Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-02-02
WHO is TO BLAME ?

II Is but natural that the British peo-
pie should endeavor 10 fix the respon-
slbllity for the mlsfortunes that have
befallen their troops In South Africa.
1t is as natural, perhaps, that the re-
verses should be ascribed to bad ad-
ministraion. or defective generalship
But It will be extremely difficult to
point out in what respect either could
have been improved upon.
The troops were modified and sent
out with a dispatch that speaks well for
the administration. The commlssariat
has been admirably managed. The
medical CORPS has been efficient. The
soldiers have done their duty. They
have gone even to sure death with the
fortitude Of heroes.
As to generalshlp II Is easy to say
after lost battle what could have been
done, but II Is by no means certain
that course different from that act
ualy pursued would have bought
different result Battles sometimes are
turned by apparently trifiing clrcum-
stances and very often, II looks as II
contending armies were moving accord
ing to the dicta Of fate. The victory
is not always TO the strong, nor the race
to the swift
The battle OF Magersfontein, that was
lost Notwithstanding the greatest brav-
cry Of the British, IL an illustration. 1t
is now stated that Lord Methuen in an
address to the Highland brigade told
how he lost the day. The advance, he
said, was made exactly as he had or
dered, and the British were within an
ace OF carrying the position. Every
thing depended on one word; For
wardl" But at that moment somebody
shouted, RETIRE." The command was
obeyed. A soldier gives this account OF
the incident:
"The Black Watch came TO a wire en-
tanglement six feet high and the front
rank were doing their best 10 climb
over. and We were Just getting enough
Hight 10 see, when thousands ~ rifles
spoke out al once from the enemy's
trenches Some one shouted Retire
and the whole brigade fed for their lie.
and IN that retreat several hundred
must have fallen. We tried 10 form up
In a decent fighting line. but II was
impossible. When We could return the
fire we crept forward among the BUSH
Is. but Il was like hghting nothing but
bullets. After ten hours fighting We
could not get near the enemy, and We
had had enough Of Il, our hearts, /
think. We're broken after the reception
we got az the start"
II has not been ascertained whether
the fatal command was uttered by
British officer. or by someone in the
Boer trenches. There Is a suspicion
that the latter may be the fact, for
an account In the London Times OF the
capture OF eight officers and ninety-four
men Of the Suffolk regiment on January
says.
AT midnight last night four COM
panies 81 the SUFFOLK regiment occupied
a position on a hin northeast OF Coles
burg. The movement resulted In con-
siderable loss. Two companies charged
the enemy on kopje. A report states
that the cry Retire was raised by the
Beers. whereupon many men fell back.
About company stood fast. This COM
pany fell into the hands OF the en-
envy"
The ruse Of Colesburg may have been
repeated at Magersfontein.
We 90 not believe the British goner-
ais deserve the censure bestowed upon
them By critics at home. They are
fighting an enemy about whose
strength, equipment and tactical skill
the outside world was ignorant. They are
operating in an exceedingly difficult
terrain. and & should cause no wonder
n the commencement OF the campaign
Is series OF reverses, until sufficient
experience Is gained.
The retreat OF General Butler can
hardly be regarded as q disastrous de-