New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-12

.....a .be campaign in South Africa
= enough II were q series Of sham fights on
-s,.s.,,-I pain. regulated by Grill book and the
,o-mulas Of peace training
-. ,-eniug Of the war there nothing
= :, sn4aIIigible or reasonable plan Of military
-. There were between 1900 and 10000
--.,.-s and local levies scattered along the
..o-, and northern frontiers of Cape Colony
: Northern Natal Military defence re-
20 concentration Of these forces at one or
--t,.s until reinforcements could arrive. In
-. r-o,o7v there was no attempt to choose de-
-. POSITIONS or 10 collect the forces and in
- = unsanitary station. Ladysmith. was
.,-oe because II was the Aldershot OF
~ .s-cs ard portion Of the garrison was
So So - Glencoe for the protection OF coal
-se headquarters STAFF may not have
-os,onsfhle for the first lines Of colonial
- t,,- 81 must be held accountable for the
-. bl,,rder Of shutting up Sir George
- .arrison IN Ladysraith instead OF direct
-, - retreat lighting at the Tugela and
the Moot River, and keeping open his
--,-s,ations with the sea II this had been
- - vrouId have received reinforcements by
-. riddle 81 November and the siege and fall OF
1.-rsrnsth would have been avoided.
s. Resvers Butler left England with his plan
- ~.-nnafsn clearly outlined. His army corps
IT'S
,-.o-re White was 30 hold the enemy in check
~ -s-7ainsng quiet in Ladysunith. Lord WoIse-
L. during the first month Of the had
.or1r,ent 10 repeat TO his friends. and that was:
white has only TO stay still and wait for Bull
ler 70 begin his march These were Aldershot
conceptions based upon peace training, without
eea-a-ce 10 rhe realities Of military defence and
~-r-gf warfare with the Beers. Sir Redvers Bull
Ter abandoned his plan Of campaign when he
reached South Africa. substituted march 10
.cd6er River for the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES pa
rade. and after dragging the bulk OF the army
corps and Warrens division into Natal has put
INC thousand men out Of action in two unsuc-
csssfuI attempts for the relief OF Ladysmith.
Lord Methueu's attack upon Magersfontein, in
which the Highland Brigade advanced in column
forua1i0z. was planned as a sham fight would
have been on salisbury Plain without thought Of
n actual hostile force anywhere in the field.
Colonel Longs reckIessuess in carrying his guns
beyond the reach Of his supporting infantry was
& shau battle maneuvre which would have
brought upon him g reprirnand even at Alder
shot. There have been feint attacks, reconnois-
sances IN force, column formations and drill
book tactics from the beginning TO the end Of
me campaign, and the Generals have never
seemed to realize that they were not maneu-
wing On Salisbury Plain. but were leading men
under FIRE IN battle with the Beers
I If Impossible for Americans who remember
the training Of their own Civil War 10 think of
soldiers Ike Grant and Lee attacking strongly
iarreuched positions and conducting turning
movements after the manner Of Lord Methuen
and General Butler. They would not have fought
three battles without scouting or reconnaissance,
as Lord Methuen old. and then have flung their
army against strong position like Magersfon-
TEN in frontal attack where the resistance was
greatest without attempt at manouvrng;
md II defeated they would not have remained
de in camp for weeks waiting for reinforce
neuts which were not IL reserve. They would
1ot have retired from Colenso or Spion Kop after
: single futile attack. but would have dug their
way up to the enemy's positions. making closer
day by day, and gradually envelop-
ng them and rendering them Untenable. The
British STAFF has allowed the Dutch 70 do all the
and al the digging, and TO choose
every battlefield and defensive position; and
when there is impasse IL orders the troops
back 10 camp to play football and cricket until
here are reinforcements for another frontal at
ack- Il Is Aldershot generaIship that has
brought reproach upon England and created a
.risis in the fortunes Of the empire. Inf.