The record-union., 1899-10-22
Local Questions Set In the Background
While the War Is in Progress.
All London Interested in the Prog
ress OF the Troops Battling In
South Africa-A Growing Feel
ing That the War Will Eventu-
ally Resolve Itself Into a Guer-
rilla Campaign.

Copyrighted. 1899, by Associated Press)
LONDON, Oct. 21.-The stirring de-
yelopments of the week form a vivid
contrast to that wearisome period OF
procrastination and suspense which
preceded the outbreak of the war,
though Parliament has quickly and
dramatically sanctioned the momentous
action of the Cabinet. The first battle
worthy of the name has been fought,
and an army corps, England's military
effort in this century, is now on the
way, bent upon administering an
eternal quietus to South African un-
rest.
The thrilling scenes in the House of
Commons of a member of the Cabinet
making an impassioned defense Of his
own honesty against the imputation of
deliberately involving England in war;
the far-reaching significance of the in
timation by the cautious Prime Min
lister that England's rule throughout
the whole of South Africa must be alb
solute, and many other striking points
! in an epoch making week have been
almost entirely obScured by the over
Whelming interest OF the sharp, meager
| bulletins bearing date at LadySmith,
that tell of victory and of how many
died to gain it. Historians may dis
miss as insignificant the military oper-
ations which have so far marked the
progress of the war, but for the people
of England these and those of the i'm
mediate future have transcendental i'm
portance.
Glencoe and Ladysmith irresistibly
rivet national attention; and when the
average Britisher lauds the pluck that
won Fridays battle and still keeps the
flag flying over Mafeking, he reverts
to the universal query, What will
White do next?"
Sir Redvers Butler, last weeks idol,
has almost passed out of the popular
mind although that General, despite
the fact that he is in mid ocean and un-
aware of what befell the Beers at Glen
Gle, appears to be the main factor in
the situation. The Associated Press is
reliably informed that his last act be-
fore leaving was to cable Stewart
White forbidding any British advance
pending the arrival of the army corps.
1t is understood in army circles that
General White believed himself quite
strong enough to advance through
Laing's Mex Sir Redvers Buffers pro-
hibition, if carried out resolves all
prognostication into the simple state
ment that upon the extent of Boer ag-
gressiveness depends the number and
nature and the engagements that are to
mark the next months fighting.
Probably the Boer movement was
curbed by the defeat at Glencoe, but it
seems reasonable to believe, judging
from the determination and fanaticism
of the Boer forces. that they will, soon
er or later, anyway before Buffers
corps take the field, return to the field
with redoubled aggressiveness in des-
perate attempt to break the backbone
of General Whites forces. having pre-
| viously endeavored to weaken it by
feint and flank movements. Such a
supposition regarding Boer plans IS
based upon the belief that Commandant
General Joubert's main objective is tC
break up or rout General Whites COM
mand before the British reinforcements
arrive But is is possible the willy Boer
General has carefully concealed STRAIT
egy which he intends to carry out in
an unexpected direction, and that the
attack upon General White on Friday
/ was merely intended to deceive the
British as to the main objective. Re-
liable news from the Beers is SO hard
to secure in London that it is impos-
sible to predict with any degree of GER
tainty what the next few weeks are
likely to bring forth.
The Associated Press learns that the
plans of Sir Redvers Butler, subject to
finding on his arrival that the com
Of hn icr-o icf iro1 Y
changed, are to have four divisions
each a little army in itself, and each
capable of meeting the full strength OF
1.-THE Beers. AS his forces will exceed
$4,000 men, this is regarded as feasible
With three armies he intends to invade
the Transvaal from different points
possibly leading the principal force
through the Free. State, sending the
others to uphold Natal.
Military opinion, as ascertained by
the Associated Press. is inclined to ia
vor a single line of operations, unless
the invader has a tremendous prepon-
derance of strength. Although few are
willing to criticise General Buffers ad-
mitted military genius without knowl-
edge or information on which he has
based his estimation Of the Beers
strength, there is a growing feeling
that the war will eventually resolve it
self into a guerrilla campaign and many
references are made in this connection
to the progress of the American forces
in the Philippines. Several English
men who have lived among the Beers
but are now in England, assert that the
Beers will never stick to their artillery
and there is a unanimous feeling among
those who know the Transvaal and its
inhabitants that the Boer artillery will
cut only a small figure after the frs
month.
The explanation of this is two fold
In the first place. most of the Beers
are unaccustomed to fighting accord
ing to the methods required in conjunc
ton with heavy artillery. and. second
ly, most of them are armed with the
rifle only. Comparatively few have
bayonets, revolvers or swords, and it /.
military impossibility for men tt
stand UP against a cavalry charge un
) less they possess some arm in addition
to the rifle. Hence. the only alterna
tive when cold steel threatens is to de
sert the guns.
Tt is not believed that the Beers viii
suffer SO much by the loss of artiller,
as might at first be thought Unen
: numbered by guns they regain tha
mobility. which, in the previous war
proved such thorn in the side of ou
organized troops
A splendid instance of the spontan
eous cooperation Of army and navy i