The Saint Paul globe., 1900-01-29
LONDON IN GLOON
WEEK OPENS WITH NEW TIDINGS
OF REPULSE IN SOUTH
AFRICA
LADYSMlTH NOW DOOMED
ENGLISH DO NOT SEE HOW THE
INVESTED CITY rs TO BE
RELIEVED
DR.. LEYDs IS AT BERLIN

Il
In OfHciaI Audience by the Em-
perOr-RumOr That He Is Seeking
ton If Such Step Proves Necessary.
LONDON, Jan. 29-The week has open
ed with the utmost gloom for the Brit
ish public, and the reaction is all the
stronger because Of the high hopes that
were reposed in Gen. Buffers turning
movement and his reported announce
ment that there would be mo turning
back"
AT the very moment when DR.. Leyds
is being received as an honored guest in
the highest circles on the continent,
Great Britain has TO suffer the worst
disaster in a campaign thus far disas-
trous
Talk is heard about the absolute neces-
sity of abandoning Ladysmith to its fate,
unless Lord Roberts reyerts to the orig
inal plan Of an advance over the Orange
river upon Bloemfontein.
To Ladysmith the disappointment must
be very bitter A dispatch from the
Boer laager near the town, dated Jan. "a,
describes the garrison as very evidently
preparing q desperate coup in order to
effect a junction with Gen. Buffers ad-
vancing army"
1t may be regarded as certainty that
in the confident hope of early relief Sir
George White has lately been issuing
extra rations, and this fact has given
rise to an exaggerated idea as to the
length of time the provisions would last.
Even should it be decided to send Gen.
Butler reinforcements and to attempt to
reach Ladysmith by a movement through
the still more difficult country east Of
Colenso 1t is extremely doubtful whether
the garrison could hold out long enough,
as such a movement would occupy at
least a month.
MOVEMENT A FAILURE.
The Times says: 1.-THE most carefully
planned and executed movement Of the
whole campaign has entirely failed, and
it can hardly be necessary to dwell upon
the extreme probability that We shall
learn sooner or later Of a catastrophe
almost without precedent in our military
history, catastrophe indeed without a
parallel except in the surrender Of York
town.
1--WE are checked at every point of the
campaign. In fact, the campaign Is still
to begin We wish we had clearer proofs
that even now the government has any
adequate comprehension of the situation
The utterances of responsible officials
have done nothing to reassure the coun-
try on this point.
Heavy or light the thing has to he
done, and the government ought to pre-
pare for the immediate dispatch of $4,000
men, and to take steps to send yet an
other $4,000 if these should be needed.
The hopeless attempts to carry on the
campaign with four widely separated col
umns, each unequal to its task, must
be abandoned for concentration of force
and Of purpose"
SPIRIT OF DETERMINATION.
All the editorials this morning breathe
the spirit of calm determination. Not
one will allow that any reverse could
deter the country from the object it has
set itself to attain, whatever the sacri-
fees which may be involved.
Very frank criticism of the government
however, is beginning to be heard, even
in quarters that have hitherto refrain.
ed. The Daily Mail boldly throws all
the blame upon Sir Michael Hicks-Beach
and Lord LansdoWne. 1t points to Pres
ident Lincolns dismissal of Simon Cam
eron from the post of secretary of war
as a precedent for getting rid of in
competent ministers
The Morning Post dwells upon the dan.
ger Of further rebellion at the Cape, and
of possible European complications. 1t
urges that the navy be prepared for
any emergency"
Hhn a nn6Q ard nf ne rnf
the anxiety of the people to learn how
much truth there is in the Boer accounts
of the lighting at Spion Kop. Gen. Bull
lers obscIrity in his dispatches is rather
bitterly criticised, as well as the fact
that the censorship is not only heavily
delaying, but is cutting all important
matter from the newspaper dispatches.
DETAILS MEAGER.
To judge with any accuracy of the ex-
tent of the disaster is virtually impossi.
BILE. 1t appears that Gen. Butler had
altogether five brigades wholly or partly
engaged, Gen. Cookies, Gen. Hildyard s.
Gen. Hart's, Gen. Woodgate's and Gen.
Lyttletown's. 1t Is possible that Gen.
Butler has withdrawn his whole force,
but it is generally assumed that Lyttle-
toms brigade and Lord. Dundonald's cav
airy and other troopers are still on the
north side of the Tugela.
! Gen. Buffers confidence that the Beers
did not molest his retreat because they
had been taught to respect the fighting
powers of the British soldier is not shar-
ed in London. 1t is thought rather that
the Beers had some other plan in store,
or did not wish to waste their men,
Large arrivals of troops are expected
at Cape Town during the week. There
has been great activity in military quar-
ters in al parts of England since Satur..
day The war office, expecting a great
crush at the opening of parliament, has
placed new restrictions on visitors from
the opening of the session.
ROBERTS PLANS.
The situation at other points is un-
changed, but indications that Lord Rob-
erts is preparing plans for an advance
across the Orange river come In dis
patSh to the Daily Chronicle from Sterk-
stroom, dated Jan. 25. which says that
''Thebets, an important position near
Steinburg, on the Storms-Rosmead line,
is now occupied by the British, who are
now repairing the railway and bridges.
The correspondent says this will facili-
tate a junction between Gen. Gatacre and
Hon. Hily-Kenny."
GOING TO TRANSVAAL
The correspondent of the Times at
Lourenzo Marques, telegraphing Thurs
day, Jan. 25, says:
"Over thirty Frenchmen who arrived
here by the French steamer Girendo and
were prohibited from proceeding to the
Transvaal, appealed to the French consul.
who protested that they had passports