The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-01-12
SOLDIERS ARE FRETTlNG.
A Change In South African Commanders
Has Become Imperative.
THE truth IS FINALLY GETTING OUT
Letters from the officers erd Men
nj tho Front Have Not Been
Censored

New York, January n.--A dispatch to
the Tribune from London says; The fourth
month or the war opens with Lord Rob-
erts in command of the scattered British
forces in South Africa. The government
has made SO many mistakes that they
might have credit for sagacity in sending
TO Capetown great soldier capable OF
commanding the confidence OF armies In
the field and sllencing criticism at home.
While the situation has not been material
ly altered since he received the queen q
orders. evidence has been supplied from
the field operations that the soldiers are
fretting AID discontented and that changes
OF commanders are imperative. The cen
sorship has mutilated the press dispatches
aud exercised q restraint over war eorre-
spondents by mail, but II has not tam
pered with private letters from officers
and men which are now finding their way
into print. The truth about Gatacres re-
pulse and the retreat aud the slaughter
OF the highland Brigade at Magersfontem
and the action OF Harris and Barton's
brigades at the battle on the Tugela mas
come out with cumulative eheet in short
letters OF soldiers published in London
and the provincial press. These reNela-
lions have produced painful impression
thar the armies have not been led prudent-
~ and that the time has passed wnen gen-
erals who have Numbered should be al
lowed to relieve regulations when the sol
diers have lost faith In them. Bullor
stands in q better light than any other
general. because he orfercd conclusive
- !, 80. ,,l ..,. Tx,.
The lives OF soldiers in ordering a retire
ment from Colonso when they were eager
TO continue fighting under hopeless cOndl
ti0us. General White alone has redeemed
his reputation and rendered The relief OF
Ladysmith duty Of paramount impor-
lance
The story OF the Suffolks reverse, which
is told IN detail by several agencies siid
correspondents this morning is a sorry
repetition of Gatacres ambuscade on a
smaller scale. The Dutch were evidently
informed by spies that night march
would be made and awaited In silence the
attack, allowing the Suffolks 10 come al
most within bayonet reach, Colonel Wat
son was making speech TO his officers
when an appalling fire WIS opened upon
the Sufolks and he barely closed it with
the word charge before falling fatally
/ wounded There was n stampede down the
/ hill when the cry company retire" was
Z heard and the officers were left with only
oneqnarter Of their force 10 fight hope
lessly and surrender. Only one officer
escaped, and the losses IN killed, wounded
and missing now exceeds $40. This IS
final proof that night attacks when the
British forces are beset with spies are
highly hazardous, and that precautions
should be taken to guard against PREACHER
Gus orders from the enemy's side. Gen
eral French has remained inactive since
this disaster. t
The clubs were filed with vague rumors
last night that General Buffers second
battle had been fought during the day, hut
there was no direct confirmation OF TINS
at a late hour The silence which has
been maintained in Upper Natal since
Sunday was uubroken save by mortality
lists from fever at G.adysmiih, The mili-
tary writer's are urging IN this morning S
press the doubling Of contemplated rrlu-
forcemeats, and forecastiug Lord Roh-
erts' campaign, hut faded public is weary
OF expert criticism and impatient for news
Of the right sort The man In the str et
wants to have all tho critics sent 10 The
front.
The world Of fashion rallied at The Hay
market theater Yesterday al the concert
organized by Princess Christie FOR th-
benefit of the Rifemep's Aid society n
was brilliant affai in which Albanl and
many other artists shared tho burdens al
the entertainment A spirited play wsF
enacted nv Frederick Harrison Cyri
Maude and Wnifred Emery and Jllha
Nelson appeared as Britannia and sans
the national anthem With stirring efiert
Lord Salisburya reply to the American
request for information respecting tho
seizure Of hreadstufp at nelagos Bay il
entirely satisfactory 10 neutral traders
The export OF -four or other food from
American ports tn neutral territory vii
Ia 3.
destination Is IN the enemy he apparent
from The manifest American exporters
under this official ruling can send food
stuffs without risk Of seizure as contra
band II they conslgn them to Portuguese
merchants at Lourenzo Marquee, although
they ought naturally 10 take the prenau-
ton OF shipping them under neutral rather
than the British flag, and OF avoiding 81
traces OF their ultimate destination in the
clearance papers Compensation Will by
made without doubt for the seizure OF
provisions which have not passed out o.
the hands of American owners nor beer
tainted with evidence In the ships papers
i, Of ultimate destination for the enemy
Close students Of international Law arr
confident that the American merchants
viii not he hindered in supplying thu
Dutch republics with foodstutfs II thes'
, precautions are observed, They are alsI
convinced that the precedent Is dan
. gerous one for England. Lord Salisbury
ruling. II England and France are at war
Will exclude all foodstuffs destined fol
the enemy, unless they are consigned u
/, neutral port. with papers untainted
- Americans IN event OF such a war cal
|. ship -four and bacon to France via Bel
GUM, but not TO the United Kingdom !
!, the experts understand Lord Salisbury
ruling. he is securing continental nation
!, with neutral borders against starvation
: in war time, but not Great Britain. aut
, meanwhile he is not preventing neutra
trading with the open market for Delago
, Bay, where Boer agents will be free pur
:, chasers Of whatever they want.
TOOK BRoMO sELTZEH