Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-02-08


Waterloo had $4,000. Mr.. Wyndham''
speech was the strongest defense the
government has yet put forward as tc
what has been done and is being done
The general tone of the morning pa
pers is that his figures will asfonish
the country. Roughly speaking, only
10000 men are at the front. Ten
thousand others have been lost and
10000 are shut up at Ladysmith En-
Guiding these, there are 10000 troops
who have not yet been in action, in
addition to those AT sea. why 50
many electives have not yet been en-
gagged is explained by the lack OF land
TRANSPORT and the organization Of sup
plies. TO which Lord Roberts is deyOt-
ing his experience and Lord kitch-
ener his genius for details II seems
as though the weight of these masses
must destroy the equilibrium which
now holds the British forces station
ary wherever they are in contact
with the Boer army. Lack of trans
port and organization will not explain
adequately why when generals at the
front request reinforcements they get
them in rather small numbers,
knowledge is slowly penetrating to
London that large garr'sons must be
kept in Cape Colony to hold down the
Cape Dutch, who, as everyone knows,
outnumber the British residents three
TO two.
Cable scraps received during the last
~ hours do not further illuminate
the military operations. Various in
dependent correspondents confirm the
report that Gen. Butler told his troops
on January 2S that he hoped to, re-
Iieve Ladysmith within a week. 1t is
believed in some rather trustworthy
quarters that he is again assailing the
Boer lines.
A further list OF the casualties pub
lished by the war Office brings the
total from the crossing of the Tuge-
Ia to the abandonment of Spionkop
to 1855 officers and men.
Tho Situation In Natal Described
London, Feb. o. Spencer Wilkinson
in the morning Post, yesterday, dis
cllsses long dispatch from Win
ston Churchill, dated at Pietermaritz-
burg, and describes the situation in
Natal. He says: "This dispatch de-
serves to be closely read. 1t is an
appeal to the public at home and,
as It has been passed by the censor,
may be taken to represent the feelings
of Gen. Buffers army. Mr.. Churchill
represents the difficulties of Gen. Bul-
ler's task in concise terms. The enc
nv will act with common sense.
They will place outposts on the hills
and keep back their main body until
they see the direction of Gen. Buffers
movement. Then they will quickly
bring up the main body and extern
porize what defensive works they can,
in addition to such as they have pro-
fusely prepared in the anticipation
of various possible advances. That
is what everyone would expect them
to do, and that their main body can
ride faster than Gen. Buffers main
body can walk was also pretty gen
orally understood. The consequence
is that the Boer army cannot be
turned. Wherever it is attacked it
can present an intrenched front"
According to Mr.. Churchill there |
are 1000 Beers watching Ladysmith,
the same number held ready to re-
sist Gen. Butler, and 5000 kept in re-
serve to reinforce either body at
need Thus Gen. Butler has to attack |
l2,0OO men intrenched on favorable |
ground. For that purpose Mr.. Chur-
chill thinks he ought to have $4,000
men instead of $4,000. In other words |
Gen. Butler ought to have another d.
vision.
at seems difficult, in view of the
strategy accepted at the war Office
as well as at Cape Town, to believe
that Gen. Butler is TO be allowed once |
more to attack n position with less
than the numerical superiority of
three to one which tacticians com.
monty think necessary for such q
task. It is hardly ineligible that he
should attack without being rein
forced. Apparently however, a third
attempt will be made without loss of
time Indeed, it seems probable that
the movement is now in progress.
We must hope that the splendid bra
very of our men will be rewarded
BY success"