The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1900-02-02
CHECKED AT EVERY POINT.


The Associated Press from London I'M
der date of January %, says: The week
has opened with the Utmost gloom for the
British public
The reaction is all the stronger because
of the high hopes that Wee rcposed in
General Buffers turning movement and
in his announcement that there would be
no turning back
AT the very moment when Dr. Leyds,
the Transvaais diplomatic agent, is be
ing received as an honored guest in the
highest circles on the Continent, Great
Brit ain has TO face the worst disaster in Il
cam paign thus far DISASTROUS
Open talk is heard of the absolute neces-
sity of abandoning Ladysmith to its fate,
while Lord Roberts reverts to the original
plan of an advance over the Orange river
upon Bloomfontcin.
To Ladysmith the disappointment must
be bitter. A recent dispatch from tie
BOer laager near that town described the
garrison as very evidently preparing
desperate coup in order to effect "A june
ton with General Buffers advancing
army" 1t is said that in the confident
hope of early relief General White has
lately been issuing extra ratons, and this
fact has given rise to an exaggerated idea
as to the lenchth of time the provisions
would last.
Even should it be decided to send rein
forcemcnts to General Butler and attempt
to reach Ladysmith by movement
through the still more difficult country
east of Colenso, it is extremely doubtful
whether the garrison could hold out long
enough, as such movement would proba-
bly, occupy a least month.
The Tines says: The most carefully
planned and executed movement of the
whole campaingn has entirely failed. 1t
can badly be necessary to dwell upon Tie
extreme probability that we shall learn, a
little sooner o Il little later, of Il catas-
trophe almost without precedent in our
military history-a catastrophe, indeed,
w bout parallel except in the surrender
| at Yorktown.
I'VE are checked at every point of the
| campaign. In fact, the campaign is still
| to begin. We :sh we had clearer proofs
| that even now the Government has any
| adequate comprehension of the situation.
| The utterances of responsible Ministers
| have done nothing to reassure the country
on this point.
| Heavy or light, the thing has to be
done. The Government ought to prepare
for the Immediate dispatch of $4,000 men
and take steps to send yet another $4,000
if those should be needed. The hopeless
attempts to carry on the campaign with
four widely separated columns, each I'M
equal to its task, must be abandoned for a
concentration of force and of purpose"
All the editorials in the London papers
breathe the spirit of calm determination.
Not one will allow that any reverse could
deter the country from the object it has
set itself to attain, whatever the sacrifices
| Involved.
| Frank criticism of the Government,
however, is beginning to be heard, even
in quarters that have hitherto refraned
The Daily Mail bodily throws all the blame
upon Sir Michael Hicks Beach, Lord
Lansdowne and Lord Wolseley. 1t points
| to President Lincoln's dis missal of Simon
Cameron from the post of Secretary of
War as Il precedent for getting rid of
incompetent Ministers"
The Morning Post dwells upon the dam
| ger of further rebellion at the Cape and
of possible European complications. Ii
urges that the navy be prepared for ''any
emergency
General Buffers obscurity in his dis
patches is bitterly criticised, as well as
the evident fact that the censor is not
only heavily delaying, but is obliteratin g
important statements from the few news
paper dispatches that come. To judge
with any accuracy of the extent of the
disaster is virtually impossible
1t appears that General Bu'ler had alto
gcther five brigades wholly or partly en-
| gagged, General Coke's, General Hildyard S
General Harris, General Woodgate's and
General Lyttleton's-anu the loss of go
men already announced in Lyttleton'
brigade is thus explained. Much mystery
still surrounds the retreat. 1t is possible
that General Butler has Withdrawn his
whole forces, but Lyttleton's brigade,
Lord Dundonald's cavalry and others
troops may BE still Oh the north side of
the Tugcla.