The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-01-27
THIS is BULLER'S LATEST
5 LONDON is FILLED With DARK
FOREBODYINGS.
WATCHING BULLER'S B0M8ARDMENT
ladysmith is Thought by the Garrison to be
lmpregnable, But the Beers Mount New
Guns and London Fears Ladysmih's
Sreedy Fall,
Speedy Fall.

Speedy Fall.
London, Jan. 26.-(Saturday-4 a. nj
Seven days of fighting have left the
main Boer positions intact and General
Buffers army 706 men weaker, accord
ing to the official. casualty lists, which
seemingly do not include the Spion Kop
losses, as those last forwarded DO not
mention General Woodgate's woundirg.
England is possessed by depressing
sense of failure, though not word in
criticism of her generals and soldiers is
uttered. Not much effort is made to place
a happy construction upon General Bul-
ler's bare eighteen words telling OF the
retirement from Spion Kcp, and there is
an uneasy impression abroad that worse
news is yet to come.
At one of the military clubs tonight the
statement PASSED from one mcmber 10
another that the war office has Tect "
ed an unpleasant supplementary dispatch
from General Butler, which was being
held up for u hours.
Spencer Wilkinson. in the Morning
Post, writes as follows of the Spion Kop
loss:
This is a serious matter and an at
tempt will not here be made to mini-
miZe it, for no greater wrong can be done
TO cur people at home than to misle2d
them about the significance Of the events
OF the war. The right way is to tell the
truth as far as we know it." But facts
from the ne:ghborhood of the Tugeia
are scantier man ever. The censorship is
now simply prohibitive. ana something is
wrong with the cables. The break on
the East Coast lines has been repaired.
hut the cable between San Thome and
l.oanda, on the West Coast is now inter
rurted.
"More troops" is the only suggestion
here as the way TO break the Boer re-
sistance. Mr.. Wilkinson regrets that
General Butler has not 10000 more men,
declaring that, if they would not make
victory certain his enterprise without
thens is hopeless.
The Spectator dealing with the neces-
sity of large additional military prcpara-
tens, says:
ut may be that we have yet another
cycle of disasters in front of US
The transport Assay arrived at Cape
Town last Friday with ,, 127 officers and
men. The first portion of the Seventh
division is afioat. Hence. with the 10000
men Of this division and ABOUT 9,0C0
others now at sea it lies in the power OF
Lord Roberts to reinforce General Butler
heavily. This is advised by military
writers.
Although severely tried, England's
nerve is absolutely mistaken, and proha-
bly, nothing that can happen ID South
Africa will change in the slightest de-
gree her intention. She will continue to
receive bad news. if it comes. with dignity
and will maintain her determination 10
win at last.
The morning papers editorially advise
coolness and Judgment and care1ui
avoidance OF over-estimating the impoT-
tance of the last position.
The Times says:
The natural disquietude Of the public
is increased by the singular yagueneS'
and inconsistency OF General BullerS
dispatches. There is, indeed. a very sin
GUAR and somewhat disquieting attitude
of detachments in General Buffers com
ments as revealed in the Gazette's dis
patches. For instance, his comment as
to the action at Zoutpan's Drift. lbs
remark concerning the probability thdt
British officers would in time learn the
value of scouting might properly have
come from a foreign military attache.
but it is rather more than surprising
that it should be thrown out in this
casual irresponsible fashion by the head
of the forces concerning his subordinate>,
a week or two. moreover. after the loss
of the guns on the TUgeia.
The consequences of this latest check
may be very serious to the gallant
Iadysnith garrison II is impossible to
estimate the next movement 1t may lie
that General Butler will Re compelled to
retire from the ground he lately won,
hut in any event we may be sure that
the British people viii lot show them
selves wanting in fortitude and stead-
ness. The Government would be wei
advised TO call out Immediately all the
militia and to expedite the dispatch Of
the Eighth division and of the Fourth
cavalry brigade No doubt Lord Rob
erts will strain every nerve to enable
General Butler to renew the attempC
tn relieve Eadysmith.
The Standard says:
DIR Leyds was a guest in Paris at
President Loubet's banquet. on Thurs
day. where in consequence. The Eri;,>n
Ambassador did not appear. NJ. Del
cassp convprsfd some time with him and
II is believed that he has since re
ceived him at the Quai d'Orsai. Our