The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-01-13
CONFIDENCE in
LORD ROBERTS
Feeling Of Relief Over Change in
South African Commanders.
THE SUFFOLKs' REVERSE
Nisled by Order From Enemy Troops
Retreat and Leave Their Officers
Bearing Full Brunt Of Fire.

NEW YORK. Jan ia dispatch TO
the Tribune from London. says:
The fourth month Of the war opens
with Lord Roberts IN command Of
the scattered British forces In South
Africa.
The government has made 50 many
mistakes that they might have credit
for sagacity In sending to Cape Town
Il great soldier capable Of command
ing the confidence OF the amies in the
field and silencing criticism at home.
While the situation has not been ma
terially altered since he received the
queens orders. evidence has been sup
piled from the field operations that
the soldiers are frating and discon-
tented and that changes Of command
ers are Imperative.
The censorship has mutilated press
dispatches and exercised restraint
over war correspondents by mail, but
1t has not tampered with private lel-
ters from officers and men which are
now finding their way into print
The truth about Gatacre's repulse
and the retreat and slaughter of the
Highland brigade at Magersfontein
and the action Of Hart's and Baroa's
brgades at the battle OH the Tugela
has come out with cumulative effec
In short letters Of soldiers published
in London and the provincial press.
Thee revelations have producel 4
painful impression that the armies
have not been led prudently and that
the time has passed when generals
who have blundered should be allowed
10 retrieve regulations when the sol
diers have lost faith in them. General
Butler stands in a better light than
any other general because he offered
proof Of his caution and
for the lives of soldiers
in orrlering a retreat from ColenSo
when they were eager to continue
fighting under hopeless conditions.
General White alone has redeemed
his reputation and rendered the relief
of Ladysmith a duty of paramount
Importance.
The story OF the Sunolks' reverse.
which is told in detail by several
agencies and correspondents today,
is in sorry repetition Of Gatacre's
ambuscade Cn smaller scale The
Dutch were evidently Informed by
spies thai night march would be
made and awaited In silence the at
tack allowing the Suffolks to come
almost within bayonet reach. Colonel
Watson was making a speech to his
officers when an appalling fire was
opened up on the Suffolks and he
barely closed with the word Charge
before falling fatally wounded. There
was stampede down the hill when
the cry Company retire" was heard
and the officers were left with cnei
quarter of their force to fight hope
lcssly and surrender.
only one officer escaped and the
losses in killed and wounded and miss
iig Eow exceed 100 Thi; is final
proof that night attacks when the
British forces are beset with spies are
highly hazardous and that precautions
should be taken to eul~l against
orders from the enamys
side. General French has remained
inactive since this minor disaster.
The clubs were filled with vague
last night that General Bull
er's second battle had been fought
during the day. hut there was no di-
rect confirmation of them at late
hour. The silence which has been
in upper Natal since sun
day was unbroken saw" by mortality
lists from fever at Ladysmith.
The military writers are urging In
this MORNINGS press the doubling of
relnforcements and fore
casting Lord Roberts campaign. but
n jaded pulic is weary Of expert crit
icislng 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
theater yesterday at the
concert organized by Princess Christ
ian for the benefit of the Rifiemen's
Aid Society. 1t was brilliant affair
IN which Albani and many other ar
lists shared the burdens of the enter
.aiument A spirited play was enact
I'd by Frederick Harrison, Cyril Maude
and Winifred Emery. and Julia Nell
;on appeared as Britannia" and
sang the national anthem with stir
ring effect.
Lord salisbury's reply to the Ameri-
can request for information respecting
The seizure of breadstuffs at Delagoa
bay is entirely satisfactory to neural
traders. The export of flour or other
food from Amaricln ports to neutral