New-York tribune., 1900-01-01
BOER OPPORTUNITIES LOST.
THE FAILURE TO FOLLOW UP VICTORIES
AFFORDS SOME COMFORT TO
ENGLAND

IBY CABLE TO THE rRIBUNE.J -

EBY CABLE THE TRIBUNE.J -
London. Jan l. a. m.-The New Year opens
sloornily for England. with record Of miscal-
cuiation and disaster in South Africa, to be
retrieved at great cost of life and treasure and
with the regulations of generals in the field
and of Ministers at home hanging upon the
issue of battle during the next few weeks There
Is no lack of criticism and fault finding IN the
press and there are signs Of anxiety In Minis
teriaI circles over the political effects of addi
tionaI reverses to British arms. but there is also
q hopeful feeling induced by fresh proofs OF the
fncapacity of the Dutch allies to make use OF
their opportunities. The Boer victories OF
Storrnberg, Magersfontein and Colenso have not
been followed up in any instance. There have
been no successful raids the lines of COM
nunication, and Ladysmith, Kimberley and
Mafeking have not been overwhelmed by su-
perior numbers and guns. There is record OF
Boer failures as well as British defeats.
The budget of news received at midnight was
a light one The arrival Of a Cape steamer has
brought large mail. and all the morning jour
nails print letters from their special correspond
ents The most interesting letters are those
published IN The Standard" 'The Times" and
other Journals from Ladysrnith, In which incl
dents of the siege and garrison life are de-
scribed The writers wisely reticent on i'm
portant poines. and deal lightly with the dan
that the garrf. IN has been short of ammunition
and that knowledge of this fact has in
fuenced General Butler in sacrificing his orig
inal plan of campaign and massng his forces
for the relief of Ladysmith. He is still calling
in reinforcements, for the Ma1estic has gone TO
Durham with another battalion and numerous
drafts No additional battafions Of infantry
will be available from incoming transports for
q week.
THE SITUATION AT THE FRONT.
Indications still point to a battle at the end
Of this week, although there may be delays
through a mule transport service which General
Butler is evidently organizing on large scale.
The Tugela is reported IN food from the heaVy
rains and the passage of the river VIII De most
difficult
News from the western border Is nieagre.
There are belated accounts Of gun prs c'ice oy
the naval brigade at Modder River, 'Vh'ch Is
constantly improving. One dispatch oesIioes
the havoc made by a naval gun which ha-t Iouho
the range for the main source Of the water sup
ply for the Boer camp.
british accounts of Baden-PowelPs sortie
cannot be expected for several days The boer
official dispatches stating that two well known
british officers one of them son OF the Ffiine
Minister were wounded have caused Hucn
.nxsetv in the world OF wealth and fasnioh-
Lord Edward Cecirs wife is the oaushter %
Admiral Maxse, and is now In South africa
Lord Charles cavendsh-B -Bentinck is haA
brother Of the Duke of Portland and is an ON
GER of brilliant promise. grim story is toid ol
Lord Salisbury in connection with the service OF
his son under Baden-Powell at Mafeking. ne
was offered at the opening Of the war specia'
facilities for getting early copies 81 dlspaiches
from Mafeking, but replied that ne could taA7
his turn and wait for the newspapers IKE o'hei
people.
The War Office reported at nionighi 'hal - 90.
Metbren.s situation WAS unchanged. but that