The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-01-29

4<tAAACAAY jan -rf 10 a. III III ffNNAN
has opened with the utmost gloom for
the British public and the reaction is
all the stronger because of the high
hopes that were reposed in General
Buffers turning movement and of his
announcement that there would be no
turning back"
At the very moment when DR.. Leyds
is being received as an hOnOred guest
in the highest circles on the continent,
Great Britain has to face the worst dis
aSter in a campaign thus far diSas-
trous. Open talk IS heard of the abso-
lutte necessity OF abandoning Ladysmith
to its fate while Lord Roberts resorts
TO the original plan OF an advance over
The Orange river upon BloomfOntein.
To Ladysmirh the disappointment
must be very bitter. A dispatch from
the Boer lager near the town. dated
Jan. q. describes the garrison as very
evidently preparing a desperate coup in
order to effect junction with General
Buffers advancing army"
1t may be regarded as a certainty
that, in the confident hope of early re-
lief, Sir George White has lately been
issuing extra ratiOns, ana this fact has
given rise to an exaggerated idea as to
the length of time the provisions would
last.
Cannot Hold Out.
Even should it be decided to send
General Butler reinfOTcements and TO
attempt to reach Ladysmith by a
movement through the still more diff
cult country east of ColensO. II is ex-
tTemely doubtful whether the garrison
could hold out long enough. as such d
movement would occupy at least a
month.
The Times says: 1.-THE most carefully
planned and executed movement Of the
whole campaign has entirely failed, and
il can hardly be necessary to dwell
upon the extreme probability that We
shall learn, a little sooner or a little
later. IF q g. astr0nhc alm0St beyond
precedent in our military histoI.s,. q ca
tastTOphe indeed without q parallel
except in the surrender of Yorktown.
I'VE are checked at every point Ff the
campaign. In fact, the campaign is
still to begin. We wish we had clearer
proofs that even now the government
has any adequate comprehension of the
situation. The utteTances Of RESPONSE
bic ministers have done nothing TO re-
assure the country on this point.
Send More Troops.
Heavy or light, the thing has to be
done and the government ought to pre-
pare for the immediate dispatch of So,
600 men, and take steps to send yet an
other $4,000 if these should be needed.
The hopeless attempts to carry on the
campaign with four widely separated
columns. each unequal to its task. must
be abandoned for a concentration of
force and of purpose"
All the editorials this morning
breathe the spirit of calm determine
ton. Not one viii allow that any re-
verse could deter the country from the
object it has set itself to attain. what
ever the sacrifices which may be in
vOlved.
Very frank criticism Of the govern
ment however. is beginning to be
heard. even in quarters that have hith-
ertO refrained. The Daily Mail boldly
throws all the blame upon Sir Michael
Hicks-Beach. Lord LansdOwno and
Lord Wolseley. Tt points to President
LincOlns dismissal of Simon Cameron
from the post Of secretary Of war as
precedent for getting rid Of incompet-
ent ministers
Navy Should Be Prepared.
The Morning Post dwells upon the
danger of further rebellion at the Cape
and of possible European complica-
tons It urges that the navy be pre-
pared for any emergency"
The Standard and other papers reflect
the anxiety of the public to learn how
much truth there Isl in the BOer ac-
counts of the fighting at SpiOnkOp- Gen
eral Buffers obsCurity in his dispatches
is rather bitterly criticised as we'll as
the evident fact that the censor is not
only heavily delaying. but is eliminat-
ing all important matter from the
newspaper DISPATCHES. To judge with
any accuracy of the extent of the dis
aster is virtually impossible.
It appears that General Butler had
altogether five bTigadss wholly or par
TALLY ngaged-General Cookies, Cen
eral Hildyard's, General Harris, Cen
eraI Wo0dgate's and General Lyttle-
ton'S-and the go casualties already
announced i'm LyttletOn's brigade are
thus explained.
Much mystery still surrounds the re-
treat II is possible that General Bull
Ter has withdrawn his whole forces but
it is generally assumed that Lyttleton's
brigade and Lord DundOnald's cavalry
and other troops are still on the north
side of the TUgela.
Suspicious Of Beers.
General Buffers confidence that the
Beers did not modest his retreat because
they had been taught to respect the
fighting powers of the British soldier,
is not shared in London. 1t is thought
rather, that the Beers had some other
plan in store or did not wish to waste
their men.
Large arrivals of troops are due q
Cape Town during the week. There
has been great activity in military
quarters in all parts of England since
Saturday morning The war Office. an
ticipating a great crush at the opening
of parliament has placed new restric-
tions upon visitors during the session.
The situation at other points is IN
changed. but indications that Lord
Roberts is preparing plans for an ad-
vance across the Orange river come in
a dispatch to the Daily Chronicle from
Sterkstroom. dated Jan. %, which says
that Thebits, an important position
near StOrmberg. on the StormbArg-
Rosmead line, is now occupied by the
British, who are repairing the railway
and bridges.
The correspondent observes that this
will facilitate communication between