The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-02-12

i with continuous experience In the scien e
OF moietn wartare. British generals have
i conautttd the campaign in Ssuih isrira
as though II were a series OF ssam lshls
on Salisbury plain, regulated by IL u buok
/ ard the formulas OF peace training.
At the opening of the war there was
pqshing Ike ON irte.lible or rea;oasole
PLAZA oil defense. Thsre wei'e bstSeen
l5o00 and 10000 regulars and lOeal lev
les sea tered along the wss.ern acd north
ern fro1 isrs OF Cape Colony ami in Noita-
ern Na;al Military dq1euso required con-
oeniration OF these forces a. enc or two
1 points u.tll reinfCrcemsnits could arrive
! In Cape Colony there was no attempt to
/ choose dsfe0ssbic positions or to culie-f
! the force, and in Natal an un anliary
station, I1aiysmith. was held IN fore re-
! cause II was the, "Aldsrshot o! SCUM
Africa and portion Of me garrison was
I diverted to Glencoe for the protection Oh
a coal mine.
I The headquarters seaff may no; hava
/ been responsible FOR the first lines Of
colonial defense but VI mus; be held ac-
cou-ta-te for Inc str2teg.c blunder Of
shutti-g up Sir George Whites garrison
In L1dysmith ina.es1 of difseing him
/ to retreat. Fighting to the Tugeia ana
4 then 70 the Moot rlysr aud keeping oscn
his COMMUNICATIONS with the sea. II
iris had been done ne would have re-
/ ceved reinforceme-t, by the MIDI o.
( Novemher and the siege aad fall Of Lady
NTH would have bean avoided.
! Sir Redvers Butler left England vi Il
I his plan c. camp1igl nearly olil med. HIS
army co ps was 10 march through the
1 Free State and S,r George White was ID
hcl1 the enemy in check by rengiainy
que. In ladvsnfth, Lord WolseleY di in 2
ne first month Of the war hal one COM
mint to repeat to his friends and that
was White has only to stay still aud
wait for Butler to beg his march" Thee
wsre Aldgrshct conceptions, tlsed upon
peace training without reference to the
realities of miltSary defense and tual
warfare With the Beers. Sir Bllcs aban-
donsd his plan of c3mpaign VIII a. h
reached South Africa su0s'itu ed a march
to Modder river for the b oem foato n Pre-
tiia par ade ard, after dragging the ovlp
OF The army corps ana Warrons divisions
INTO Natal. put 1000 men ou- of a-tio1 n
Two unsuccessful ait mps To- The raliei
Of Ladysmlth.
Lcrd Methuen's stack uuon Mlaers-
foatein in which the Highland h:i9rde
advanced II column formation, was
Planned as d sham tight would have been
on Salisbury plain without the TORCH.
OF an actual hostile force anvw ey il
the fsld. C-lone Longs re-le sness in
carrying bis guns beytrd the reich o.
MS supporting infantry was a sham Rat,
Tie m9neuver which would have br5u-ht
unon him reprimanl evan az A'der5hot
There have been fe!nt attacks ree9nno's
sances in force. colum1 formations and
drill book tactics from the beginning -
the end OF the campaign and the gen ra'a
nave never seemed 10 realize that they
We're not maneuyering on Salisbury plan
Gus were leading men under fire in hat
he with the Beers
II Is Impossible for Americans VINO
remember the training Of their own civil
war to think OF soldiers like Lee and
Grant attacking strongly imrenchad post
lions and conducting turning movement,
after the manner nf Lord Methueu and
General Butler. They would moi haye
fought ;hree battles without scouting or
feeonno ssance, as Lord Me.hunl dill. a7i
then have flung their army against
strong pos ticn like Magersfontein Ia
( u ontai attack, whore the resistance was
Wreaiest, without an attempt at maneu-
Yorirs, and If defeated they would not
nave remained idle in camp for wecis
waiting fer reiEforeemants which were
not IN reserve. They would not have re-
tired from Colerso or spionkop aste. a
'ngle fut-lo attack. but would have. dug
.1el1 way up to fhe epsmys posrions
making closer approaches day by DAY and
gradually e1velcping the mand ren ie-ipg
them untenable, The British staff has
allowed The Dutch 20 do all the maneu
Verlns and all the digging and to ch osc
every ba'Taileld aud defensive pos sinn;
ana wnen there is an mrlssa u orders
tne tros2s back 20 camp to play fo7;sail
and cricket rntcil there are rsinforce
merits for ancher from al attack II is
Aldersho, gneralship that has drought
Ieproach on England and created crisis
IA the fortunes Of the empire
New York February 11.--M,ntag,,e
White writes the World rs follows: an.
delighted 20 dnd that the prospects Of
peace are Increasing The heorie resist
ance Of the Beers must convlneugly sat-
isfy the large body of impartial English
opinion that they are fighting for the no
alest principles of mankind-~homc, free
dom and Independence.
here was a ssToDg miGori,y In Eng
land bitterly opposed to this war from the
hrst. | an perfectly sure that IN min
Gritty has been increased 10 majority
ainoush the scntmtnts Of pride ana
pres Ike may possibly prevent .hem nom
openly advocating the. cessation OF hos
tii.lts. II ought not to be Impossible for
American sympatbizers and advocates az
peace to work ON the lines OF the con ia
ton committee in Bagland ana thus III
q means Of securing conditions OF reac
ho o;uble 10 both parties.
Although the Beers have shown MIL
iarE ability whiah have surprised the
whsle world they are essentially peaco
loNing and the very reverse Of WIS Is
known as warlike people, Tle fact
ihat their existence as peoala Is a
stake accounts tor their wonderful morale
ara efficiency They have the mems and
me dete;mir tfion to carry an long war
mt am sure that they would wrlcsme
any efiaI,s thai would enable man 10
beat their swords iato pruning HOOKS
providing taat an hocors Sls ana perma-
ntnt peace could be assured"