The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-04
GEN. WHITE.
Description Of the British General by =
Former ARM CHAPLAIN in IndIa.

Dissertation. of the British General by =
Former Army Chaplain in India.
To THE EpITon OF THE suN--Sir: Az I re-
sided In the largest military station In India
for twenty years. and know Gen. White person.
ally and am familiar with his military record.
think may be con sderod capable OF Judging
OF his recent defeat. for defeat II certainly 10.
In tho opinion OF the British army In India. OF
which Gen. White was Comm ander-in- Chief.
his appointment to South Africa was q grievous
mistake. 1t seemed to be but arepetltion OF the
mistake made In the appointment Of poor Gen.
Colley. who was defeated at Hajuba Hill. and
also OF Lord Chelmsford. Gen. White 10 n
brave soldier. . thorough gentleman. and ohiv-
alrous in the highest degree. but he 10 not q
born General. and this 10 proved In his opera
tons Of Monday last. He has been simply out
mannuvred by Gen. Joubert. This 10 evident
to any one acquainted with military tactics.
Then AZ to the mules. Every hill campaign In
India 10 carried on with mule batteries. ] lived
In sisht OF them for twenty years. But / never
heard OF stampede. 1t must be understood
that In mountain trained battery the gun Ia
carried on tho back OF one mule. the two
wheels on the back OF another and the ammu-
milton on the back OF third. and 80 on. Now
these mules are trained amid rolling bould
crs. and you may Just as we'll expect q de-
feat to arise from stampede OF mules
In mountain trained battery a. ron would
from stampede OF horses In battery OF horse
artillery. A facetious writer has suggested
that II must 30 the newly Imported American
mule which has been at the bottom OF all this.
But II Gen. White entrusted to tho care OF an
inexperienced officer like Carleton. who has
never been under FIRE. the Tenth Mountain
train OF artillery. with whole lot OF unframed
mules. he was guilty OF very bad piece OF gem
a1.hl n,ts L. 81 L.. h.. .wlkl
Gen. Whites career in India as Comm andsr. In
Ghiet OF the forSs ,: And you may rsmem Dor
placed ia sbsouls c or d 0 tss frontisr
force and Cen White was set aside.
asked WIN Re. .s. .n Ws. Ss
Jealous ., BOTH lord Rob.r,. and Lord Ki,ch:
nave undertaken this business. He is not an
old man as Generals GO. being only sixty
been trained n the Quaftsrpia,isr G.nsrsi's
department. he would not have been found
HHepss ,s.rainf r.. nas. and ;nsp'
+; a:,t ;"G S. x'ssS. .a ~SST:; ssa in Ss;pE.%
Beers in their me, holds Of warfare resemble the
soldiers. and Il is IN this, that Cen. White.
who has always served with British soldiers.
qi Rosss eoaa no hsv. .fSn any
ematlchl IN nn OF hIchener, But II remains to
be seen whether Gen. Butler will M tho
bill; He owes his appointment entirely to Lord
Wolseley, and not to be compared. except In
persona bravery. to Roberts or Kitchener.
have a personal rem niscencs which may
illustrate the fighting power OF the Beers. as
compared with that OF the Afehans Of the
Khyber Hlll,; In the winter of 1877 ! spent a
hight In the British camp at Lundi Kotal In the
Khybsr Pass, and was the guest OF Major
Gen. Mau'e. V. G., who was In command the
forces His experience had been en- tirely that
OF British officer in the Crimea. and in course
OF conversation he said: Our British soldiers
are really no match for these Hill men. They
are born warriors and administers" This
z the case with tn. Beers. They are more
of Lord wolssey's CREATION. And under
these circumstance no one can dou ht that Gen.
White should have sntrenc he "a hi self at Lady
Hmith until he had sufficient cavalry to follow
up an advance Of artillery You will observe
that Col. Carleton had 20 cavalry in his brigade.
Now IL IL rule that whom artillery 10 put In
the field II must be supported with cavalry
But OF course moor Gen White has fallen vic
tim TO his desire to achieve Victory at once;
in fact. be'ore Gen. Butler arrived. Under the
circumstance should not be at all surprised
to find that Old Bohs" Ia sent for after all.
He IL still full Of vigor. and tho pride OF the
English soldier. although Lord Wellesley hates
the very name % him.
AN E8 CT. PLAIS OF BRITISH INDIA.
NEW York. Nov. 3.