The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-10-22

London, Oct. 21.-The stirring devel-
opments OF the week form a vivid con-
trast to that wearisome period of pro-
erastination and suspense which pre-
coded the outbreak of the war, though
parliament has quickly and dramatic
ally 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 unrest.
The thrilling scene 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 minister
that England's rule throughout the
whole Of South Africa must be abso-
lutte, and many other striking points in
an epoch-making week have been al
most entirely obScured by the over
whelming interest of the sharp, meagre
bulletins bearing date of Ladysmith
that tell of victory and of how many
died to gain it.
Historians may dismiss as insignifi-
cant the military operations which have
SO far marked the progress of the war,
but for the people of England these
and those of the immediate future have
transcendental Importance.
Attention On Glencoe.
Glencoe and Ladysmith irresistably
rivet national attention, and when the
average BritiSher tires of laudng the
pluck that won fridays battle and still
keeps the flag flying over Mafeking, he
reverts to the universal query, What
viii 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
unaware of what befell the Beers at
Glencoe, appears to be the main factor
in the situation. The Associated Press
is reliably informed that his last act
before leaving was to cable Sir George
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 Neck Sir RedverS Buffers
prohibition, if carried out, resolves all
representation into the simple state
ment that upon the extent of Boer ag-
gressiveness depends the number and
nature of the enga gementS that are
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 sooner
or later; any way before Buffers corps
takes the field return to the field with
redoubled aggressiyeness in a desperate
attempt to break the backbone of Gem
eral Whites forces, having previously
endeavored to weaken it by feint and
flank movements
Plans of the Beers.
Such supposition regarding the
Boer plans is based upon the belief
that Comamndant General Jouberts
main object is to break up or rout
General Whites command before the
British reinforcements arrive.
But it is possible the willy Boer
general has carefully concealed STRAIT
egg which he intends TO carry out in an
unexpected direction and that the at
tack upon General White on Friday
was merely intended to deceive the
British as to the main objective. Reli-
able news from the Beers is SO hard to
secure in London that it is impossi-
bic to predict with any degree Of GER
tainey what the next few weeks are
liable to bring forth.
: The Associated Press learns that the
plans of Sir Redvers Butler, subject To
finding on his arrival that the complex
ion of the campaign is not entirely
changed, are to have four divisions,
each a little army in itself and each
capable of meeting the full strength of
the Beers. AS his forces will exceed
$4,000 men this is regarded as feasible.
With three armies he intends to invade
the TransvaaI from different points.
possibly leading the principal force
through the Free State, sending the
others to hold Natal.
Predict Gurrila War.
Expert military opinion, as ascertain
ed by the Associated Press, is inclined
to favor single line of operations, I'M
less the invader has tremendous pre-
ponderance of strength. Although few
are willing to criticise General Buffers
admitted military genius without
knowledge Of the information upon
which he has based his estimate for the
Boer forces, there is a growing feeling
that the war will eventually resolve it
self into guerilla campaign and many
references are made in this connection
to the progress of the American forces
in the Philippines.
Several Englishmen who have lived
among the Beers but are now in Eng
land, 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 a small
figure only after the first month.
The explanation of this is two-fold |
In the first place, most of the Beers !
are unaccustomed to fighting according
to the methods required in conjunction |
with heavy artillery and secondly, |
most of them are armed with the rifle |
,1x 10
nets, revolverS or swords and, ii is q |
military impossibility for men to stand |
up against cavalry charge unless they |
possess some arm in addition to the |
rifle. Hence, the only alternative when |
cold steel threatens, is to desert the |
guns.
Would Be Advantage to Beers.
1t is not believed that the Beers will |
suffer so much by the loss of artillery |
as might at first be thought. Unencum-
bered by guns they regain that mobil- !
ity. which. in the previous war, proved |
such a thorn in the side of our organ
lied troops
A splendid instance of the spontan |
eous cooperation of army and navy is |
given in the action of Captain Lambton, |
the British first-class pro-
tected cruiser Powerful, while on the |
way to the Cape. Calling at Mauritus |
he found a line regiment that had been
ordered to Durham unable to leave for /
want of d transport. Without waiting
instructions he embarked the whole
regiment on board the Powerful and |,
landed them at Cape Town, making an I