Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-02-06

Spion kop added to the confidence of the
British people that at last the tide had
turned The garrison at Ladysmith also
welcomed the sound of Buffers cannon
and the sight OF the bursting shells he
threw into the Beers lines.
Then followed an interval of suspense,
and, considering the tremendous issues
involved in this conflict, it is not surpris-
ing that the world waited for news from
South Africa with almost as much inter-
est as the British themselves. Now that
Buffers story of disaster and retreat has
been made known London is dazed at q
catastrophe which even the Times admits
is almost without precedent in our mill
tary history, and, indeed. without paral-
lei except in the surrender of Yorktown
Calls 1t Catastrophe.
The Times says: The most carefully
planned and executed movement of the
whole campaign has entirely failed, and
it can hardly he necessary to dwell upon
the extreme probability that we snail
learn. n little sooner or Il little later, of a
catastrophe almost without precedent in
our military history. catastrophe indeed
without a parallel except in the surren-
der Mt Yorktown.
I'VE are checked ut every point of the
campaign. In fact, the campaign is still
10 begin. We wish we had clearer
proofs that even now the Government
has any adequate comprehension of the
situation. The utterapees OF responsible
ministers have done nothing TO rcassure
the country on this point.
Heavy or light. the thing has to be
done and the Government ought TO pre-
pare for she immediate dispatch of 10000
men and to take steps to send yet another
10000, II these should be needed. The
hopeless attempts e carry ON the cam
paign with fonr widely separated col
mnns, each unequal TO its task, must be
abandoned For i concentration of force
and Of purpose.
Very frank criticism of the Govern
ment is beginning to be heard even in
quarters that have hitherto rcfrained.
The. London Daily Mali boldly throws all
The blame upon Sir Michael Hicks Beach,
Lord Iamsaowuc aud Lord Wolseley. 1t
points to President Lineoln's dismissal
of Simon Cameron from the post Of See
rotary of War as = precedent for get
ting rid Of incompetent ministers.
lit is useless t. ininimize the gravity Of
the Sitraticn now confronting the British
enlnirc. Iaays naitA IS NOT only unreliev-
cd. bur beween II and the relieving col
unn lie the Victorious Beers in apparent-
IL imprcgnahie positions. \ sortie by the
garrison Ia cwt its WAY through the Doors
is so desperate thar il would be a useless
waste og life q attcmly II. while Butler.
twicc beaten back, car scarcely hope -
place Tho relief of fhc beleaguercd town
alongside mat of Lucknow IN the war
story of The British empire.
Is 10 sss. wider complications that may
ensne from the British reverses IN South
Africa. London is now beginning to Gear
lae worst. naSsia is already knocking
III the gates Of Herat and ramors Of in
Fervcntiois ~ the continental powers now
have a much better basis than they have
nad before.
The London Morning Post dwclls upon
the danger of further rebellion nj the
care AMI Of possible European compli-
cations. Il urges that the Navy he. pre-
pared for -any cmergcncy. 1fhe Stand
ard and other papers reflect he asixietx
II the public 10 learn how much truth
thcrc j IN the Boer accounts 81 the fight.
Ing at Spion kop. There are trying DAYS
ahead aud every civilized country is in
ierested IN the result. That Great Brit.
aims defeat IN South Africa would mean
consequences Of sravesg import to the EN-.
pire is recognized by England herself
Much depends upon the events Of the
ncxs Eeu weeks