New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-12-17
REJOICINGS SPOILED.
THE BOERS UNDERESTIMATED ONCE
MORE
DISASTER OF NICHoLsoNs MEX REPRO
DUCED OUTSIDE PREToRIA-PER-
SONAL NOTES.
Copyright 1900: BY The New-York Tribune.l
IBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.l
soNAL NOTES.


London, Dec II, 6 a. m.-The release of pris-
oners and other incidents reported by General
Kitchener yesterday fail to reassure the public
The last phase of the campaign Is remarkable
for the miscalculations on the British side. and
excites many outbursts Of candor. The staying
power of the Beers has been underestimated'
and their preparations for continuing hostile
operations in the extremity of their fortunes by
means of buried stores of ammunition have not
been taken into account. There has been a fu-
tile discussion for months the requirements
of police work and fox hunting, and suddenly
Nicholson's Mex has been reproduced within
forty miles of Pretoria with an isolated COM
mand surrounded and forced to surrender after
it's ammunition had been exhausted, and with
the main body retiring without making an ef-
fective effort to retrieve the disaster. General
Clements's explanation that the Northumber-
land Fusiliers short Of ammunition makes
every Englishman grit his teeth The collapse
of the Boer cause has been assumed as the in
evitable consequence of the exhaustion of war
material. and here is the Fighting Fifth. with
out powder and shot, and compelled to surren-
der The Generals now receiving the congratu-
ations Of their friends upon their return frankly
confess that they have an uncomfortable feellns
in being toasted and feasted. Lord Dundonaid
told me before the public banquet at the Hotel
Cecil that he could not help regretting his pre-
mature return. since the evidently had not
ended and soldiers place was at the front
General Pole-Carew, who is overwhelmed with
the kindness of Devonshre friends, probably
finds it equally difficult to reconcile his solderly
sense of duty with a full appreciation of the de-
lights of home hospitality Lord Methuen's
friends emphasizing the fact that while he
has been more sharply criticised than any other
General except Gatacre he has at least remained
on the fighting line. bent seeing the job
through. De Wet and Delarey spelling in
advance the stately thanksgiving service in
honor Of Lord Roberts's return. The book writ
ers have also been taken aback by the re-
crudescence of hostilities, which cannot be mini
mized as guerilla warfare. DR.. Conan Doyle
who has written what was considered COM
plete history of the Boer war. anxiously waited
during Lord Dundonald's speech at the Vaga-
bonds dinner for some explanation of the unex-
pected revival of hostilities which seem to in
volve the necessity for additional chapters. II
not a fresh volume The war correspondents
were equally i'll at ease the same occasion
Among them was Julian Ralph. with article
over his signature in The Spectator" on
hypothetical question OF the censorship OF dis
patches. but with the admission on his lips that
the newspapers had reade a mistake in with
drawing their men from the field prematurely
and in leaving some OF the most interesting ex-
ploits and events of the war unrecorded.
This mornings newspapers all comment upon
the seriousness OF the defeat which befell the
British force under Clements last Thursday.
''The Telegraph considers that the reverse was
only rendered possible by the carelessness Of
those in command. and that a heavy response
bility rests upon some for neglecting to see
that the troops were in position TO hold the hill
against all corners. Broadwood's conduct seems
inexplicabe, and people are asking why there
WAS no cooperation between him and Clements.
The authorities are quite alive 10 the ugliness
Of the present situation in South Africa, and
an additional contingent of five thousand
mounted infantry will shortly be sent out. Cen
eraI Kitchener it is stated. is TO be allowed an
absolutely free hand.
Mr.. Brodrick's appointment of committee to
consider the whole OF the existing system of
work at the War Office gives general satisfac-
tion. The members Of the committee all
trained TO business methods. and useful
forms, it is confidently expected VIII be recon-
mended by them.