New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-11
THE DISASTERS TO THE BRITISH
DISPARITY BETWEEN THE ARMIES LESS THAN IN
THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR

To the Editor of The Tribune
sir. The disasters which have befallen the British
arms in South Africa are naturally discouragtng'
not only 10 the British themselves but also 10 their
friends who believe that the Of the British
arms is necessary for the establishment Of liberty
and equal justice in Africa 1t Is on the other
hand obviously exhilarating 10 those ferocious
enemies OF Great Britain who yelled themselves
boarse with delight at the prospect OF thousands
OF British widows and orphans yet 10 come
But both the friends and the enemies Of the British
cause seem to have forgotten the lessons OF al re-
cent history The disastrous series Of defeats
which the British have met in Natal had their
exact parael in similar defeats which our Northern
armies met during the first two years OF the CVil
War especially az Fredericksburg CHARACTERISTIC
and Chickamauga. Again, they had an exact
naraIlel in six months OF unbroken and hideous de-
feats inflicted upon the Russians by the Turks, III
the war OF 1871 and 1875. The attacks made by
Butler and Methuen upon the front OF impTegnaoe
positions are simply repetitons Of the insane al
tacks made by Burnside al FREDERICKSBURG anu ~
the Russians Plevna.
It has been absurdiy assumed that the Beers nave
been much more inferior in numbers 10 the BRUSH
-, tho Turks were to the Russians in 1877 or the
sourberDers 10 the Northerners in 1862 and 1868.
This ASSUMPTION is entirely contrary 10 the Facts
THE disproportion between the number OF men n
the Turkish army and the Russian army was prop
ably three times az sFsa' - 5tsDrcnartion between
and British, WIlIe the u' 5is9 OI, a. eaSr 20
neT cent greater than that between the agntlng
betber the comparison is made with respect 10 the
numbers actually engaged IN each Datle sepa'
- - srtiTe numbers enlisted upon each side.
Mcclellan had al least twice as many troops uhder
81 ,-o-nand a. Lee ever had; burnside was su-
,,eror ~. an least 30 per cent Hooker force e1-
PPsed@d mat OF Lee by 100 per cent. ana yer Lhes
-' al defeated The British have never out
-, 80 The Beers by much as ~ per cent.
Cant took into the wilderness an army tqII three
49, a. - as that which subjected rim 10
It, - -,o6 terrible defeats that, in the course
- one ronth he lost more men Ihah Lee nao
49, ~ ,ha canrafan with Grant lost in twenty
1n11Ifes al cold Harbor more kIIIeC anu "o5Iosa
than the British have lost during the ehcre s0u'n
African ,,-,,ant ~ ,ba Gou,barr
,roons was inferior in every respect 70 mat OF me
sro9,ibern troons throughout the Civil war. Inc
s1--tb had vastly better guns OF every klno, ana
befter supplies of every desc i ~ go
DJJ a. dg,ifsTtftv The Beers nave had hve years
m which 10 equip themselves al 's y.
n 49, AID thsv have secured arms ana military
e,Ties Of everv kind superior N qaIiLy ana 5nus
suppiee arT,,Y 70 those IN possession OF the Brit
l lh The country In which the war mas thus iar
i carried on offers greater 49Eahtages ior me
pes ee "a IN Itd anv part Of Northern Virginia;
aat as we're the obstacles there 10 a forWara
movement. IT, British Foidiers hav
ne tbenseives 10 be fully ednai &c any soldiers
mon either side Of our Siri IA ytnr .asrt,,,ity
az useless courage. have sn9Ea AD"He sHs safe va