The age-herald., 1900-01-27
ENGLAND IS DEPRESSED
But Not Word of Criticism Is To Be
 Heard.

1London, January 9, 4 a. m.-Seven days of fighting have left the main Boers' posi- tion intact, and General Buffers army 70S weaker according to the official casualty list which seemingly do not include the spion Kop losses, as those last forwarded do not mention General Woodgates woundlng
 England is possessed by depressing sense of failure, although not word in criticism of her generals and soldiers is uttered. No effort is made to construct a happy thought on General Buffers bare eighteen words telling of the retirement from Spion Kop, and there is an uneasy impression abroad that worse news is apt to come.
 At one of the military clubs the state ment was made that the war office had de- cided upon an unpleasant supplementary dispatch from General Butler, which was held up for twelve hours.
 Spencer Wilkinson, in the Morning Post, writes as follows:
 ''This is a serious matter, and an attempt will not here be made to minimize 1t, for mo greater wrong can be done to our peo- pie at home than to mislead them about the significance of the events of the war. The right is to tell the truth as far as we know it.
 But facts from the neighborhood of the Tugela are scantier than ever. The censor ship now is simply prohtbitive, and some- thing is wrong with the cables. The break on the east coast lines has been repaired. but the cable between San Thome and Ioanda, on the west coast, is now up
 MT. Wilkinson regrets that General Butler has not 10000 more men, declaring that if this would not make victory certain his en- terprise without them is hopeless. = The Spectator, dealing with the necessity of large additional military preparations, says:
 Tt may be that we have yet another cir cle of disasters in front of us.
 sq,he transport Assaye arrived at Cape town last Friday with 2,127 officers and men. The first portion of the Seventh di- yasioa-is afloat, hence, with the 1000 men of this division and about 9,OO0 others now at sea. it lies In the power of Lord Roberts to reinforce General Butler heavily. TMs course is advised by several military w-rtters. Although England's nerves are severely tried, her nerves are absolutely un- shaken and probably nothing that can hap pen in South Africa will change tn the slightest degree her intentions. She VIII cont,uue to receive bad news, If 1t comes with dignity, and will maintain her deter imitation to win at last
 Papers Advise Goodness
 The morning papers, editorially. advise coolness and judgment and the careful avoidance of over-estimating the import ance of the lost position. The Times says:
 .grhe correctness of this latest check may be very serious to the gallant Ladysmfth garrison. It is impossible to estimate the next move. It may be that General Butler will be compelled to retire from the ground he lately won, but in any event we may pe Sure that the British people will not show themselves wanting in fortitude and steadi- ness. The government will be advised to call out all the militia and expedite the charge of the right division and the cav airy brigade. No doubt Lord Roberts will strain every nerve to enable General Bull Ter tto renew the attempt to relieve Lady smith,"