The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-11-11
The British Campaign in South Africa.
The B fillmore Sun says

| The Baltimore Sun says
While the bravery Of the British
soldiers English. Scotch and Icisb
is Of the highest order, as much
cannot be said OF the strategy Of the
generals. The weakness OF the latter
mas been demonstrated in previous
wars, and now that Great Britain is
engaged IN a conflict in which it may
soon be using more troops than It
sent to The Crimes. the same lack of
skill is evident. Up to the present
time Beer strategy has proved supe-
rior, and the only British force Of any
cons, quence in South Africa is sur
rounded and in danger of snnihila
ton. This situation might have been
avoided with officers of greater sbIl
ity in the field or with more intellI-
gent direction Of military operations
by the strstegists in the War Office
in London. But. while wsr is still
an exact science, the British Govern
meut, it is said, has been more inhu'
enced by political considerations in
South Africa than by military exig
encies. la order to keep the Beers
from Immediately overrunniug Natal
it permitted the concentration of the
British forces at Lsdysmith. in
most dangerous position, with almost
certainty that these forces would
be surrounded and cut fl from their
base OF supplies. Such a siiustion
may give comfort to the "loysl
subisc OF the Queen" in Natal and
it may temporarily keep some sub
jects OF Dutch descent fcom going
over to the Beers. This is not
scientific warfare, however, and il
the contestants ir this war were
evenly matched the surrender or
aunlhllation of the British army at
Lsdysmith might insure the Ultimate
triumph Of the Beers.
The Intelligence Department Of the
B,itish army seems to be better than
the strategy OF its generals. The
British commanders do not appear to
have been informed as TO the
resources OF the Beers in artillery or
as to the strength OF the Boer army.
The Boer guns have greater range
than the British artillery. and but
for the presence Of a naval brigade
at Ladysmitb, with rspid'hre cannon
taken from the cruiser Powerful, the
British would have suffered more
than they have, and, indeed, might
have been driven from their position.
While the Beers have had little
trouble in discovering the British
positions, General White has not
been as fortunate, despite his posses.
sion Of military balloon and the
observations which he has made from
time to time in his efforts to locate
his willy foes. His guns were directed
recently against what be thought to
be the main position Of the Beers
and, according to the reports sent by
enterprisiug correspondents. 81
fenced the enemy's artillery" But
later, when the British troops moved
ont to attack, it was discovered that
what General White thought was the
enemy's main position had been
evacuated hours before, and the
British artillery practice had been
concentrated upon point at which
there we're no Beers except in Gen.
Whites imagination. General Jou.
bert seems to have been able to keep
the British commander in absolute
ignorance Of the disposition of the
Beer forces. But for this ignorance,
General White would not have de-
tached l 500 men and sent them to
an unteuable position to fall into the
hands of an overwhelming force OF
the enemy.
Another mistake the British have
made is underesiim atiDg the fghting
qualities of their foes. The tactics
which we're employed at Dundee and
Elsndslssgte Of rushing up a hill and
storming the enemy in q position of
his own selection may do very well