The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-12

IN Boer Tactics, and British Losses VIII
Undoubtedly Re Heayy-Transports Ar
irving at Cape Town Sent On to Dur
han - skirmish Beyond Orange River
station Results in Loss of -Four British
Officers, Killed md Observation-Disclosures
ley and Mafeking Arc Holding Out.
Special C1bi, besps!thsi to THE sUs.
Ioynoy Nov IL With the arrival OF the
vanguard OF tho army corps in South Africa
,b,reisa distinc: Improvement in tho public
,,ptiment in this country. 1t Is recognized
that the actual situation at the front. both in
Natal and Cape Colony. Is rather worse than it
ra,.wees ago. but the absence. so far as Is
Lrovn. OF any fresh disaster. has aroused con-
sd.rc, I'm the public IN nd that further calami-
Tie. will tie averted.
Military observers do not hesitate to admit
that this GO nhdence ia not yet justified. 1t is
,ctnoweig-i that tho original plan OF cam
,sirn has been changed and that the relief OF
Intysmith will bs the first task undertaken by
Gar. Sir Redvers Bul!.r. This Is bad military
tactics. In fact. it is playing the Bosrs' game.
but the Government Is convinced that public
,sntlmcnt will not submit to policy OF leaving
Gan Whites force to its fate during tho SOW
,ral weeks necessary TO advance an army
q, invasion Into the Orange Free State
from the south. The decisive campaign will
be fought therefore. not in the broad veldt
sbos the Ornnso River. but In the difficult
hills Of Natal where the Beers can choose
battle grounds favorable TO their deadly
methods. II means that the war will be tho
most sanguinary in which Great Britain has
ever engaged. and the price paid for an ulti-
Fate British yictory will he 80 heavy that
=. -. IL. -.
mistake Of this generation. ] said a week ago
that, while all Euglishmen are agreed that the
war mus; now proceed to its bitter end. there
are probabaty not 20 per cent who would
have supported Mr.. Cham berlain's bellicose
policy the events o. the past month could
have been ioreseen This feeling is growing
stronger in view OF this fact, now palpable TO
all eyes. that stili greater sacrifices must be-
erected
In one respect only Is the publ!c mind thor
oughiy reassured namely. az to foreign inter
ference Lord Salisbury's words on this poi Mt.
In his sreech at the Lord Mayors dinner on
Thursday. were 20 mphat!c that they brought
immense relief 10 the nation. which was be-
coming uneasy under the bitter attacks q.
almost the entire Continental press. II IA
cutie lost sight OF that. while Lord Salisbury
gave the most positive assurances that no
rival nation would attempt to interfere between
Great Britain aud the Transvaa' he gave no
assurance Whatever that British interests in
the FAR East. or a. other points. would not be
attacked while the present war Is engrosnc
British energies
The British public is becoming more and
more eHasprra,si over the delays. contradic-
tions and general unrcabilty in the news OF
the war. The cable company insists that at
east hAioi The four days delay OF oil tele-
grams is due The cersor Tho single cnLl.
now working to South Africa ia only two days
10 arrears on business 1t must be said that
the English censoring IL much more stupid
and absurd than the faults 81 this nature
charged against the Am ricars last year. The
repairs 10 tho cast coast cable. which. II In
expected, vii! be finished in day or two. will
avail! little unless the functionary now acting
. Engsh censor at Alden "a replaced by
man OF some degree OF intelligence.
No exclamation has yet been received OF the
report 70 which all tho correrpontcn's in
Natal gave credencs early In tho week. Of a dis
ssier 10 the Beers. in which they were said to
have lost 1000 killed, wounded and prisoners.
ltb Tow absolutely certain that there Is no
word OF truth n the story. The effect Of the
eAnard. after many OF the same sort earlier In
the campaign. has been 10 make tho English
public incrsdulous OF all war kilograms, excapt
'he onirial dispatches. and even these are re-
Ea'ded with good deal OF iustihsbls suspi-
eion.
me chsei anxiety about Gen. Whites force
now Is IN regard to his artillery. IL 10 said .
W" 'he naval guns have not bsen used re-
'snu' because the cement beds on which
"Sare mounted are not yet SCI. There are .
grave iears That the real reason Is the exhauI.
~ .4aTNN II. T.
uoh o. AMMUNITION. ltisstated that the British
mh-o''war carry 10" shells Tor such guns as
we're hken 10 Ladysmith, most OF the pro-
'e'"Iss provided being armor piercing. which.
" " c"utse' are useless Tor the present purpose.
u'n' "utes nrtlIery II much interior t. that .
VI snn boers, " We naval guns mr." useless
ihs hoS' Ih'e!!'sent comments on the situa-
WI. because 'hey are made apparently with
we pest snowledE', are those OF j. Il. Robin
'oh' the weI-snown South African mil
V"ar'' u" cautcns the public against
any stories OF great Boer
80, ne audS l have no hesitation in
I from NhoNIeI." and experience o.
~ "''"te' 'hht England has never yet
."sYun'erea pofy OF men who viii fight with
Wv" "hae'y and such dire results as tho
.t, army II must DO remembered that
~ ~ rerile arc nghtIng witha determination
A. ta'n Uhe hscenhshcy throughout South
'''No' uNu tne'f Ir0CIhmAtiODa Amazing