Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-01-10

strong force OF cavalry and guns. hav-
Ing at his left Ilwerne and al his right
llwerne mountain, the Beers refused TO
disclose their strength.
They evidently were In their trenches
and In Colenso Itself, but though both
brgades advanced well up to the posi-
tons where the battle had ragged most
iercely more than three weeks ago
there was no animated response TO the
British challenge, Even when the ar
tlllery came within LOO yards Of the
Boer rifles and General Clery himself
rode close to the Tugela, the trenches
remained silent.
Interest In the attack on Ladysmith
has been so absorbing that very little
comment has been heard upon a GER
tain phase OF the conduct OF the Brit
ish campaign, which has been dwelt
upon in these dispatches and which
was shown in all It's glazing faults In
the full descriptions OF the battles Of
Stormberg, Magersfonteln and ColensO.
which reached England through the
mails this week.
Since their publication the vague feel
ing Of discomfort at the British gener-
ais tactics has developed into OUT
spoken condemnation.
When We read that men In close
formation were led into a death trap-r
as happened TO the Bighlanders' brig
ade at Magersfontein-by order OF the
commanding general In spite of the
protests Of the general commanding the
brigade, or that the Boer positions
south Of the river had not been discov-
cred, or that an important elevation
was taken and not retained owing TO
want OF support-both of which incl
dents occurred in the action Of the Tu-
gela-that a night march was re-
sponsible for the catastrophe at Storm
berg and again in the case Of the Suf-
folk regiment at Colesberg. II Is not
surprising that the public Is asking
why a policy Of such well known dan
ger has been tried so often in this cam
paign.
A dispatch to the Tribune from Lon
don says.
II the complete embargo upon news
be one Of the conditions Of successful
strategy, something really Napoleonic
must be going on along the Tugela
river.
AZ TIC CluUS nNli
men were confident that the army had
been set In motion on Monday, and Of
iicers fingered at the military service
til midnight in the expectation OF re-
celving tldings OF some great stroke.
Veterans Of the clubs and the military
writer's in the morning journals busted
themselves with patching up their
theories. Changes were running upon
the two main themes-the necessity for
the clearance Of the south bank before
the passage Of the Tugela could be at
tempted, and the probability that War
ren's division would make wide de-
tour and cross the river seventeen miles
below Colenso. Gen. Buffers delay In
operating In front of his force, seemed
an insuperable objection to the first
theory and there were only two facts
to be cited in support Of the latter con-
lecture. These were the establishment
of Warren's headquarters as far down
as Estcourt and the apparent occupa-
ton of Weenen by British troops, since
one press dispatch which slipped
through the censors hands described
an exchange OF fash light signals with
those OF the village.
Gen. Butler has succeeded In confus-
Ing and bewildering the English public,
II he has not dazed and COMPOUNDED the
Boer generals.
Gen. French has reported a reconnois-
sance on the enemys flank in which a
considerable force was drawn out, then
allowed TO retire, A squadron Of the
household cavalry had an accounting
in this movement. French's objective
point In these maneuvers has not been
disclosed, but 1t is probable that Gen.
Cronje has sent reinforcements TO the
Free Staters on the southern frontier,
and that the occupation Of the bridges
over the Orange river will be rendered
difficult.
Battallons OF the sixth division con-
tinue to arrive at Capetown, and the
Princess Of Wales. the hospital ship, Is
also at anchor there. Lord Roberts
can now be looked for any day.