New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-29
SOUTH AFRICAN ISSUES.

MR.. CHAMBERLAIN'S AMBITION.
London. September %

| Transvaal or in optimistic phrase. for
demonstration cf force by which hostilities may
be avorted nave been conducted with remark.
able efficiency and system. In the preliminary
stages Of negotiation relays were sent 10 the
garrsions " Natal and Cape Colony After
the Cabinet Council on september measures
were adopted for dispatching 1000 troops from
India TO Natal and 1000 from the Mediterranean
and England 30 ca Colony The einergely
! Ind been anticipated and tn" details already
/ arranged The bulk ~ this force has already
| ambark,' for South Africa and the remnant
/ viii be anoat IN FIVE days rs the middle o,
I October loco troops VIII 10 under the COM
,,ar1 - Sir George White IN natal 90 proven,
an invasion Of British territory ~ The broken
/ countrv around Iang's Mex. where the Beers
have always been victorious and body 0,
eorol strength Will De available for operations
on the western frontier Of the IransNaaL This
farce or 10000 men will be- independent o.
mounted police volunteers and local leFes and
ARRANGEMENTS are already completed for heavily
reinforcing It from India and England
rhe concentration Of an army corps with a
h,igade Of Guards and formidable artillery
force in a remote quarter Of the Empire has
heen an operation Of considerable magnitude
II there has been some delay in arranging FOR
the TRANSFORMATION Of the troops. it is parity
due 10 the necessity under existing regulations
for co-operation between the War Once and the
Admiralty The War Office Is not AZ liberty
- nrovide sea transport for troops y Is re-
oiired 70 consult the Admiralty, which alone
c,p take the responsibility Of hiring vessels
and arranging FOR the passage OF officers by the
rocular mail steamships. The transportation o,
war material provisions. horses and equip
mont Of all kinds is entirely under the control
~ tho Admiralty Consultations between the
1 headouarters Of the two services are requisite
and wherever there IS red tape there IS delay
Military experts are convinced by experience
during the last fortnight that time I'm dispatch
Ing troops and war material would nave beer
saved If the war Office had been empowered
70 hire steamers and to order PASSAGES on us
own account and 70 make contracts for the
movement Of freight It had anticipated every
other requirement Of the emergency. nut was
forced 70 make acquisitions upon the Admiralty
which has been making arrangements for sea
transport in what is regarded by military men
as a leisurey way.
Anart from this little hitch in the Official
routine Of the two services. there mas neen
nothing but efficiency and thoroughness N me
nronarations for war There have been nearly
co.operation and unity of action between me
civilian chiefs of the War Department ana the
headouarters staff Lord Lansfo"ne is not
only an Official Of great administrative 'apdcr
., aud exr,rienc, by virtue OF his career as
Governor General Of Canada and NiceroY ~
India but he also is master ~ all Nh" details
NJ the War Office. having served many years
, 400 &C Under Secretary and made A thorough
study Of the military system. IL has n''n
> actively supported hy the Under Secretary
D.. * d M 2 ",
p educated AT Sandhurst with an h"n"raoe
o,r, - sor,.ico With tho Coldstre7m GUARDS
! and in the Suakim campaign with the DEPART
$ mont under the direction NJ these two al
noinistratiye experts there has been no friction
with the HEADQUARTERS staff. Everything has
heen done with the smoothness and precision o.
we'll oiled machinery.
Lord Lansdowne and Lord Wolseley. tho Com
wander in chief have had as their right hand
man tho Adjutant General Sir Evelyn WOOL
unon whom the bulk ~ Tho work of military
nreuarations has fallen. He is an officer ~ eN'
% ceptional administrative ability and power as
o. an organizer. and he has had an experience u
n South African campaigning which enables MIN
o IN foreece precisely what win be- needed by An
T army corps on the Transyaal frontier he i
a = dashing cavalryman who would no an ldea
= commander of the forces in South Africa ou'
T. he Is too valuable where he is as tho chief ad'
T. ,,s,- of Lord Lansdovne and Lord Woseey 10
be spared In the present emergency. Inc
. Ouartormaster General Sir George Nhlte mas
% been sent out TO Natal because il - easier %
o. find substitute for him at headquarters ana
d because also. he Is peculiarly equipped as
n former commander f forces i'm India for taking
J. charge with seasoned regiments OF orasoon'
Z lancers and rifles at the base Of operations III
r. Rodvers Butler is an infantry commander rather
$ than cavalryman like Sir Evelyn Wood nut ne
: g we'll fitted for directing The campaign as
whole
While the military arrangements have oeen
, made with rapdty and admirable stem anu
there have been no 'ealousies Or 'ontro'e's''
n NJ the War ONCE there is a genera ieehhS
among experts that the reinforcements sent ou'
j. are Inadequate for decisive campaign anu
y that there will be an interval - mastery IN
" activity after the outbreak OF hosuliues. l"'
, Beers while acting mainly on the defensive ca.
T., menace Laing's Mex with direct attack AM
10 also conduct guerilla warfare against '~p'
is Colony and even Bechuanaland. the h''''.
n forces will have a series Of frontiers 70 de'e"'
e and they will also have 70 garrison cape O0''"'
" heavily when there is serious risk az 1's''
lection in the Dutch element there as Wen d
'r Il probability Of an alliance between mo V'a's
" Free state and the TransvaaL Even WIZ
r Colonel Baden Powells rough riders ana u"
:. local levles OF mounted police and N'.un'e'
as auxiliaries an army OF thirty thousand "'oV
= is hardly strong enough for rapid uTo'S'
m campaign The signal for war Will be- io'o"''
10 in the judgment of military experts 10y "'
y tracted period OF defensive man~uyreS UNI" -
serves can De called in from India. the Med"s'
p- ranean ana England
To- Johannesburg and Pretoria must Dee "' y
- iective points Of the British campaign anu -
u natural line Of advance viii be- through LAM
Id Mex. with the Natal coast as Oh" base OF ~,
5 plies This is the theatre % war "he'' ~
Or Beers have won their victories in the past -