The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-30
EFFECT OF THE BATTLE OF sPION
Knp

!
KOP.
In a dispatch from the Boer beadquar-
| ters it is stated that 1.-THE effect af the
abandonment of Spion kop by the English
can hardly be gagged as yet, but il must
prove TO be immense" The Beers are
not mistaken in the view they take of
the failure of Gen. Buffers campaign for
the relief of Ladysmith. The British SOL
diers have not as much confidence in their
commanders now as they had before the
attempt 10 occupy Spion kOp was made,
and hence the reckless courage they have
exhibited in the South African war thus
far need not be expected of them in the
future. They will not be as ready again
to follow where their officers lead be
cause they will not feel sure that they are
being led in accordance with an inteli-
gent plan, and they will have doubts that
their officers are obeying orders. few
days ago Gen. Butler, in a dispatch to this
war office. said: Il suppose that our Of
1cers will learn in time the value of scout
ing, but in spite of all one can say, up 20
this they seem to blunder into the mid
die of the enemy and they suffer accord
ingly" From this it would seem that the
commanding officer cannot make his Off
GERS do what he tells them. This indl-
Gates that the commander-in-chet Is in
efficient. OF course the soldier in the
ranks knows what is going on, and Inc
more blunders there are the less likely he
is to respond fully TO the demands upo1
him when an emergency arises.
Already there is a widespread feeling in
England that the men at the head of the
war office are incompetent and this feel
ing is likely soon to grow into a demand
for a change. 1t is not improbable that
the Spion kop disaster will hasten that
demand. There has been little else than
defeat for the British since the South At
rican war began, and the English people
are showing signs OF losing confidence in
those who are in authority.
But the effect of the Splon kop engage
ment is especially noticeable outside of
England. DR.. Leyds, the Boer represent
ative in Europe, is being lionized in Ger
many The Germans are outspoken In
their sympathy for the Beers. DR.. Leyds
tells them that the war will be a long one,
y
they have achieved their independence
What he says is applauded and approved.
In France there is rejoicing over the dis
ester the British have suffered, and it
would be an easy matter In that country
to raise a small army to assist the Beers.
In this country, it is becoming harder
every day for the President to resist the
efforts that are being made to get him TO
offer to mediate. In our dispatches yes
terday there were accounts of two great
meetings, one in Minneapolis and the other
in st. Louis, in which strong resolutions
of sympathy for the Beers were passed.
and requests of the President to take steps
to bring the war to a close were made
The fact that any such step on the part
of the President might involve this coun-
try in trouble with Great Britain is not
taken into consideration.
1t is question, however, how long the
President will continue to resist this pres
sure. 1t is but natural for him to look
out for his own political interests. He
wants another term, and is, besides, an
opportunist. If he reaches the conclusion
that the majority sentiment is in favor of
interfering in the South African war for
the purpose of bringing it to an end. he
may take the step which he now hesitates
to take. He knows, of course, and every
body else knows, that an offer to inter-
vene would be regarded by Great Britain
as an unfrendly act At this stage Of
the war there could be no settlement of
the differences between the British and
tha hat IA
independence. Great Britain has nothing
to gain therefore at this time by having
the war brought TO a close.
The Beers are undoubtedly right in
thinking that the effect of the disaster to
the British al Spion kop will be immense
Unless the British do something soon 10
change the situation they are likely to
nave an uprising of the Dutch in South
Africa to deal with as well as troubles in
other parts of the world