The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-04-15

London. April "a British officer,
writing in Today Of Vaal-Krantz, says:
OF do not know if it is Of any use to
dascant always on the shortcomings of
our generals. but they are brought
home 10 us so constantly by bitter ex-
rnriances that we cannot keep them
from our minds, and we cannot but re-
sent the obstinacy of the war Office
authorities who deliberately allow
thousands Of lives to be sacrificed Tath-
or than remove those who, IN peace,
have won favor and promotion by So
cial influence and backstairs intrigue,
and are really responsible for most of
our disasters.
"Tbe general who led his brigade in
mass of quarter column uuOer the en-
emv's guns at ColensO is still in COM
,nand of that brigade. and there has
been no voice raised IN England against
such stupendOus folly. Five hundred
and fifty men were lost on that occa-
sion but because the Irish brigade
stood firm il did not attract public at
teption. The Highlanders at Mayors
f0ntein. under similar but less aggra-
waited circumstances. suffered no great
er loss retreaJed three times from the
field. and all England clamOred for the
suppression of the responsible person.
Since then General Hart has lost no
opportunity of repeating his Offense; he
even attributed the i'll success of the
day 10 the fact that the battaliOns We're
afterward extended to single instead of
double rank and censured commanding
officers for having saved an even great
er Disaster
Futile Bayonet Charge.
Near Spion Kop he took personal
command of the York and Lancaster
and the South Lancashire regiments
and ordered a futile bayOnet charge
at an enemy nearly 1900 yards away.
This attracted such heavy fire that the
two regiments sought shelter and de-
Clined to follow their officers another
yard. The Irish brigade had to be
called to the rescue and passed through
the PROSTATE line.
mo one has any confidence in Gen
eral Harris leadership and every off,
Ger and man from General Butler down
is aware Of his incompetency. Nearly
half Of h.s brigade has been killed and
wounded; neither the Highland nor
any other brigade has suffered in any
thing like the same proportions; the
lnnisdlling Fusiliers have only three
Of the officers who were with them
three months ago still serving, and can
now in all muster only five officers. A
few more battles and the brigade will
cease to exist.
General Harris talents fit him to be
a drill sergeant-not a leader of men.
No latitude is given to even the most
experienced commanders. He must al
ways Keep, as he says, tight grip on
his brigade. which means discomfort
and annoy aHce il peace, and disaster
in waG.
General Harris Incompetency.
AS an example of the extremes to
Which this policy is carried, 1 will give
one instance among many. After the
battle of Splon kOp the troops who had
been for ten days under constant fire
and endured every sort of hardship,
were naturally somewhat exhausted;
moreover they had had a severe night
march covering the rear of the retreat
ING army. General Butler decided it
was necessary that they should have
some days rest. and a camping ground
was selected. The tents, however, were
A'l pitched in the morning, and the
men lay out in the sun all the day.
In the afternoon General Hart was
OF iAe opinion that camp might be
guns and decided to pitch camp mile
further back. But instead of pointing
Uul me ground TO the commanding Of
.NtlS ana directing them TO move their !
oa'iaions TO the place. he formed the !
I'ui regiments on a brigade parade.
ana after some time had been given !
up 10 covering correctly, d. n elaborate |
u'i-ate vancouver began. The ground |
VS. broken and covered with deep |
wafer courses SO that the dressing and |
S.S,anee was difficult TO maintain. /
S,aI Officers galloped from place to |
pace. Jha men and officers were
abused. halted. moved TO the light. |
moved TO the left.
Curses of the Men.
1t was impossible to shut ones ears
10 lAe muitered curses Of men. worn
Cul with fatigue and wart Of sleep. at /
L-s Useless show. which might posi- |
Wy nave been very edifyng at Alder |
s-.. nc royal review. but which. in !
.-'t Warfare. strained the much /
tl.N SuehSth Of the soldiers. An /
r,-. ana q half was occupied in ira 1
~. S.-- mile and half Of ground. |
E1..A could easily have been covered /
Ill q" MY minutes In this way men |
naidSSea and worn out at q time /
a-.N lney should he recovering their
- -e'.-,a for future Efforts: in this way
w hospitals are filled with soldiers /
mi -a't never been hit by p Boer
-. 9ut whose constitutions have |
We. -appto by unnecessary labors.
NJ, al mart placed himself on 2 /
W. IVA WIN q telescope and a bugler and /
,,-s.ed the brigade to attack a posi-
-, gre ouEler sounded alternately
Che, N' IAe gay Advance Double /
rrs+L.,' need not say that this /
bs 80 - vi nshunE resulted in a terri !
isa t...l:,., NlAly oIhcers and 1900 men
u 1.ilIoie Total Tor one BRIGADE near
s' Per cent of the whole II v-o,Ii5
rr-. possible to enumerate the Va
fbo-,a thaI daily occur. but tbrouob
~. ""IsJ 1 IeSret 10 say that General
TO- - not the only brigadier notOrio11s
h-;"-. lmpetency. At least two otba~
tbs -'--S We're unfit TO command but
or. e.-e-dents Of war have raro,,,e.J
81, 'l lnem. The divisional oon,r,a,,5
ma ~-'e no better. but war has aiso
be me changes here, and il would
Signature TO judge their success
r 'u'eTs Won't Take to Cover.
prirsg.lgh British officers dress ILL.,
take =. when under fire. tbe1- ~
spo1so cover. SO q Telegram 60
Mimi, writing from Natal saws
thu ''r ro fighting begins" he ssrs
stalk - a5l lie down. but the Officers &,
their sr 9Oa'' giving signals, waving
orally ba ai,s. SMOKING cigars. and gem
Oily. ' ,,,ata, as II they We're in Plea
one 1ilg his rifle under 6is se sr1.
tween e IS ones gun when waltz h ~ IA as
lle beats Of a covert Shoot II