The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-28
BRITISH BLUNDERs.

hasco in capturing and then abandoning
Spion kop. dwelt strongly on "the terrible
drawback to British generals involved in
the absence of maps of this tangled hill
country" Another London paper said eft
Is humiliating to find that the Natal ter
ritory has been more accurately studied
In Berlin than at our headquarters on the
Tugela" These expressions emphasize
feature Of the present war that has already
become conspicuous-namely, the lack of
preparation on the part of the British.
Aside from the question of sympathy or
the merits Of the cause on either side there
can be no question but the British have
shown an astonishing want of prepara-
ton for war in many respects The situa-
ton In Africa for many years past has been
such as to suggest the probability of war
Aside from the fact that there had al
ready been two wars with the Beers, leav-
ing vital questions unsettled the fact of
two such races confronting each other,
both ambitious to dominate southern At
RIGA, made war and fight to the finish,
soon or late, inevitable. The Beers seem to
have recognized this, and for several years
past they have been making active prepara-
sure to come. And this suggests one fea-
ture of British blundering-namely, their
utter ignorance of the military prepara-
lions and strength of the Beers While
vyar of IN,
large supplies Of war material, including
the latest improved long-range and rapid
firing guns, and equipping and drilling for
active service, the British allowed them
selves to be fooled with false reports of
their unreadiness and weakness The Beers
have nearly twice many men in the field
now as the British authorities believed they
could raise. and Lord wolseley himself
never believed they were half as we'll sup
piled with munitions of war as they are
showing themselves to be. In this respect
Great Britain went into the war handi-
capped with most erroneous ideas bAsed
on an utter lack of trustworthy informa-
ton. Some things in connection with the
mobilizing and transportation of the British
troops have been well managed, but they
have paid dearly for their stolid adherence
to obsolete military methods and tactics,
their refusal to learn from other modern
wars and their seeming inability to adapt
themselves to new situations. Now comes
the confession of London papers that the
British generals have no maps of the 'tan-
gled hill country" in which they are oper-
authorities are better posted in regard to
the topography of the country than the
British. This is indeed, surprising and
humiliating confession, especially when it
Is remembered that the entire war thus far
has been conducted on British territory.
What have British engineers and draughts-
men been doing all these years when war
was brewing that they have not mapped
every foot of the country? Even if they
deemed it impossible for an enemy to in
wade British colony, they should have
mapped the country for their own conven-
fence and information. The Beers evil
IDENTIFY know the country we'll enough with
or without maps. but the British, II seems.
fighting in the dark and feeling their
way around in their own territory. Such
lack of preparation for contingencies is
most surprising in nation that calls itself
a military power. The statement that "the
Natal territory has been more accurately
studied in Berlin than at our head
quarters on the Tugela' recalls an incident
OF the Franco-German war of 1870. When
France declared war Germany was so ready
for it that her whole military machinery
button, as it were. General Won Moltke
had but to open a drawer to find accurate
maps not only of all the roads leading to
France. but of that country. all the way to
Paris. The German maps of France were
better than the French maps. 1t Is re-
lated that during the advance a German
officer pointing to a mark on his map,
asked what had become of the mill that
should be there. He was told 1t had been
burned a few months before. An invading
army might be excused for not knowing an
enemy's country. but for the British not to
have good maps of the Natal territory in
which they are now operating is most sur
prising They will probably blunder
through and win out in the present war.
but it will be in spite of poor preparation
and bad management.