against a cavalry charge unless
they possess some arm in addition to
the rifle. Hence. the only alternative
when cold steel threatens is to desert
the guns. 1t is not believed that the
Beers will suffer so much by the loss
of artillery as might at first be
thought.
A splendid instance of the spontan-
eous cooperation of army and navy is
given in the action of Captain Lamb
ton, commanding the British first class
protected cruiser Powerful. while on
the way to the cape. Calling at Maui
ritius, he found line regiment that
has been ordered to Durham. unable
to leave for want of a transport. With
out awaiting instructions he embarked
the whole regiment on board the Pow
erful and landed them at Cape Town.
making an extra quick passage for
their benefit