The evening times., 1899-12-27
England'S War,

EnEland's War.
Military people in London are beginning
to talk about the new war" which they
expect to- see begin about the first OF
March. They refer to the trouble in South
Africa; but there will be another serious
upheaval snearer home when Parliament
meets, and that will be considerably ear
lier, We fancy. than Lord Roberts and Lord
Kitchener can divert attention by a forward
movement toward Pretoria. The rather
slow Briton at last is completely awake to
the criminal negligence, and deliberate in
diference TO notorious facts. which have
marked the conduct of the War Office dur
| ing the years In which the Beers have been
steadily arming for fight to the death.
The mteliigence department for five years
has known that Kruger was buying artil-
lery in Europe, and had no business to as
sumo his purchases to be other than
modern and up to date. The
government year ago was re-
minded in the House of Commons that the
British artillery was obsolete and badly
outranged by the Krupps and Creusots
with which Germany, France, and Russia
were armed Assurances were then given
that the War ONCE was actively engaged
in remedying the evil but these assur-
ances were untruthful. Nothing was be-
ing done. The British forces went into the
South African war oblivious OF the fact that
the Beers had complete equipment of
modern siege and field guns They also
started out withoU. single piece of artil-
lery Of equal range with that since en-
ployed against them. But for the guns
taken from naval vessels, Ladysmith would
not have had a single piece capable of re-
plying to Joubert's bombardment. and the
principal hope OF the British generals now
lies in the further disarmament of ships
The government is trying to buy artillery
but a couple OF dozen batteries of first
class guns cannot be picked up in the mar
ket like potatoes in season, and the def
cheney Is not to be made good in a day
even at the expense of the navy: for land
carriages and different adjustments must
be constructed and applied. before the ri
fe fitted for the purposes OF the gun deck,
can be mounted conveniently for surprise
and capture by the Beers
The people responsible for the idiotic un-
preparedness of the British Government for
war are going TO have an unpleasant time
of it in Parliament, and it is probable that
Lord Salisbury will have TO throw them to
the lions of public indignation. or face
defeat which would put the Liberal party
in power. And the chances are that he
will get little comfort from the front for at
least two or three weeks after The opening
of the session. Roberts and Kitchener, it
is firmly believed, will refuse to move an
inch until they have perfected every detail !
OF the campaign they mean 10 fight. But
even men with their unquestioned control
may be jolted into action which they would |
if possible avoid. While endorsements,
being waited for, Joubert and Cronje may |
conclude that they should not also wait, |
but transact as much business as possible |
in the interim.
There is but little news from any part
of the field; but, such as it is. it is not
suggestive of much encouragement to the
British. Buffers guns knocked out two
spans OF the Colenso foot bridge across
the Tugela. We were told that this would
south bank to get back to their main line.
But that was two days ago, since which
time 1t appears that Joubert las succeed
ed in throwing a new bridge over the
stream east of Colenso. and has success
fully crossed a commando which is en-
on the Llandwana ridge. which
overs the right of Buffers position. Why
lid not the British keep and entrench
hat place? Probably because they did
,ot have the necessary guns. The LAND
Sana ridge in possession Of the Beers will
another strong defence to take
n case movement against the Boer left
hould be attempted. and we are still sus-
'icious that something will have to be
one soon if the Ladysmith garrison is to
e saved from destruction or capture Opti- ,
nistic statements regarding conditions in
Whites camp are given out. but synchro-
ously with caususlty reports that indi-
ate continuous fighting, or sadly in :
reased efficiency in the bombardment II =
GEMS hardly reasonable to assume that I
White can have much il any ammunition !
eft for his naval guns, whatever may be
ne state of his field artillery supply. And :
is provisions cannot be expected to last ,
,reyer. Butler will be compelled to make v
n effort of, some kind pretty soon, or risk J
hat Europe would be unkind enough to )
ny ABOUT him should Ladysmith fall, with L
lie relieving column only twenty miles +
way. +