The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-01-30


knOwledged that the most serious effort
of the present war has dismally failed.
There is no sign of a wish on the part
of the leaders OF public opinion to dis
guise the ugly facts, but, on the con-
trary, there is every disposition to face
the full difficulties and discover the best
way out. In short, the policy voiced
everywhere is the, gathering UP Of forces
for more effective blows. All hopes Of
the speedy relief of Ladysmith have been
abandoned, and the consensus of expert
opinions urges the immediate shifting of
the theatre of war from the rocky kopjes
Of Natal 10 the open veldt of the Free
State.
One thing appears certain-another
long pause is inevitable unless the Beers
assume the offensive, because even in the
event OF General Butler further attempt
ing to reach Ladysmith the planning OF
new move Will necessarily occupy time
1he afternoon newspapers are drawing
attention to the closeneSs Of the parallel
between the Federal attack ON General
Lee at Fredericksburg and the operations
on the Upper Tugela.
Curiously enough there is visible. es-
pecially III military circles, an undercur-
rent OF relief at the news that the British
are safely south of the TugeIa, for the
runners Of Saturday had conjured up Vi
slonS OF an immense catastrophe.
As the afternoon newspapers are co1n-
meIting without full knowledge Of the
facts they are not disposed to offer any
apologies for General Buller's defeat.
The St James Gazette says:
The meaning Of the retreat is OBJ
vious. We have had to recognize that
we cannot force our way through the
eIlemy's lines to Ladysmith. Why, we do
not knew. II the Boer position is inn
pregnable it ought not to have been at
tackled. II it is capable Of being taken
we were repulsed because the leadership
was bad, and it is idle to attempt to con-
ceal that the latter IS far from incredible.
To start out declaring there must be no
turning back is eminently foolish. When
sWaggcT and rant prevail there is COM
monty plentiful lack of Judgment and
true resolution. 1t requires serious effort
not to yield 10 the gloomy conviction that
the intellectual and moral qualities which
make for success have been replaced on
our staff by words, words, words. The
remedy for South Africa is not to add to
numbers, but to put the troops where
their force can come into play"
The Westminster Gazette invites the
country to cast aside all deluSions and
recognize the fact that progress for the
present is stopped in Natal and that
safety lies in concentration. General
Whites force. as an effective aid, must
he written off and probably most of Gen
eral Buffers army has left the Tugela.
The Beers have been given time to pre-
pare against an advance through the Free
State, and we have not sufficient
strength at present to undertake this adj
vance with any safety. These are ugly
facts, but those who disguise them are
again misleading the public. The plain
truth is that we will have to make a
new army somehow from somewhere. We
need at least 100000 more men-50.00 to
reinforce the Cape and 10000 in reserve" +"
The Globe says:
1T would be mistake to minimize the
serious character Of the situation in Ma
taI We have made great effort from
which great results were expected and
have failed. The situation as it stands
today points. but points with greatly aug-
rerted force. the same moral as did our
nrevious mishars. 1t is. that the war
muSt be pressed on with redoubed en-
ergy. Our resources are not exhausted
but ra Their it may he said we are only juSt
discovering how practically linlitless they
arc. The country. We are sure, Is III no
mood OF giving way TO fears which are
as groundless as they are unworthy. 1t
has made UP it's mind 10 see this conflict
through Every check we receive III the
field will only stiffen the determination
of the people at home and III the colonies
IN achieve the end at whatever cost.
The Pail Mall Gazette comments in
much the same tone. and adds:
Even if Ladysmith fails. Spion kop
is rot Majuba in the most vital sense
It will not end the war. There will he
no muddling compound Of 'magnanfmty,
and cowardice this time. The war will
end when General Roberts dictates the
terms at Pretoria. To that end the em-
pire's mind is made up.
The Evening Standard. commenting ON
the supposed natural advantages on the
side Of the Beers, says:
This country also had and has great
advantages. but. between the War Of-
fice. the Admiralty and the generals, they
have been mostly nullitied.'
The St. James Gazette this afternoon
returns to scathing criticisms of the IAN
cuage of General Buffers reports. 1t
says:
General Buller's reflection on the ter
1.or he put into the foe reminds Us Of
things we have heard about Chinese man
darins."
The press is discussing whence are TO
come the troops for a rrotracted cam
nafcn. 1t is becoming generally recog-
nized that some form of compulsory ser
vice is more imminent than previously