The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-27

Butler has not 20,vvJ more men, declaring
that, If they would not make victory cer-
tain. his enterprise without them is hope
less.
The Spectator, dealing with the necessity
of large additional military preparations.
says: 1T may be that we have yet another
cylcle of disasters in front of u.s."
The transport Assaye arrived at Cape
Town last Friday with 2,127 officers and
men, The first portion Of the Seventh d.
vision is afioat Hence. with the 10000 men
of this division and about 1900 others now
at sea, it lies in the power of Lord Roberts
to reinforce General Butler heavily. This
course is advised by several military
writer's.
|. Although England's nerves are severely
tried, her nerve is absolutely mistaken,
and probably nothing that can happen In
South Africa will change in the slightest
degree her intentions. She will continue to
receive bad news. If 1t comes. with dignity
and will maintain her determination to win
at last.
URGED TO KEEP COOL.
The morning papers editorially advise
coolness and judgment and careful avoid
ance of overestimating the impor-
tance of the lost position. The
Times saws: .'The natural disquietude
of the public is increased by the singular
vagueness and inconsistency of General
Buffers dispatches. There is. indeed, a
very singular and somewhat disquieting
attitude of detachment on General Buffers s
comments as revealed in the Gazette's dis
patches. For instance, his comment as to
the action at Zouthpan's drift His remark
concerning the probability that British
officers would in time learn the value of
scouting might properly have come from
a foreign military attache, but 1T is rather
more than surprising that 1t should be
thrown out in this casual. irresponsible
fashion by the head of the forces concern
ing his subordinates, a week or two, more
over. after the loss of the guns on the
Tugela. The consequences of this latest
check may be very serious to the gallant
Ladysmith garrison 1t is impossible % es-
innate the next movement. 1t may be
that General Butler will be compelled to
retire from the ground lately won. but
in any event we may be sure that the
British people will not show themselves
wanting in fortitude and steadiness. The
government would be well advised to call
out Immediately all the militia and to ex-
pedite the dispatch of the eighth division
and of the fourth cavalry brigade. No
doubt Lord Roberts will strain every
nerve to enable General Butler to renew
| the attempt TO relieve Ladysmith."
| The military critic OF the Times discuss
| ing various probable explanations. dwells
| strongly on "the terrible drawback to
British generals involved in the absence of
maps of this tangled hill country.
MORE TROOPS NEEDED.
| The Standard. which thinks still more
troops win be required and which COM
ments on the astonishing manner in which
| South Africa swallows up troops whole
sale without any appreciable result" goes
on to refer TO the continental jubilation
and to the predictions regarding General
| Buffers check. 1t says: ''It Is humiliating
| TO find that the Natal territory has been
| more accurately studied in Berlin than
| at our own headquarters on the Tugela "
| The editorial then alludes to the signif-
| canoe OF DR.. Leyds's doings in Paris, re-
| marking: ''Dr Leyds was guest at Presi-
| dent Loubet's banquet on Thursday, where
in consequence. the British ambassador did
| not appear. NJ Delcasse conversed some
| time with him and IL is believed that he
has since received him at Quai d'Orsay.
| Our Paris correspondent. however, assures
| us that the French government is de-
| termined to preserve neutrality"
| The position of the British armies In
| Cape Colony is virtually unchanged. Lord
| Methuen forwards by mail the first of
fetal recognition OF Boer valor and mill