Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-08
We Know Now Whether It Was Vic
tory or Defeat.
REGRET At DEATH OF GOOD men
Need of Technical Education for
the Masses.
KHAK1'S THE ONLY WEAR

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
LONDON, January %. 1900.
That great news, either of victory, de-
feat or retreat, may be daily or, hourly ex-
pected from Natal is sure, and it seems
certain that before this letter reaches you
one of the decisive battles in the present
war will have been won or lost. The con-
ditions at present point rather to British
success, though continental critics believe
that Joubert ia falling back only to draw
the British into trap when he may ami
hilate them.
The man in the street who had expected
that Sir Redvers Buffers great turning
movement would eliminate rapidly in a
great and decisive battle is disappointed,
rot to say disheartened. On the other
hand, military experts, who have better
right to appraise the value of the opera
tons, assume that the slow but steady ad-
vance is in favor of ultimate success. The
immediate aim is to cut off the force now
engaged in defending the strong position of
Spion kop. Every advance made by the
forces is step nearer to that result Gen.
Lyttleton holds them firmly in front. Sir
Charles Warren's 9Th Division, with one
or possibly two brigades, led by Sir +.
Clery, is steadily thrustng back the Beers
upon their last ditch, which they may pres
emily find to be untenable. In the mean
while, Lord Dundonald with his brigade
of horse is selling the passes that would
afford a retreat for the Beers, should they
finally be worsted. Apart from the con-
spicuous ignorance Of the map makers Of
the topography Of the present field of OPP
erations. much confusion exists to what
is being done. One writer declares that Sir
Charles Warren Is fighting near Colenso;
another lucidly explains that the Beers will
be compelled to fight along the whole TWEEN
ty-four miles of their line Of defense from
Co'enso. As matter Of fact, the whole
I'M frny DNt< ~ n,,{f II.
is twenty-four miles, and Colenso is about
III the center. The Beers are only attacked
or threatened along the twelve miles from
Potgieter's to Colenso. and Sir Charles War
rem is fighting fully twelve miles from Co
lenso on the extreme right of the BOer po-
sition. AS for the forces employed by Sir
RedVers Butler, there is still room for
doubt. 1t is now apparent that he has
with him both Hildyard's and Harris bril-
gades, in addition to Lyttletons brigade
and Warren's complete division, the 9TH,
which is probably the only division in the
field that has kept the formation intact
brigades of foot, with Dundonalds brigade
of horse. and the artillery and divisional
cavalry, making a total of more than TWEEN
ty-iVe thousand men. Barton's brigade
with the unattached regiments has appar-
emily been left to confront the Colenso
Beers.
The government are carrying on the war
preparations on a large scale and are evil
IDENTIFY determined to be ready for the con-
tingency of serious misfortune. The Sth
Division has been ordered to mobilize at
once and within fortnight or so the whole
of it Will be on its way to South Africa
In addition to this a large additional force
OF artillery is TO be sent out. 1t will con-
sist of Y guns, with over 800 men and
100 horses. This will constitute an enor-
nous addition to the field artillery already
in South Africa. The fact that 1t has been
decided to dispatch the whole of it within
the next eight days makes it clear that it
has been demanded by Lord Roberts. Sew
eral Of the naval guns are being mounted
on special carriages with the view of being
sent to the front and used in the siege of
Pretoria.
1t must amuse the Beers who do not
hamper their movements with baggage, to
read of the articles which are considered
necessary for a British soldiers kit The
volunteers who sailed last Saturday took
with them numerous things that they no
doubt will be glad to shed one by one as
they journey from Cape Town to the front.
Inc Duke of Marlborough who is to serve
as staff captain, has, however, broken
the record in this respect. He has gone
out in blaze of splendor and ostentation
which must cause a grim smile to illumi-
nate Boer faces as they think of possible
loot If the valiant descendant of the great
Marlborough should fall into their hands
On Saturday he took his departure from
Southampton with a retinue which, If he
actually goes to the front, can only be an
incumbrance. He had four horses, four
grooms and four Wallets. 1t is clear that if
every captain of infantry or cavalry went
out with a retinue of this kind there would
be nearly as many camp followers as SOL
dierS. The duke also had an enormous
quantity of baggage, the usual English tin
bath tub and other impedimenta.
Regret Mt Steevens' Death.
The news Of G. w. Stevens death has
caused the most widespread regret. Few
living men were his equals in the art of
presenting vivid pen pictures and he par
ticularly excelled in describing scenes of
action such as are so abundant in the
tragedy of war. Those who have read
With Kitchener to khartoum,'' In India"
or With the Conquering Turk cannot but
deplore that one whose work frequently
rose to positive genius should have been
cut off so sadly at the early age of thirty
years. In few days the garrison may be
released, and no one could have better told
the story of the agony Of the long siege
and the rebound to the gladness of deliver
ance than the ablest of the newspaper men
who have died at the front in the discharge
of their duty. He makes the fourth cor
respondent who has died at the seat of war
in this campaign. / have recently heard
rather curious Renaissance apropos of
Stevens untinely death which seems
worth giving.
About six years he formed one of a small
group called together in the interests of
three young writers of more than average
promise, all of whom had been fellow stu
like that of the other two without being
exactly the same. In the comparatively
brief interval which has since elapsed they
have all died on the threshold of an APP
parentiy great future. The first and best
known of the trio was Mr.. G. w. Stevens
himself. The second was Mr.. Thomas Moi
fit Stevens, who, after filling the editorial
chair of the Law Journal with much dis
tinction at a very early age, died year
or so ago: and the third was Mr.. ]. Bruce
Stephen. a distinguished law student and
n relative of the late Sir James Fitzjames
Stephen. Mr.. j. B. Stephen had formed the
peculiar determination to publish the legal
treatise which he intended to be the mag
| mum opus of his life prior to his call to the
bar. Neither Mr.. G. W.Steevens nor Mr. T.
M Stevens, nor his other friends, could dis
suade him from this idea. Sir Frederick
Pollock, who was one Of his confidants
sympathized with the aim, and the first
chapter of what was intended to be the
most exhaustive work of the law of water
carriers was edited by Sir F. Pollock and
published in the Law Quarterly Maya
zine" about two years ago. The material
for the remainder Of the work is in MS, but
in so rough a state that 1t cannot be pub
lished. Three years ago the prophecy
seemed safe that this brilliant trio would
be among the prominent men of the early
part of the twentieth century. They have
ot, Gill I,ry hafar