The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-02-13
ruGELA's CAMPAIGN COLLAPSE
Scathing Criticism Of English General
ship Which Has Brought a
Crisis to the Empire.

NEW YORK. Feb, l2.--The Trib-
me's London correspondent says;
The astounding collapse OF the up
per Tugela campaign and the continu-
apce of the impasse at Modder river
and on the southern frontier OF the Or
auge Free State have brought the Eng
lish people to the verge Of an imperial
crisis unparalleled since Yorktown.
This is an ominous word which the
leading English journal was the first to
use and it has been taken up with one
accord by the press. Sir George Whites
garrison, like Lord CORVALLIS army,
is hopelessly beleaguered and its fate
seeTrs to be sealed unless 1t can break
through the enemys lines and fight
its way to the Tugela at the point OF
the bayonet. and the Kimberley garris-
on is in an equally precarious condition.
The magnitude Of the British military
preparations has not intimidated the
little Dutch republics. II Ladysmith
be their Yorktown. with the full force
Of the analogies, they are in the way OF
winning it and bringing their war OF
independence to a close. and there is
10 hostile fleet to be fought at sea by
another Rodney. who may break the
force Of disaster by restoring the pres
tige Of the British navy.
The soldiers have done their work
with splendid fortltude and gallantry.
and the administrative departments
nave supported them with untiring en-
ergy and amazing resources Of organ
ization. The generals have failed and
the military staff. which has been re-
spOnsible for the conduct Of the war,
has broken down and brought reproach
upon the nation. II their advice was
not needed in June and July, when the
mobilization Of the army corps was be-
ing urged by Lord Wolseley. they were
allowed free hand from the opening
Of the war in October and have them
selves to blame If they have been out
maneuvered and outgeneralled, by the
Dutch commanders who have never
studied the art Of war but had gone
from their breeding farms to the
battlefelds among the kopjes.
With breasts covered with decorations
won in conflicts with semi-civillzed
or barbarous races and their self-esteem
inflated with the vainglorious assump-
tion that they were the only European
soldiers with continuous experience In
the science Of modern warfare, British
generals have conducted the campaign
IN South Africa as though it were a
series Of sham battles on Salisbury
plain, regulated by drill-book and the
formulas Of peace.
At the opening Of the war there
was nothing like an intelligi-
bic or reasonable plan Of military
defense. There were between 5000 AID
10000 regulars and local levies scat
tered along the western and northern
frontiers of Cape Colony and in North |
ern Natal. Military defenses required
Of these forces at one or
two points until reinforcements could |
arrive. In Cape Colony there was no
to choose defensive positions or
to collect the forces, and in Natal an |
station, Ladysmith, was
held in force because 1t was the Alder |
shot Of South Africa and portion of |
the garrison was diverted to Glencoe
for the protection Of coal mine. The |
headquarters staff may not have been
responsible for the first lines Of colonial
defense, but it must be held account
able for the strategetic blunder Of shut |
ting up Sir George Whites garrison in
Ladyslnith instead Of directing him to |
retreat, fighting at the Tugela and then
at the MoOi river and keeping his COM
munications open with the sea. If this
had been done he would have received
reinforcements by the middle Of No
vember and the siege and fall Of Lady
smith would have been avoided.
Sir Redvers Butler left England with
his plan Of campaign clearly outlined. |
His army corps was to march
through the Free State and Sir
George White was to hold the enemy In
check by remaining quiet in Lady