New-York tribune., 1900-01-29
LADYsMITH's DESPERATE PLIGHT.

the arrangements. The Maine viii sail for Dur
ban Tomorrow.
LADYsMITH's DESPERATE PLIGHT.
REPORT THAT THE GARRISON is MAKING
SIGNS OF AN ATTEMPT TO BREAK OUT.
London, jan %, 4:15 a. m.-The week has
opened with the utmost gloom for the British
public and the reaction is all the stronger be-
cause Of the high hopes that were reposed in
General Buffers turning movement and of his
announcement that there would be mo turning
back"
At the very moment when DR.. Leyds is being
received as an honored guest in the highest cir
cles on the Continent, Great Britain has to face
the worst disaster in a campaign thus far dis
astrous Open talk is heard OF the absolute
necessity or abandoning Ladysmith to its fate
while Lord Roberts reverts to the original plan
of an advance the Orange River upon
Bloemfontein.
To Ladysmith the disappointment must be
very bitter. A dispatch from the Boer laager
near the town, dated January "a, describes the
garrison very evidently preparing a des-
perate coup in order 20 effect junction with
General Buffers advancing army" 1t may be
regarded & certainty that, in the confident
hope of early relief, Sir George White has lately
been Issuing extra rations, and this fact has
given rise to an exaggerated idea as to the
length Of time the provisions would last
Even should it be decided to send General Bull
Ter reinforcements and to attempt to reach
Ladysmith by movement through the still
more difficult country east of Colenso. 1t is ex-
tremely doubtful whether the garrison could
hold out long enough. such a movement
would occupy ct least month.
THE Times says:
The most carefully planned and executed
movement OF the whole campaign has entirely
failed; and it hardly he necessary to dwell
upon the extreme probabilit that we shall
learn, little sooner or little later, of catas
frophe almost without precedent in our military
history. catastrophe, indeed, without paral-
lel except in the surrender at Yorktown.
We are checked at every point of the cam
peign. In fact the campaign is still to begin.
we wish we had clearer proofs that even now
the Government has any adequate comprehen-
so-, Of the situation. The utterances Of respon-
sibe Ministers have done nothing to reassure
the country on this point.
Heavy Or light, the thing has TO be done; and
the Government ought tt to to- prepare for the i'm
steps to send yet another 10000 if those should
be needed. The hopeless attempts to carry on
unlns. each unequal to its task, must be aban-
doned for a concentration Of force and of pur-
pose
All the editorials this morning breathe the
spirit Of calm determination. Not one will allow
that any could deter the country from
the object it has set itself to attain, whatever
the sacrifices which may be involved
Very frank criticism of the Government, how
ever, is beginning to be heard. even in quarters
that have hitherto refrained THE Daily Mail"
boldly throws all the blame upon Sir Michael
Hicks Beach, Lord Lansdowne and Lord Wose-
ley. 1t points to Presidents Lincolns dismissal
Of Simon Cameron fron1sthe post of Secretary of
War as a precedent for getting rid of incompe
tent Ministers"
THE Morning POST dwells upon the danger of
further rebellion at the Cape. and of possible
European complications. 1t urges that the navy
be prepared for amy emergency"
During the morning and the earlier part of
the afternoon placard bearing the words 'No
news hung the iron railing in front OF the
War Office. and the shivering sentries who stood
guard on Pail Mall in the rain and sleet had the
district all to themselves. About p. m, how
ever the placard was taken in, and on the bull
letin board inside General Buffers long dis
patch was displayed.
At the service clubs the situation as revealed
by General Butler was considered very un-
pleasant. His excuses or explanations
characterized very weak. The absence of
water. which Sir Charles Warren was 'Ted to
believe" existed, and the facts that spion Kop
was Indeed a mountain and that it's peri
meter was too large" are all matters which even
General Buffers warmest admirers hold should
have been ascertained before he attacked
One comforting feature Of the situation, how
ever. is the fact that General Buffers retire
ynent across the Tugela accomplished with
cut less, which puts end to unpleasant ru-
mors that were in circulation here and on the
Continent The splendid gallantry of the men
in capturing Spion Kop is read of with great
pride and satisfaction. It is taken as an assur-
snce of the ultimate success of British arms.
The War Office does not give any idea of the
casualties in taking and holding Spion Kop; but
a report from the Boer headquarters near Lady
smith, via Lourenco Marques. says that fifteen
hundred British dead left on the battle
field. This number is thought to include the
wounded.
The report also said that General Butler had
been down with fever, but had recovered.