New-York tribune., 1900-01-29
THAT DIFFER.
Continued from first page.

]
still be Napoleon's nation of shopkeepers. but
ii is not so far gone in the sordd tendencies of
commercialism TO derive any consolation
from the fact that Butler has carried back his
last pound of stores when Whites heroic SOL
diers were dependent upon him for their rescue.
BULLER's SORRY CHOICE.
The retreat of the army explains the embargo
upon news from the front since Wednesday.
Dispatches are now beginning to dribbie into
Fleet-st. with meagre explanations of the capt
ure and abandonment of Spion Kop. Buffers
report is however. a concise summary of Gen
eral WaTens operations The success of a
brilliantly planned turning movement was de-
pendent in the end upon a direct frontal attack
upon an impregnable position with double walls
Of defence. which could be approached only
through OF fire three quarters of a mile
wide without powders a single patch of cover.
Warren's three brigades had fought their way
during two days to the verge of this valley OF
death and had halted. General Butler was
summoned for consultation and a night attack
upon Spion Kop was decided upon as the alter
native for a frontal attack. 1t did not serve any
other purpose than that of exposing the garrison
to a harassing and destructive shell fire Butler
and Warren had overrated the advantages of
the position, but clung desperately to the hope
that something would be gained by It's occupa-
uon- The garrison withdrew after Wood
gate was dangerously wounded, and War
rem shrank from ordering his brigades
into the terrible zone of fire with its dry
moat and natural glacs for a strongly in
trenched position. He had sought to turn the
enemy's works by long detour on the flank and
had lacked the force required for so extended
movement from the river base. The enemy
had been reinforced until his own army was
equalled in strength. 1t was a sorry choice be-
tween frontal attack with every advantage of
position on the Dutch side and a retreat to the
Iugela' That choice was dictated by prudence
The retreat was conducted in the most orderly
way, and the heartbreakng news was sent to
White that the second attempt for the relief of
Ladysmith failure This is the tragic
story briefly outlined. with which the London
press startles the nation this morning The
best that can be said is that there was no lack
of generalship in the plan of operations and
that the British soldiers were so gallant IN ac-
ton and so fine in morale that their prudent
commanders were not justified in asking them
to work miracle
1t is premature to forecast the ultimate fulfil
ment OF Bismarck's reputed prediction that
South Africa would be the grave of the British
Empire. 1t is enough to record another melan-
choly mound in the cemetery of British reputa-
tions among the bowlder Uttered kopies RuI
lers prestige has been buried by this utter fail
ure of singularly brilliant and most promising
turning movement, which has ended in retreat
without single great battle He has played
for high stakes, lost Ladysmith and won moth
ing. His own army was not strong enough for
the work, and the enemy was too well intrenched
in an impregnable position. Warren also has
clouded his fame by lack of success at a moment
when he appeared to be training the British
soldiers in practical methods of warfare with a
willy and resourceful foe.
Do
1t now remains for Generals Roberts and
Kitchener to prove whether they escape the
terrible mortality among British military reputa-
tions. They not responsible for General
Buffers campaign in Natal. which planned
before their arrival In South Africa Upon them
now rests the full burden of the deliverance of
England from disastrous war, after Butler has
completely broken down and scattered army
corps in all directions.
Military experts were retcent last night. One
strong point made by the most thoughtful among
them was the proof offered by this campaign Of
the superiority Of resources of any army acting
mainly the defensive with weapons of pre-
eision, and that forces armed the Dutch are
in ntrenched positions must be attacked with
overwhelming numbers and with engineering
skill. The British army they added grimly, has
not yet learned to the spade. Another con-
clusion reached by military writers to-day is
that the British misfortunes have arisen largely
from the blunders made at the outset of the
war in choice of defensive positions in Natal
under provincial advice. They neglect however
to add that while Ladysmith selected as the
main centre Of defence, because it the AL
dershot of Natal 1t was not adequately supplied
with guns and ammunition and, moreover, that
General White was ordered by General Butler
and General wolseley to remain there and hold
back the Boer forces from lower Natal. If he
had been allowed to keep his army in the field
falling back under pressure from the Tugela to
the Mooi River and fighting every mile, REIN
| forcements would have reached him in Novem-
! Der from Durham. Arthur Balfour's unhappy
| Ladysmith ENHANCEMENT would have been
| avoided and Buffers army corps would have
carried out its original plan of operations in the
| Free State, where there were no kopjes.
METHUEN sHELLING MAGERSFONTEIN
News from other portions of the theatre OF
war is overshadowed by the Importance Of the
Dutch success in compelling General Butler to
retreat. General Gatacre is reported to be I'M
proving his positions in the vicinity of Sterk-
stroon. Heavy firing continues at Kimberley,
while General Methuen is shelling Magersfon-
! tein and General French is still man9uvring
around Colesberg.
DR.. Leyds is credited on the Continent with
| having supplied by artful means the false in
| formation upon which the British Admiralty
acted in sezing the Bundesrath and other YES
! sells and thereby embitterng German feeling
against England.
Generals Roberts and Kitchener have visited
| the American hospital ship Maine.
The supreme question of the hour in England
| is the effect which Buffers failure viii have
i upon the fortunes Of the JTnfonist Ministry