New-York tribune., 1900-07-01

tCopvriEht. 1900. Bv The Nev-Tork Tribune
GBY CABLE. TO The rRrRrSEI
London. June 30-John Bull is in an irritable
condition, taking himself most seriously. but not
doing himself fun Justice apart from China
where he shares with Christendorn and Japan
the burdens Of suppressing and counteractiug
an anti-foreign movement Of terrible magni-
tude. He Is on his defence in South Africa
where he is convinced that the war has been
protracted through the inca pacity OF Lord Rob
erts's lieUtenants and the defects Of the Brit
ish military system. He is exasperated by the
long record OF Boer ambuscades. the trapping
OF battalicns. the raids lines Of Communi-
cation, the seizure Of guns and the adroit
man6uvres and retreats. and considers that his
prestige has suffered from the facJ that TWO
feeble republics. with their unframed burghers
ana rough riders. should have made so wonder
iui stand against the resources Of a rich and
powerful empire, and that scattered com
mandoes, although outnumbered twenty TO one
should still be hanging upon the TANKS OF the
advancing armies. swoopirg down upon iso-
iated posts and conveys and Guiding pursuit and
capture
He has been cOnsoling himself with the r.
Election that. while the army was ofHcered toe
exclusively by men Of rank. wealth and fashion
the spoiled darlinGs of society. the transport
and medical services had been well managed
and that the English reputation for the prac-
tical business details Of war had been main
tained, but Mr.. BUrdetJ-Coutts and The Tines
have suddenly interviewed 10 minimize this com
pensation for the <efects in the training OF
British officers. ard John Bull is in a state Of
mind for whipping thistles and filing his fingers
with thOrns.
Mr.. George Wyndham helped Eugushmen 70
be just 10 themselves by his brilliant speech in
daf Of ba
students of war have understood the enormous
difficulties of Roberts's work, but the man in
the street has not cOnprehended them. and Mr.
Wyndham, with pictorial skill. has justified the
British reputation by series Of perspective
views Of an audaclous march across a waterless
country. with dying horses and half starved
men. OF the succession Of daring springs By
which Pretoria was approached. with bridges
broken and raiders harassing the fanks, and
of the stupendous magnitude Of the business OF
keeping an army over two hundred thousand
strong supplied with food, ammunition, water.
medical stores. horses and forage. and enabling
it live and move from day 70 day.
This speech may not have been detailed an
swer TO Mr.. Burdett-COutts's exposures OF the
temporary breakdown Of the medical service. but
it serves to convince rejecting men that the
campaign in South Africa has been a remark
able problem OF the dynamics OF war. and that
Roberts's marches and victories have been ac-
compIished in the face Of superhuman difficulties
and rebound to the glory Of the English people.
Incidentally wounded men and fever patients
have suffered from lack Of transport and the
confusion caused by the enormous burdens OF
supplying vast multitude OF soldiers by a sin
gle track railway through an enemy's country.
but Lord Robertss work has been marvel OF
genius. courage and power since the opening OF
his campaign, when everything had gone wrong,
thanks to Aldershot and the pets OF smart So
ciety- Roberts. French and the CoIoniaIs have
saved the Empire.
Mr.. Burdett-Coutts is not popular man IN the
House, and he has been suspected Of an inordi-
nate desire to force himself upon public atten-
tion. His neglect to open the debate which was
brought on by his terrible exposure OF the hard
ships Of the soldiers was a tactical blunder, Of
which Mr. Wyndham quick to take advan-
tage. Mr.. Burdett-Coutts had an opportunity
for recovering his lost ground. but instead OF
condensing his case he wearied the Commons by
a protracted speech and wasted the ammunition
with which he was we'll stocked. He had
strong case and with The Times" 10 support
him and Julian Ralph and many invaded sol
diers to confirm his charges he was in position
TO command public attention and make himself
a prominent figure in the House OF Commons
Mr. Wyndham's defence Of the War ONCE was
Unexpectedly strong and effective; he did not
meet the most serious charge, which was that
sanitary precautions had been neglected at Mod
der River. PaardebuTg and BloemfOntein, and
that the ravages OF enteriC fever had been in
creased by neglect to drive the Beers away from
the waterworks at Sannas Post. He presented
the question admirably from the broad ground
that the British army has had 70 perform
work OF arduous difficulty and tremendous mag
nitude. and that temporary arrangements OF the
transport and medical services here and there
were unavoidable.
There must always be men capable OF seeing
a 1y on a barn door. but not the door ltseII nor
even the barn. The campaign in south africa
while dragging. is not going badly accounts
like those published this afternoon OF the capt-
ure Of a railway construction party and the
Derbyshires early in the month relate 10 IN
cidents in the rear. inseparablr from Lord
Roberts's rapid march TO Pretoria GueFiliA
warfare Is the last resource Of the Dutch gen
erals and they have a marked talent FOR IL
There are four commanders still at large IN the
Free state under Christian De Wet Pet us
Wet Olivier and Linmer. Lord Roberts Is clear
Iv preparing to occupy Frankfort Nrede' be'@-e-
hem and Harrismith by a converglng move
ment. and TO disperse these four commanuoeS
When this has been done, BothaS force VIII %
followed toward Kruger's railwly car anu poS-
sibly TO Lydenburg- Large sections OF OolH 'H9
Free State and the Transvdal are paclneo' ana
the campaign has been reduced to the 'edioas
=. 5te.rIt stage OF suppressins raids upon
- - accommodation II Botha and De wei
no,s agreed to keep the field until one OF -"
otbar Is taken and his forces scattered 'i1
cess Of this converging movement VIII '''l. -.
end Of the war; but Lord k'o7''S ''''''
catch his hare
-. .-,r, china and the medical service
Apart - - ts,,, subjects of public IN