The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1899-10-28
General John D. P. French, Chief of
British Cavalry in South Africa

the war office last evening said that
very few dispatches have arrived and
that nothing further was to be expect
ed until morning.
Since it is practically certain that
General Yule has now effected a juno
ton with General White-although this
was not brought Tuesday night, as an
nounced by the Daily Mail, but some
time on Wednesday-an as both are
now in a position of safety, conjecture
concernt itself chiefly with the manner
Of General Yule's retreat. That it was
hasty is evident. Was it disorderly E?
Was any considerable camp equipment
abandoned? Was there any fighting on
the way?
Such questions and others like them,
the public is anXiously asking. Since
the receipt of General Whites curious
first description of the LadySmith fight,
in which the British lost 100 men, little
reliance can be placed on the official
dispatches. While the concealment of
the facts regarding General Yule'S re-
treat can be amply justified on the
ground of keeping the intelligence from
the Beers, the hiding Of the news re-
speeding the HuSsarS and fuSilleers who
were apparently captured in the battle
of Glencoe, is severely criticized, no in
timation even having been given that
the officers were missing.
The heavy losses of the British troops
in facing only some 5000 Beers, are
commented upon as what rife fire
means today in the hands of even I'M
disciplined men Who can shoot fairly
straight, and stand their ground. Com
parisGns are made with the first en-
plOyment of the magazine rifle in the
Hispano-A war. and it is con-
sidered that the American losses at FL
Caney and San Juan would have been
much heavier if the Spaniards had dog
gedly stood their ground like the Beers.
General Sir Redvers Butler is eX-
pected to arrive at the Cape early next
week, and the indications are that some
troops have already arrived at the
front and been in the fighting whose
arrival has not yet been announced.
There is every probability, therefore,
that reinforcements are now moving
up. This is calculated TO hasten Com
mandant General Joubert's attack on
Ladysnlith and news of a big battle is
daily expected.
About half a complete army corps is
now afioat and a hull has occurred in
despatching the remainder of General
Buffers forces, owing to some difficulty
in obtaining troops. The mobilization
and embarkation Of 21,00G men, how
ever have proceeded with the utmost
emoothness and completeness, eXtorting
admiration from even the severest
critics of war Office organization.
Although news has arrived that Cen
eral Sir William Penn SymonS is doing
well. there is no indication as to his
whereabouts 1t is presumed that he is
at Dundee in the hands of the Beers.
Speaking at Dublin yesterday to the
departing troops. General Lord Freder-
lex Roberts of Kandahar said that
however important previous campaigns
in South Africa had appeared at the
time they dwindled into insignificance
when compared with the great event in
which the British troops were about to
engage.
Among the touching incidents of the
field related, Captain Peyton, of the
Manchester regiment, who was wound
ed at Elandslaagte, says the wounded
had to lie on the field throughout the
bitter cold night. drenched by the rain.
One man in his regiment placed his
arms around Captain Peyton through
the whole night TO give him the warmth
Of his body.
It appears that the Gordon Highland
ers and the ManchesteTs bore them
selves with reckless courage. To this
was due the fact that they suffered so
heavily. The former was keen to wipe
out the insults leYelled at them after
Majuba by the Beers, who tainted
them with being Kaffirs in kits.
The Times publishes dispatch from
NamuwpUdrt. Cape Colony. saying it
is rumored among the Dutch there that
President Steyn received 100000 for in
ducing the Orange Free State to join
the TransVaal.
New and stringent orders were pro-
mulgated yesterday with references to
the defences at Gibraltar. The privi-
lege Englishmen have hitherto had of
entering the gate without pass is tenn
l1l ATD1an IL .
to enter or inspect the batteries. Even
the famous St. Michaels cave is closed |
because it is required for the storage !
Of arms and ammunition. For months
sappers and miners have been engaged |
in constructing new and powerful bat |
teres and it is believed that the gar
rison will be augmented.