The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-24
ROBERTS OFF TO THE WAR.
FIRST MOVE IN THE NEW CAMPAIGN
AGAINST THE BOERS

AGAINST THE BOERS
Kitchener win Join His Chief at Gibraltar
Probable Return to the First Plan of
nm Advance on Observation-Disclosures
ton. That Methuen and Butler May Re-
sumo tho AsRressive-wsr once Gives
UP the Idea That the War viii End Soon.
Sieciai Cable D,spaieA to The sus.
LONDON, Dec. 23.-Gen. Lord Roberts sailed
to-day to take command OF the British forces
in South Africa He will meet Gen. Lord
Kitchener his chief OF stan. at Gibraltar. so
that they will have fortnight aboard to con-
suit about u plan Of campaign This will. as
was said last week. be an entirely new cam
raign on new basis. After the complete failure
of the attacks from the east and west II would
seem natural that the second stage OF the war
should witness return to the original scheme.
with one strong army to press forward to
Bloemfontein regardless OF what 10 happening
on the western and eastern borders. This, II
successtully carried out will relieve Gen.
C;atacre and Con. French. subdue the rebellion
In Care Colony aud go far to deprive the
Tranayaalers OF a considerable amount OF
Orange Free State help. The Free Staters. as
The suN's Modder River correspondent cabled
recently. freely admit that once the war Is
prosecuted In their own territory they will be
glad to see II end.
But Il Is vain as yet to speculate on a cam
rnIgn which cannot be Initiated until toward
the end OF January. Tho War Office authors
ties may have been able to prime Gen. Roberts
with more intelligence than lie allowed to reach
the rubic's ears but past experience does not
lead one to expect their Information to be
very valuable. Gen. Roberts and Gen. Kifch-
ener will have to decide on the spot. More
over, before they arrive the situation may be
yet further developed.
Hampered by want OF transport and facing
m enemy OF superior force and position It was
universally expected that Con. Methuen. In
order to preserve his force and liberty OF action
would retire TO tho Orange River The indi-
cations OF the past week do not point to his
doing anything OF the kind. Again. Us regards
Natal. the Government may possess informa-
ton which Ii kept from the public. making 1t
desirable FOR the troops now landing In South
Africa to proceed direct to Gen. Butler In view
OF a second attempt to relieve Ladysmith. The
Government and Gen. Butler doubtless know
pretty accurately. which we do not, the date to
which Gen White can hold Ladysmith.
II by then he Is neither relieved nor has
fought his way to the Tueea River his situa-
ton will be desperate and. though from mil
itary point OF view. whether Ladysmith does
fall or stand. should not hinder what II really
the best plan OF campaign. It is most improb-
ablo that Gen Whites force will be left to the
last chance without second effort to extend
relief.
Beyond the indications that Gen. Methuen
and Gen. Butler seem to contemplate further
activity the past weeks news shows no fresh
development. The condition OF Cape Colony
still remains the greatest danger. We have
not heard that 1t Is worse than a week ago. but
we have not been allowed to hear any
thing. The censorship since the battle
Of the Tugela has been stricter than
ever. Il is very significant that the
authorities are so uneasy that they keep Cape
Town in even greater darkness than London.
For example. Cape Town to-day cabled to Lon
don that the Beers had captured Lady Sarah
Wilson. This fact has been known here for
some weeks
Meanwhile the War once authorities seem
10 be at last convinced that war will last far
longer than was at first expected. Last
Wednesday they placed with one Arm in Lon
don a contract for 10000 tons OF fodder the
delivery to commence In South Africa during
the first week in March. Similar contracts
have probably been made elsewhere. showing
that the War ONCE Is preparing for continu-
ance OF the war until we'll along In the summer.
There has been much superfuous comment
on the interviews Of DR.. Leyds. the Transvaal
agent. with NJ. Delcasse. French Minister OF
Foreign Affairs. Tho most noteworthy point
therein Is the fact that he has been received by
aForeisn Minister. In no other capital. except
The Hague has he managed to get further
that the Under Secretary OF State. 1t may be
confidently assumed that NJ. Delcass6 has not
committed himself as It Is universally recog-
nized that mediation In any form In impossible
as yet
Commenting on the manner in which the
Government Is to make use OF the volunteers.
namely. having each volunteer battalion sup
ply one company to its line battalion In the
field. and keep second company ready at
home in reserve. Mr.. Henry Spencer Wilkinson
says: Thus the volunteer force is 10 be used by
being absorbed into the Army. This will lead
inevitably TO the amalRamation OF the volun-
teers and the regular Army, and Is the death
blow OF the specific character Of each. Il
means that henceiorth the British. like other
armies. will be homogeneous. containing no
other categories than OF men with the colors
and men In reserve, classified according to
their Immediate liability to be called up
The weeks lull. besides serving partially TO
raise the gloom caused by the news OF Gen.
Buffers defeat. tho recovery being greatly as
sisted by the appointment OF Gen. Roberts and
Gen. Kitchener. has also greatly diminished
the rate OF ascension OF the casualty list The
weeks official list. though this Is probably in
complete. makes the total now 1871