The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1900-02-01
Most Terrible Catastrophe to Brit
ish Arms Since the Amer
lean Revolution.
ALL ENGLAND IS IN LAMtNTATlON.
The War Office Denies That Ladysmith
Has Surrendered, But Relief is
Practically Abandoned.
c,r. DuIIers Army Retrenteed to
the south of TuGela River
Reported Abandonment
IL Advised.

Iondon. Jan. 3O.-The usual airy at
,cmpts to minimize The seriousness Of
the situation in South Africa are en-
urcly lacking Monday afternoon, and
II is frankly acknowledged that the
most serious effort OF the present war
has dismally failed. There is no sign
of wish on the part of the leaders
~ public opinion to disguise the ugly
facts. but. on the contrary, there is n
djsposition TO face the full difficulties
md discover the best way out. In
short. the policy voiced everywhere is
gathering up Of forces for more ef-
icctivc blows. All hopes OF the speedy
relief o. Ladysmith have been aban-
doncd. and the consensus of expert
opinion urges the immediate shifting
Of the theater Of war from the rocky
kopies OF Natal to the open veldt Of
the Free State. One thing appears
certain-anothcr long pause is incvi-
table unless the Beers assume the Of
fensive. because. even in the event
OF Gen. Bnller further attempting to
reach Ladysmith, the planning of
new movement will necessarily occupy
time.
The afternoon newspapers are draw
Ing attention 10 the ClOscness of the
parallel between the federal attack
on Gen. Lee at Fredericksburg and the
operations on the upper Tugela.
Curiously enough, there is visible.
especially in military circles, an un-
dercurrcnt Of relief at the news that
the British are safely south of the
Tugcla. for the rumors of Saturday
had coniured up visions of an immense
catastrophe.
The st. James Gazette Monday af-
ternOOn returns SCathing criticism Of
the language of Gen. Buffers reports.
II says: Gen. Buffers reflection on
the terror he put into the foe reminds
MS Of things we have heard about Chi
ncse mandarins."
The afternoon papers are discussing
whence are to come the troops for a
protracted campaign. 1t is becoming
generally recognized that some form
Of compulsory service is more immi-
nent than previously thought of. The
81. James Gazette, however, suggests
that the solution of pouring more and
more troops into South Africa savors
of the Spanish action in Cuba, adding
that the solution of making better use
Of the thousands already there has
never suggested itself.
The queens speech at the reassem-
bling of parliament Tuesday is await
pectation that a considerable increase
in the naval and military expenditure
will be necessitated by the lessons of
the war, and be altogether apart from
the special war vote.
Great anxiety has been removed by
the announcement that Lord Dundo-
lands cavalry forces, which it was
feared were isolated among the hills
in the neighborhOod Of Action Homes,
are safe on the south bank of the Tu-
gela river
As the afternoon newspapers are
commenting without full knowledge
Of the facts they ar" not disposed to
offer any apologies for Gen. Bullers
defeat The ST. James Gazette says:
THE meaning of the retreat is OBJ
yious. We have had to recognize that
we can not force our way through
the enemy's lines to Ladysmith. Why,
we don't know. If the Boer position
is impregnable it ought never to have
been attacked. If it is capable Of be-
ing taken, we were rcpulsed because
the leadership was Ddo, and it is idle
10 attempt TO conceal that the latter
is far from incredible. TO start out
declaring there must he no turning
back is eminently foolish. When
swagger and rant prevail, there is
commonly plentiful lack of judgment
anc true resolution. 1t requires Sc
nous effort not TO yield to gloomy
conviction that the intellectual anil
moral qualities which make for sue
'~'N ''Nh iNIidNtu Oi our Stdl
hy words, words, words. The remedy
Tor South Africa is not TO add to the
numbers, but to put the troops where
their force can come into play"
zen. Butler wires from Spearman's
camp, Jan. %, that the casualties
among the officers of the 5th division
and mounted brigade at Spion Kop,
January "a, were:
killed-Twenty- two; wounded, 20;
missing, G.
The war Office denies the report
mat Ladysmith has surrendered, and
announces that very heavy list Of
casualties will be issued soon.
II is learned from reliable sources
mat Field Marshal Lord Roberts has
ADVISED the abandonment of Lady,
smith. AT the war Office, the dispatch
"ods' no confirmation could be OBJ
famed OF the adyices said TO have been
gwen by Lord Roberts.