New-York tribune., 1900-01-08

ffon with each other. General White was pas
sive on December Is. when General Butler at
tackled the enemy in full force at Colenso, and
there was nothing really effective done Sat
urday on the Tugela, although word
cefved at Frere Camp as early as o'clock that
the Beers making a most determined as
sault upon Ladysmith in anticipation of the
general advance of the main British army early
this week
These comments had a sterner. angrier
tone toward midnight. when abe War Office gave
out another bulletin from Butler with two hours
later news from White. 1t brief, but terri
bly, 10 the point. The Boer attack had been
newed on Saturday afternoon as General White
had apprehended, and he was very hard pressed.
Those were the worst words which had yet been
flashed out of the darkness of Ladysmith The
sun had failed. and General Butler had abso-
luteiy no more news except vague camp rumor
that General White had defeated the enemy at
5 o'clock and taken four hundred prisoners
General Butler had done something to support
the gallant garrison at Ladysmith. but not
much. He had sent all his available troops to
make a demonstration toward Colenso. where
they found all the trenches occupied by the
enemy. The veterans at the clubs shook their
heads ominously and bluntly declared that Cen
eral Bpler had put off the great battle too long.
FRENcH's PRESTIGE CLoUDED.
General French reported the situation at
colesberg unchanged on Saturday. but General
Forestier-Walker. in bulletin issued last night
by the War Office, gave unpleasant account
Of what was described with official euphemism
as an accident" -Four companies of the 1st
Suffolk sent at night to attack the enemy
or a low hill one mile from their camp. Colonel
Watson who in command, was wounded,
after ordering the troops to charge and the
bugle call for a retreat was sounded, appar-
entity by the Beers themselves. trick which has
been played before during the campaign. Three
companies retreated to the camp in good order,
but the fourth was caught behind surrounded
by the enemy, and seventy men, including seven
officers, were taken prisoners. The RESPONSE
bility for this minor reverse is not definitely
traced to General French. and the motive for
the night march by so small a force is not re-
vealed in the official dispatch. French's man
eeuvres have been so brilliant and his tactics
have provided on a small scale good an OBJ
ject lesson of the manner in which the cam
paign ought TO be conducted the British side,
that this incident is peculiarly unfortunate. The
loss of seventy prisoners through Boer bugle
call for a British retreat is not serious, espe-
cially when General French has taken as many
prisoners with fair fighting but he is the only
British general who has seemed to be fully on
guard against Dutch duplicity and his prestige
is now somewhat clouded His official report,
bulletined at a late hour, stated that the 1st
Essex had replaced the 1st Suffolk; that med
ical officer had been sent out 70 collect the
wounded and that the prisoners in the enemys
hands would not exceed seventy. His tactical
position is unaltered by this slight reverse, and
the enemy's losses from artillery fire have been
heavy.
There is change in the situation on the
Modder River and on Gatacre's line
1t is over Ladysmith that the heavy cloud OF
uncertainty and alarm hangs like pail, and
for England at midnight it is a horror Of great
darkness Men asking in whispers. VIII
Buffers battle come too late? l. \. T.