Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1899-12-23
RUSSIA SHOWS ACTIVITY

|
the Tribune from London, says:
The Mail publishes this morning evil
dence of Russian activity ut Ceuta and
Tangier, and In Central Asia and Aby-
ssinia and urges its readers to watch
the movements of Russia, France and
probably another power in event OF
any further reverse to British troops in
South Africa.
There are current ruino's In high
circles that lord Salisbury, Sir
Michael Hicks-Beach aud other mem-
bers of the Cabinct are now angry with
Mr.. Chamberlain for no. warning thch
of the magnitude of what was before
the Government. They cannot justly
hold him responsible, when the Minis
try, as n body, fell into Dutch ambus-
cade, as well as the War Office. What
ever may be the grievances of the mill
tary staff or Mr.. Chamberlain's own
colleagues, the Ministry now has the
united country behind 1t in carrying on
the war to the bitter end. The Storm
berg reverse causes intense humilia-
ton, but there are no signs of finch
ing from the work which England has
undertaken.
The Dutch forces have not followed
up their victory ut Stormberg by at
lacking General Gatacre at Molteno
and the British reverse has not inter-
rupted French's cautious advance to-
ward Colesburg, skirmishing having
been renewed on Monday. General
Gatacre's second report of his disas-
trous battle Is badly written and
leaves the mystery of the capture of
portions OF two battalions unsolved.
The unfortunate general has no sense
of humor, or he would have avoided
saying that the policeman took the
British army Ground some miles and
landed II in an impossible position"
and that he had sent the Irish Rifles
and che Fighting Fifth" to Sterks-
troom to recuperate.
Pretoria certainly is not an ideal
conyalescents home. While he admits
that distance was nder-estimated, he
acquits his guides Of intentional err
ror ana thereby of deliberate treach-
cry. While the report is not clear, 1t is
evident by the belated dispatches that
after finding himself completely en-
trapped, he collected his forces and
had a running fight from ridge to
ridge for nine miles in the retreat,
losing two guns and that the excellent
handling of the field battery alone
enabled the main body to escape.
The Fusileers and the Irish Rifles
were probably captured in small
groups at different points, and many
Of them were unable to join the col
umn when the retreat was begun.
The number of missing men from the
Fusileers IS increased by sixty In Cen
eral Gatacre's report.
President Steyn accounts for ass
prisoners in one dispatch and 672 in
another.
Seldom have Englishmen had more
unpleasant war story to read and GER
tainly one that was told so badly by
the British General. It remains true
that, while Gatacre was unfortunate in
his choice of a policeman who did not
know the first turning on the right.
he was compelled by his feebleness In
mounted and artillery forces to at
tack by night II he were to have any
hope of success. His reverse points
| the well worn moral that the British
| stan was unprepared for the campaign
, and was very slow in sending out cav
| airy and artillery. Gatacre Is not alone
In being ambuscaded by the Dutch al
lies. The War office was taken by
surprise when the war opened and an
unsupported strength of the Dutch re-
publics in Krupp and Creusot artillery
and In fighting force was disclosed
1t has been an open secret that the
military staff has condemned Mr.
Chamberlain for allowing the war Ia
come on before II was ready. It Is a
fact not generally known that Lord
Salisbury urged Lord Lansdowne tc
mobilize an army corps in July, but
that the Cabinet overruled the sugges.
ton. The military staff is likely to b,
sharply criticised for its conduct O
the war when Parliament meets, bu
1t was Tie Ministry that failed to lool
ahead and prepare for the campaign II
good time, instead OF allowing tn
grass to grow on the veldt for tn
Dutch ponies.
, Tho Euanina n,,llo.t.~