The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-29
Little Probability that Buffers Army
Corps VIII He Able to Render Much
Assistance for Month.
BRITISH OFFICERS Rash
THEIR ACTION IN STANDING UP IN
BATTLE SEVERELY CRITICISED.
Large Proportion Killed and Wound
ed-Attftude of the Continent To-
wards Great Britain.


copyrighted. 1899. by the Associated PressI
LONDON, Oct. 2s.-The South African war
has now been in progress nearly three weeks
and so far the British arms have been con-
sistently crowned with momentary success,
though at a cost which verifies President
Kruger's prediction that the conflict would
stagger humanity. But. though victory has
fallen to Great Britain wherever the issues
were of paramount Importance, General
Whites position to-day is scarcely more re-
assuring than at the outbreak Of the war.
So far he has only shown his ability to out
wit by strategy the Beers strategy. Now
he appears TO have reached the limit of this
game of war by which he was able to pre-
vent the massing of the Boer columns and
must either meet the enemys combined
forces or retreat. Many people think Gen.
eral White should rest content with the sue
cesses so far achieved and fall back on CO.
lenso, pointing out that he appears fully
able to move his force quickly and without
deterioration. 1t is scarcely probable that
he will follow this course. preferring rather
to hold Ladysmith. though against much
superior numbers. until reinforced. 1t is the
feeling that the general intends to follow
victories over Boer units are not believed
TO indicate that the same result can be
achieved over the Beers when massed.
Compared with this impending movement
about Ladysmith the fate of Kimberley and
Mafeking and the progress of the other in
dependent operations are almost insignifi-
cant. The rapidity of the Boer advance and
the tenacity of the endeavors of their COL
umns to concentrate on General White have
proved clearly that the Boer plans were ma
tured long before hostilities displaced ne
gotiations, 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 mo-
bile force and operate harmoniously under
carefully prepared plan of campaign.
DOUBT AS TO THE FUTURE.
No one seems to have the faintest idea of
what conditions will confront the British
army corps on it's arrival in South Africa.
VIII 1t be an avenging force, whose duty
wtu be to wipe out the defeat of General
White and the capture of Mafeking and
Kimberley or will 1t simply be a walk
over into Pretoria, dispensing Boer bands
disintegrated by the strain of long cam
paign and discouraged by constant revers-
es! These questions are uppermost In the
minds Of all connected with the War Office
BY Nov. the last troopship should have
sailed, but the army corps will scarcely take
the field until the end Of December. There
Is lull in the departure of the troops
forming the corps. owing. the admiralty Of
hcials say, to the troops not being ready
The embarkation of 1000 men, 1000 horses
and seven batteries Of artillery, with
wagons and equipment, between Oct % and
"a, Is pointed to as being a splendid feat on
the part Of the Admiralty, not forgetting,
however, to also give credit to the army
for having the men ready at the dock.
Lienutenant Commander Colwell the
United States naval attache here, who
closely watched the embarkation of the
troops at Southampton, said to reporter
Of the Associated Press, 1T was splendid
sight. Everything was done in good order
On each transport naval lieutenant was
in command and on the dock naval off,
Ger supervised the whole. The army officers
had their men lined up and staff sergeant
passed along the ranks, chopping eighteen
men off at time. thus forming messes.
Marching on board they found everything
prepared for them
Sir Charles Dixie, writing to the Speaker
draws attention to the gigantic cost of the
mobilization of comparatively small army
He says: Though the War Office profess
es to be pleased with the result of the mo-
bilization they took far longer to complete
the arrangements than the maximum period
allowed by other powers" Continuing, Sir
Charles declared that the present system
is entirely wrong.
ACTION OF PARLIAMENT.
While the nation is enthralled by the news
from the battlefields and thrilled with SYM
pathy at the death of its sons, especially
that of gallant General Symons, Parliament
has come and gone. scarcely noticed in the
flood Of more exciting developments. 1t was
the shortest session but one in the history
of England and teemed with remarkable
incidents Again this week Mr.. Chamber
lain continued the defense of his own char
acter. angrily taking UP the slightest in
| sinuation. Michael Davitt's dramatic resig-
nation is regretted on both sides of the
| House. for the honesty of his convictions
was much appreciated.
Sir Michael Hicks-Beach's budget to raise
the supplies vas so noncommittal that il is
| scarcely open 10 much criticism. Whether
eu00,Q 600 borrowed TO carry on the war will
be entirely repaid by additional taxation
or whether the Boer treasury will be
sapped to repay part or the whole Is mat
ter upon which little light is likely to be
thrown until Parliament reassembles in
February.
But the more important of the features of
the recent session is the Queens proroga-
| ton speech, for IL contains the assertion
| that the Transvaal is already part Of her
empire. The phraseology passed almost un-
noticed. but the sentence. 81 trust that
divine blessing will rest on the efforts TO
restore peace and good government to that
| portion of my empire" cannot be taken to
mean anything but that Great Britain re-