The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1900-02-01
BRITISH ADMIT
BAD DEFEAT
They Now Stand Before World
Disgraced and Bsaten.
THE GOVERNMENT IS cRITIclzED'
1t Is Reported That Lord Roberts;
Advises the Surrender
of Ladysmith.

10 1Qe Now lOIA Gf0a1aS WVs&se1s
says:
''It is learned from 8 reliable 3
source that Field Marshal Lord
Roberts has advised the abandon
ment Of Ladysmith. At the MAR
Office, the dispatch adds, no con-
firmation could be obtained OF the &
advices said to have been given By
Lord Roberts. !"
There is much comment IN London
on the discrepancy between the Boer
account Of the recapture Of Spion Kop'
and that sent by Gene raj Butler. The
latter says not q word about the Boerss
scaling the hill and attacking the Bat
ish trenches and capturing 150 men
who had hoisted the white fag, q 81
Majuba hill. Instead, he spoke of the
maintenance OF ''the best traditions of
the British army" There is not muelk
doubt that the Boer account is correct
It is by no means boastful.
II is believed ttat the war ofice
has further dispatches which 4 o.
Withholding. Great anxiety has beenz
removed by the announcement ttAt
Lord Dundonald's cavalry forcels
which it was feared were isolated
among the hills in the neighbcrhood
of Acton Homes, are safe on the sonfh
bank of the Tugela river. For ds3s
nothing had been heard from Lord
Dunolald and his mounted brigade s.
The London military critics haSe
given up hope of saving Iadysmit
which is undoubtedly short Of food
and ammunition. The garrison vent
on short rations December Cd.
The Morning Leader asks:
"Will Ladysmith fall in consequsrce
of Buffers retirement or in cons
quence of another night attack By th
victorious Beers? $s
''The city. has already he'd out it1
full time. It's last communlraf3o4
across the TugeIa otherwise than by
electric or sun flashing was on Novensg
Der Cd, last. It was then believed to-
have enough provisions and ammunis Is
ton for three months. The three
months are up. =
~sThere has been no chance during
these months to throw into the city g;
pound of food or pound Of eofdite ~
It is frankly acknowledged thxf theS
most serious effort Of the present VET
has dismally failed. 5sSs
There is no sign of wish on The
part of the leaders of public opinion
to disguise the ugly facts, but on tlae
contrary, there is every dispositioa ~:
face the full difficulties and discoveR
the best way out. In shest, the poiie
voiced everywhere is the Gathering e
of forces for more effective blow
All hopes of the speedy relief M
Ladysmith have been abandoned an@
the concensus Of expert opinion urGo
the immediate shifting Of the theat
of war from the rocky kopies OF M1te
to the open veldt Of the Free Stats
One thing certain another lonG
pause is inevitable unless the Beers ~
sumo the offensive, because, IN theS
event of General Butler further ~
tempting to reach Ladysmith the
planning of q new move viii necee.
sarily occupy time. IS y
The afternoon newspapers are draNss
ing attention to the closeness OF the
parallel between the federal attack pla
General Lee at fredericksburg and
the operations on the upper Tugels
Curiously enough there 10 Visible
especially in military circles. a mn
dercurrent of relief at the nAHs thai
the British are safely sonth Of tn
Tugela, for the rumors OF SatHraey
hadconiured up visions OF an immease
catastrophe. ~ d