The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-05

cause in the present war. and the Ital-
ian public Is less friendly than at any
time since 1888. The elements OF coali-
ton against us seem at first sight to exist
almost as plainly n they did when the
coalition against us was formed. which
brought us INTO the greatest straits at the
time OF the American Revolutionary War.
The Governments prcpa alton of n fleet Is
evidently justified, and the concentration Of
the Italian no"t has not unnatural followed.
! am. however, convinced that there IL no
serious risk Of n coalition against us on this
occasion. and not much probability OF serious
attempts to raise questions disagreeable
to us at moment especially chosen
on account OF our absorption In South
African affairs. II our public. spoit
by easy successes over the blacks. should be-
come demotalized by disaster. that would be
another matter
" The policy OF Italy Is not hostile In spite Of
the disagreeable manifestations OF u part Of
the Italian press. and the Italian Government
would hold the italian people In support 81
their interest. which 10 to side with the first
naval power. The Emperor OF Austria is a
hrm upholder Of peace. and he has not only
great international prestige. but in oil inter-
national questions a reality OF power. The
Emperor OF Russia Is peacefully inclined. the
Emperor Of Germany and his advisers have as
com plets belief In the present power OF the
British fleet a. Mr.. Goschen. First Lord Of the
Admiralty. or Lord Spencer France, though
uneasy. Ia not anxious to enter war. Holland 10
profoundly peneeful. Spain alone appears to
me at the moment to be in Europe disturbing
cause. and there can he no doubt that last year
che took steps in the neighborhond OF G'bral-
tar. which recent public Information as to our
own preparationsa Mt thar spot leads me to think
that they have probably been renewed. Her
recent mis- ortunss make her naturally inclined
to stir things NJ. but sven II she desires to pro-
woke a coalition against us she will. feel. be
convinced at present that she will find no
hackers"
Since 1870 Europe has not been so keenly
interested in war a. in this An slo- Boer con-
test aud probably there has never been such
uniform condemnation Of the tactics employed
10y one Of the belllSerents. As far as can 10
ascertained there Is not one military writer
and not on. Gen raj Of rspu,c who has not de-
clared in more or less emphatic language that
I British strategy In Natal has been contempt
Tie. II Ia maintained that Gen. White com
, mittsd almost all the faults which a com
rapder could have committed under similar
circumstances. and wonder Ia EXPRESSED that
he was not long ago recalled. He IL
3 tainted with ths fact that all his
war experience was gained against savage or
| sem i-savage foes. and that he has brought 10
bear against really able. white antaRon ists
wes and tactics which are not always efrec-
! tive even against tn" black men. Italian mill
! tary experts and Generals who are friendly to
| England. Join in the condemnation OF poor
| White. Rome has been full this week Of
! Generals summoned to the hslf-y"arly
council OF national defence. and they talked
good deal more o. South Africa
7 Al. ~ Ia. nRtN, 81
Naples Ia REP )rted TO have EXPRESSED his views
with more freedom than discretion. ana to
have drawn on himself II rebuse from King
! Humicrt. The Princes main point was that
| the initial error com United was to advance 30
/ far north as Glencoe with q force too weak to
= hold lis own and too far away to be properly
! supported by Gen. White at Lsdysmith
The same ,ort OF talk Ia heard to-day In
| every European capital. and even In London
! there IL beginning to be shown disposition
TO denounce Gen. White tor numerous sins OF
omission and commission. All the criticisms
are unjust. in be ng based on tho assumption
that Gen White alone is responsible for the
Natal campaign. As matter az fac the cam :
paign was deci led upon by tho Va; Council
here AS to its general lines. including
tho preliminary stand az Glencoe. and
Gen. White assumed his command with
his orders pretty clearly defined. This
British idea is that the further south
the Beers proceed. the worse 1t will bs
for them when Gen. Butler gets to work. The
strategists in London made the usual mistake
of undertaking the enemy. 1t 10 even said
that the War Department was taken COM
rl-tely 10y surprise at the number and power
II the Boer guns. a subject upon which they
ough, to have been we'll informed
LONDON Nov. "a despatch from Colesbsrg
I d,tad Nov - says the bridge near Soryal's
Pont is still intact
A despatch from Burghersdorp. dated Nov
o states that large body OF Beers have crossed
the Bsthu.ie bridge.
i 4. q mn