Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-01-30
CASUALTIES AT
SPIONKOP WERE
VERY HEAVY.

don indicate that military associates Of
General White are of the opinion that he
will make a desperate attempt to break
through the Boer lines and escape from
Ladysmith, that though such a move-
ment would cost tremendous sacrifice
Of life, it would be preferable to surren.
der to the Beers.
The statement that Lord Roberts ad-
vised the abandonment of Ladysmith is
not generally credited dn London. but in
view Of the fact that the supply of pro-
visions will not hold out for more than
week longer it is not probable that any
aid can be rendered to General White In.
side Of that time and he will have but
two courses open-surrender or cut his
way out
Several military experts in London are
Of the opinion that the British In Kim.
berley, at Modder river and on the Tu-
gela will also be left to work out their
own salvation.
One critic says: "As to an advance
northward through the Free State, if, as
appears probable, the British commander
has to keep nearly all Of Buffers army on
the line Of the Tugela, a new army will
have to make the advance on Bloemfon-
tein. There is no Disgusting the fact
that the imperial forces in South Africa
are not strong enough at present to un-
dertake this advance with safety.
The Daily Telegraph says: 1T is ter
rible alternative when we have to bal
ance against each other the safety of
the brave men in the beleaguered camp
and the only rational policy of carrying
on the war. 1t has to be faced without
sentiment or unavailing regret.
~. D-El NkrM q
could not be made with sufficient speed
to save Ladysmith. 1t would seem that
the soundest military principles dictate
the reinforcement of our army in Natal
and a fresh advance, this time in ample
force. There are two dangers to be
and further military disaster in South
Africa. To prevent .ne first the whole
navy should be mobilized and the naval
reserves called out. Our squadrons
ton for war. The volunteers should be
put under arms and provided with trans
port and artillery. The remnant of mill
tia should be embodied A force of at
least 100000 men over and above the
. volunteers and militia is required to sup
ply our general needs in South Africa.
If it can't be raised ON terms Of volun-
tary service we must have drafting as in
the United States during the civil war"
The London Post says: There is a
rumOr IndL 1onerdl hltCueUeT OT LOTu
Roberts has left Capetown already to
take command of a movement by General
Gatacres and General French's COM
bined, with heavy additions of fresh
troops, against the Orange Free State.
The defeat is bitter but it was right to
face it, while it is wrong to keep the
news from ourselves. The meeting OF
. the defense committee on Saturday was
probably caused by knowledge of Gen.
eral Buffers defeat. though the fact was
kept from the public until Sunday. The
measures now urgently needed are de-
velopment of the military resources Of
,, the country with 100000 men in the field
and $4,000 to follow. The moment has
come to push on the training of all the
1 troops left at home"
beaten us at the sticking game, he has
, beaten us in strategy tactics and he has
| induced us to give up the first plan.
| where he would have hardly had a show
and to conform to this plan, where natur-
ally everything is against us. Is there
single soldier who can justify what We
have done on other than political prin-
| ciples? Not one. We know from his own
pen that General White was induced by
one Of Mr.. Chamberain's deputies to
disastrously change his plan. We know
| that General Butler after working up to
the original plan of marching ON Bloem-
fontein was persuaded by somebody to
give up and he was persuaded Within
three days. That is pretty problem
for parliament to whet its wits on the
opening day."
| The war Office continues to hold back
definite news in regard to the casualties
at Spionkop resulting from Wednesdays