The Topeka state journal., 1900-01-12

ca. The government has made so many
mistakes that they might have credit
for sagacity in sending to Cape Town a.
great soldier capable Of commanding
the confidence of the armies III the 0eld
and silencing criticism at home. While
the situation has not been materially
altered since he received the queens or
ders, evidence has been supplied from
the field operations that the soldiers are
fretting and dlScOntenteu and that
changes of commanders are imperative.
The censorship has mutilated the press
dispatches and exercised a restraint
over war correspondents by mail but it
has not tampered with private letters
from officers and men which are now
finding their way into print. The truth
about Gatacre's repulse and the re-
treat and slaughter OF the Highland
brigade at MagerfOntefn and the action
of Hart's and Bartno's brigades at the
battle on the Tugela has come out with
cumulative effect in short letters of
soldiers published in London and the
provincial press. These revelations have
produced a painful impression that the
armies have not been led prudentIy and
that the time has passed when generals
who have blundered should be allowed
to retrieve regulations when the sold
iers have lost faith in them. General
Butler stands in a better light than
any other general, because he offered
conclusive proof of his caution and con-
sideratiOn for the lives of soldiers in or
dering a retreat from Colenso when
they were eager to continue fighting
under helpless conditions. Gen. White
alone has redeemed his reputation and
rendered the relief of Ladysmith DUTY
of paramount Importance.
The story of the Suffolks' reverse
which is told in detail by several agen-
cies and correspondents this morning
is a sorry repetition of Gatacre7s am
buscade on q smaller scale. The Dutch
were evidently informed by spies that a
night march would be made, and await
ed in silence the attack, allowing the
SuffoIks to come almost within bay
onet reach. Col Watson was making a
speech to his officers when an appalling
fire was opened on the Suffolks and ne
barely closed it with the word Charge
before falling fatally wounded There
was q. stampede down the hill when the
cry company retire" was heard and
the officers were left only one-quarter
of their force to fight hopelessly and
surrender. Only one officer escaped and
the losses in killed, wounded and miss
ing now exceeded 100. This is final
proof that night attacks when the Brit
ish forces are beset with spies are
highly hazardous and that precautions
should be taken to guard against
treacherous orders from the enemy's
side. Gen. French has remained mac
tive since this minor disaster.
The clubs were filled with vague
rumors last night that Gen. Buffers
second battle had been fought during
the day, but there was no direct con-
frmation OF them at a late hour. The
silence which has been maintained in
upper Natal since Sunday was unbroken
save by mortality lists from fever at
Ladysmith.
The military writers are urging in
the morning press the doubling of con-
templated reinfOrcementS and forecast
ing Lord Roberts campaign, but
jaded public is weary of expert critic
ism and impatient for news of the right
sort. The man in the street wants to
have all the critics sent to the front.
The world of fashion rallied at the
sHayms rket theaterr yesterday ar the
concert organized by Princess Chris
tian for the benefit of the Rifiemen's 5
Aid society. 1t was a brilliant affair in
which Albani and many other artists
shared the burdens of the entertain
ment. A spirited play was enacted by
Frederick Harrison, Cecil, Maud and
Winifred Emery, and Julia Nelson ap
peared as Britannia" and sang the
national anthem with stirring effect.
Lord Salisbury's reply to the Ameri
can request for information respecting
the seizure of breadstuffs at Delagoa
Bay is entirely satisfactory to neutral
traders. The export Of flour or other
food from American ports to neutral
territory will not be interfered with un-
less the ultimate destination for the
enemy be apparent from the manifest
American exporters under this official
ruling can send foodstuffS without risk
of seizure as cOntraband if they con-
sign Ineln TO portuguese U1eTCuduLS dI
LOurenzO Marquee, although they ought
naturally to take the precaution Of
shipping them underneutral rather than
the British flag and of avoiding all
traces of their ultimate destination in
the clearance papers Compensation
will be made without doubt for the
seizure of provisions which have not
passed out of the hands of American
owners nor been tainted with evidence
in ships papers of ultimate distination
for the enemy. Close students of inter
national law are confident that the
American merchants will not be him
dered in supplying the Dutch republics
with foodstuffs if these precautions are
observed. They are also convinced that
the precedent is a dangerous one for
England. Lord Salisbury's ruling, if
England and France are at war, will
exclude all foodstuffs destined for the
enemy, unless they are consigned to a
| neutral port, with papers untainted.
Americans in event of such a war can
ship flour and bacon to France via
Belgium but not to the United King
dom. If the exports understand Lord
Salisburys ruling, he is securing con-
| tinental nations with neutral borders
against starvation in war time, but
not Great Britain and meanwhile he is
not preventing neutral trading with the
open market of Delagoa Bay, where
Boer agents will be free purchasers of