Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-29
FACES THE SITUATION BRAvELY.
British Public Not Disposed to Mini
mize Gen. BulIer's Defeat

LcNDON, January 29--The usual airy
attempts to minimize the seriousness of the
situation in South Africa are entirely lack
ing this afternoon. and 1t Is frankly ac-
knowledged that the most serious effort Of
the present war has dismally failed. There
is no sign of a wish on the part OF the Lead
ers OF public opinion to disguise the ugiy
facts. but. on the contrary, there is every
disposition to face the full difficulties and
discover the best way out. In short, the
policy voiced everywhere is the gathering
up of forces for more effective blows. All
hopes OF the speedy relief of Ladysmith
have been abandoned. and the consensus of
expert opinion urges the immediate shift
ing OF the theater of war from the rocky
kopjes of Natal to the open veldt of the
Free State. One thing appears certain
another long pause is inevitable unless the
Beers assume the offensive. because even
In the event of General Butler further at
tempting To reach Ladysmith the~planning
of a new move will necessarily occupy time.
The afternoon newspapers are drawing
attention to the closeness OF the parallel
between the federal attack on General Lee
at Fredericksburg and the operations on
the upper Tugela-
Glad 1t is No Worse.
Curiously enough, there Is visible, espe-
cially in military circles. an undercurrent
OF relief at the news that the British are
safely south Of the Tugela, for the rlImors
immense catastrophe.
The ST. James Gazette this afternoon re-
turns to scathing criticism of the language
OF Gen. Buffers reports. Ii says:
Gen. Buffers reflection on the terror he
put into the foe reminds US of things we
have heard about Chinese mandarins"
as the afternoon newspapers are COM
renting without full knowledge of the
facts. they are not disposed to offer any
apologies for Gen Buffers defeat The st.
James Gazette says:
The meaning OF the retreat Is obvious.
We have had to recognize that We cannot
force way through the enemy's lines
TO Ladysmith. Why, We do not know. II
the Boer position Is iTnpregnable 1t ought
never 10 have been attacked. If It is ca
pable Of being taken We were repulsed be-
cause the leadership was bad and it is Idle
TO attempt 10 conceal that the latter Is far
from Incredible. To start out declaring
there must be no turning back Is emil
hently foolish When swaRger and rant
prevail there IS commonly plentiful lack of
Judgment and true resolution.
Word. Instead of Action.
1T requires serious effort not to yield to
the gloomy conviction that the Intellectual
and moral qualities which make for sue
cess have been replaced on our staff by
words. words. words. The remedy for
South Africa is not to add to the numbers,
but 10 put the troops where their force can
come into play"
The Westminster Gazette invites the
country to east aside all delusions and rec
ognlze the fact that progress for the pres
ent IS stopped IN Natal, and that safety
lies in concentration. Gen. Whites force
as an effective aid. must be written of and
probably most Of Gen Buffers army has
left the Tugela- The Beers have been given
time to prepare against an advance through n
the Free State. and We have not sufficient
strength at present to undertake this ad-
vance with any safety. These are us,Iv
facts. but those who disguise them are
again misleading the public. The plain
truth is that We will have to make a nf-yv
army somehow from somewhere We nead
at least 100000 more men-J0O 900 to rein
force the Cape and 10000 in reserve"
Views of the Globe.
The Globe says: 1T would be a mistake
to minimize the serious character of the
fCouttnuad on Teufh Paxsl