The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-02
FROM WINSTON CHURCHILL.
Statement That Covers the Situation
Around Buffers Camp.

LONDON, Feb. 2.-Spencer Wilkinson, in
the Morning Post, to-day discusses a long
dispatch from Winston Churchill, dated at
Pietermaritzburg and describing the situ-
alton in Natal He says: This dispatch
deserves to be closely read. 1t is an appeal
to the public at home. and. as it has
been passed by the censor, may be taken to
represent the feelings of General Buffers
army. Mr.. Churchill represents the diff
culties of General Buffers task in concise
terms. The enemy will act with common
sense. They will place outposts on the hills
and keep back their main body until they
see the direction of General Buffers move
ment. Then they will quickly bring up the
main body and extemporize what defensive
works they can in addition to such as they
have profusely prepared in anticipation Of
various possible advances. That is what
every one would expect them to do, and
that their main body can ride faster than
General Buffers main body can walk was
also pretty generally understood. The con-
sequence is that the Boer army cannot be
turned. Wherever ii is attacked ii can
present an intrenched 'front.'.
According to Mr.. Churchill, there are
1000 Beers watching Ladysmith. the same
number held ready to resist General Butler
and 5000 kept in reserve to reinforce either
body at need. Thus General Butler has to
attack 1900 men intrenched on favorable
grounds. For that purpose Mr.. Churchill
thinks he ought to have $4,000 men instead
of 5000. In other words, General Butler
ought to have another division.
This opinion coincides with the view
we have all along expressed-that the GEN.
| ter of gravity of the war lies in Natal, and
! that British victory there would be de-
| cisive while complete British defeat in
| Natal would have disastrous consequences
not easily to be estimated 1t seems diff
| cult, in view Of the strategy accepted at
| the War Office, as well as at Cape Town,
| to believe that General Butler is to be al
I, lowed once more TO attack position with
| less than the numerical superiority OF
| three to one which tacticians commonly
| think necessary for such a task. II IS
| hardly ineligible that he should attack
| again without being reinforced. Apparent
| ly, however, a third attempt will be made
| without loss Of time. Indeed, 1t seems
| probable that the movement is now in
| progress. We must hope that the splendid
bravery of our men will be rewarded by
| success When Mr.. Churchill says that
| the public must nerve themselves he prob
| ably means prepare our countrymen at
home for heavy losses in the coming bat
Winston Churchilrs dispatch from Pieter-
| maritizburg in addition to details respect
| ing the position on the Tugela, gives a
most interesting survey Of the general posi-
| ton. He says: These most serious at
| tacks upon the War Office appear unjust.
| The great army in Africa Is Of the finest
| quality. beautifully organized and equipped
| in all details. and has excellent artillery.
| The Boer guns are few but splendid, and
are cleverly handled. The Beers can find
| the range of moving targets at 1000 yards.
| often at the first shot OF our guns. We can
| not explain how"
In an interesting comparison of British
| and Boer methods OF warfare as illustrated
| during the battle of Spion kop. showing
| how the British troops were "cramped.
| mixed and disorganized" and how the ma
| chinery of control was shattered" he says:
This would not have affected the Beers
| each of whom in pursuance OF a general
| resolve either TO hold or TO evacuate a posi-
| ton, would have acted individually and
| quite independently Of officers orders. II
| was a case OF a pack OF hounds against a
| flock of sheep. But the next morning the
| British battalions were again collected
| and solid. showing the advantages Of dis
| cipline. A similar loss would have dis
| heartened the Beers and have caused a
| general trek Herein lies our expectation
| of ultimate success. The British have great
| recuperating powers. The Beers have none
| The war. therefore, must be brought nearer
| an end by unsatisfactory operations"
Mr.. Churchill. who anticipates that the
consequences OF the war will not be Alto
| gether evil, las there will be q great In
| crease of respect between the combatants,' -
and contemplates the former wedge OF
| cleavage will be gone forever. recalls the
1 never born without travail. and after the
| refining flames have cooled we shall find
/ the pure gold OF a more harmonious sys-
| TEN. Let Great Britain persevere."