The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-01-30
WILL THE BRITISH VIM
A Remarkable Comparison Of Colin Camp
bell and the Generals In Africa.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-!Sir: In read.
ing Archibald Forbes's life OF Colin Campbell |
have been struck with the number OF refer.
ences that. though written about events hap
pening fifty years or 30 ago, seem applicable to
events even now occurring In South Africa.
In lS47 Campbell took command Of the La.
hore district. aud instituted certain precau-
lions against surprise and attack. To him
wrote Sir Charles Napier in these words: Il
am delighted at all your precautions against
surprise. In India we who take pains are
reckoned towards. Be assured that English
officers think II a fine dashing thinG to be sur.
prised-to take no precautions. Formerly, Il
was an axiom in war that no man was III to be
a commander who permitted himself to be
surprised; but things are on a more noble
footing now" How well this remark APPLIES
to some Of the British Generals now in. south
Africa it is needless TO say.
Before the battle OF CHILEAN wallah, Jan. l3.
1916. this incident occurred In the memoir
Of the late Sir Henry Durand by his son occurs
AL interesting passage illustrative OF Camp-
bells anxiety that the ground on which the
enemy's position was to be approached should
BE- properly reconnoitred. Durand writes:
Campbell. seeing that his lordship Lord
Cough had no intention OF properly recon-
NOTHING the position. was anxious on the
subject; and we went into tho tent OF the
Chief Engineer to discuss the matter &c"
That Forbes should find the incident merely
Interesting is AT least interesting In it's turn
Forbes Is one OF the hest-known war corres-
pundents and has written much on war: yet
the neglect to rpronnoltr" and anxiety about
that neglect appear to him merely intere stinR,
81 the battle OF uOOlera;. Feb. ~. lS4l. Camp
bell wrote IN his journal: Il was ordered TO
storm TINS nullah dry ditch. bur to have done
so with infantry would have occasioned a use
too much slaughter at C~hlllianwallah because
due prccautiOn had not been taken TO prevent
II by the EN- Employment Of our magnificent artIl-
lery.' II seems az II Lord Cough. rather thnn
Colin Campbell, was the authority followed BY
the British officers
Yet II appears that they did follow Campbelrs
pan or one ~ his plans. Saws Forbes. describe
ing thmrhells start TO tax" ommand In India
AT the outbreak Of the NUT ny: During tho
voyage he prepared a strategic scheme. the es.
Scncc Of which was Ia he a great concentrlc adj
vance upon the central Indian States, To- be
undertaken by the whole dispOsHhle military
iOrces ut the Madras amt Bombay preside nclrs.
The operation Of this grand stratrgi,
scheme was weakened and retarded 10y various
causes; but the sound vision OF Campbplls
rTesc'eht conce ptiun was ultimately In great
measure vlhdichted." The concen'rlc advance
wa, tried only the other day In south Africa.
weakening and retardlng effects may b. noted
~ StormberR on Dec. 10. NJ Spyt.Ontein on Dec,
lu-ll ~ u" Tugela on Dec. 10. lSg,. and Jan.
2j-2I. 1900.
Campbell won out" finally. and an will tia
Br tish win out. The question IT,, How soon?
NLw YORK, Jan. -. RETIRED.