The record-union., 1899-10-29

Copyrighted, 1899, by Associated Press.)
LONDON, Oct 2S-The South
African war has now been in progress
nearly three weeks, and so far the
British arms have been consistently
crowned with momentary successes,
though at a cost which Verifies Presi-
dent Kruger's prediction that the con-
flct would stagger humanity. But,
though victory has fallen to Great
Britain whenever and wherever the is
sues We're of paramount Importance,
General Whites position to-day is
scarcely more reassuring than at the
outbreak of the war. So far he has only
shown his ability to outwit by STRAIT
egy the Beers strategy. That, in its
conception, meets high praise from the
British military critics.
Now he appears to have reached the
limit of this game of war, by which he
was able to prevent the passing of the
Boer columns, and must either meet the
enemy's combined forces or retreat
Many people think General White
should rest content with the successes
so far achieved and fall back on CO.
lenso, pointing out that he appears to
be fully able to move his forces quick
~ and without deterioration. 1t is
scarcely probable that he will follow
this course, preferring rather to hold
Ladysmith, though against much su-
perlor numbers, until reinforced 1t
Is the feeling that the General intends
10 follow the latter course that creates
uneasiness, for victories over Beers
units are not believed to indicate that
the same result can be achieved over
the Beers when massed.
Compared with this impending move
ment about Ladysmith, the fate of
Kimberly and Mafeking and the pro-
gress of the other independent opera
tons are almost insignificant. The ra-
pidity of the Boer advance and the
tenacity of the endeavors of their col
dmns TO concentrate on General White
have proved clearly that the Beers
plans We're matured long before hostiH-
ties displaced negotiations, and though
they may be unable to stand before the
brilliant charges of the British troops
or serve their artillery with the skill
OF their opponents, they are a mobile
Iorce, and operate harmoniously under
a carefully prepared plan of campaign
NO one seems to have the faintest
idea of what conditions will confront
the British army corps upon its arrival
In South Africa Will it be an aveng-
ing force, whose duty will be to wipe
out the defeat of General White and
the capture of Mafeking and Kimberly.
or will it simply be a walkover into
Pretoria, dispensing Boer bands disin-
tegrated by the strain of a long cam
paign and discouraged by constant
reveTSes? These questions are upper-
most in the minds of all connected with
the War Office. By November 4th the
last troop ship should have sailed. but
the army corps will scarcely take the
field until the end of December. There
is hull in the departure of the troops
forming the army corps owing, the Ad-
miralty officials say, to the troops not
being ready.
The temporary cessation of news
from the seat of war gives the news
papers here the opportunity for retro
spective graduation, firstly on the sue
cess Of General Whites strategy in the
face Of greatly superior forces. in puz-
zllng the Beers, preventing the juno
tion of the Orange Free State and
Transvaal armies. and in word, gain
ing time and delaying the invasion of
Natal until the arrival of General
Butler and the army corps permits of
real operations for the invasion of the
tworepublics to- commence; secondly. on
the bravery and daring of both the off,
GERS and men of the British army
which has astounded not only their
enemies, but the continental neighbors
Of Great Britain; thirdly on the readi-
ness of the reservists to respond to the
call to arms and the smoothness, sue
cess, swift precision and completeness
Of the mobilization, which has equally
amazed the European critics. who if
they did not anticipate a dangerous
repetition of Crimean history had not
an idea Of the immense improvement
made in the organization of the COM
missariat and fighting machinery
The Spectator" says: IF we could
only bring the militia up to the army
level of discipline we should be safe
beyond any conceivable danger. 1t
cannot any longer be contended either
that education and examinations take
the pluck and daring out of either Of
ficers or men,
The "Chronicle" raises a wall over
clearly regards the war as operations
designed to bring revolted Colonists in
TO submission, so that the Dutch peo-
pie who were assured by Mr.. Cham
berlain that we had no designs on their
independence, are informed that they
are already regarded as citizens of our
empire"
The "ChronicIe" adds: "These fate
ful words are dragons teeth which pro-
duce an abundant harvest"
BOERS' STEADY ADVANCE.
LONDON, Oct. 2S-The lull in the
news from Ladysmith, Natal, which
was beginning to be regarded as om.n-
Gus, has at last been broken by a Cape
Town dispatch under this mornings
date, saying:
q Scouts from Modderspruit having re-
ported the Beers in force on the Help
makaar road, General White ordered
out a. strong force of artillery, mounted
infantry and cavalry A small patrol
Of mounted infantry was shelled by
the Beers nine miles from Ladysmith,