Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-01-11

the Daily Telegraph, dated Mon {:
/: day. January 8. at noon, from ::
{: Frere Camp, says: ::
{! "Firing from the Boer positions ::
around Ladysmith began early !:
/: to-day. 1t still continues. but the /:
cannonadlng is light and irregu- I:
lar" {:
:.......... ............. ................'
London, Jan. 10.-The plight of Brit
ish arms in South Africa is over
Swallowed for the present by the storm
which is bursting over the head of the
home government. The Manchester
speeches of Mr.. Balfour. the govern
ment leader in the House OF Commons,
has loosened such torrent of COM
ment from the press and individuals
of his own party that were Parliament
20 reassemble to-day 1t is doubtful II
the conservatives would retain power
in spite OF their tremendous majority of
she past session.
The pcnt-up dissatisfaction with the
governments lack OF energy in wag-
ing the war Is no longer concealed
When such ardent conservative papers
MS the Times and Globe come out boldly
with reproof there is no knowing where
tho agitation will end.
The provincial press has already
taken up the cry. For the moment
MIR. Balfour Is the scapegoat. but there
is q terrible rod in pickle for the Mar
quls of Lansdowne. while Lord Sails
bury and other cabinet ministers will
not escape unless n wonderful change
comes over the war situation.
FROM THE FRONT.
London Jan. 10.-Thc following dis
patch dated at T'rerc Camp, January
10. noon. has been received by the War
Office from General Butler:
"A Transvaal telegram gives the
cpemy's loss ut Ladysmith on Saturday
as AIS wounded and this after, as is
admitted. they had endured a whitening
fire from six masked batteries and
been defeated at all points.
Natives here assert that the Bocr
loss in one commando alone was $50
killed and wagon loads of wounded.
The heaviest loss is said to have been
among the Free Staters, who were
forced by the Transvaalcrs into the
most dangerous places"
This curious dispatch is all the War
Office has issued tonight. 1t makes
not the slightest mention of the posi-
lion or doings of the British forces. 1t
may be interpreted to mean tf1att T1utiy-
smith is safe, but it is more likely in
tended to prepare the British public
for n terrible list of casualties.
GOVERNMENT LEADERS VIEWS.
a. j. Balfour, the government leader
in the House of Commons, at a lun-
cheon given in Manchester this after
noon. made u speech. In which he re-
undated tho accusation "a l.,
thick and thin supporter OF the War
Office"
He declared that even if an angel
from heaven told him it was possible in
great war to carry out everything rs
written out on paper he should know
that the angel was drawing upon his
Imagination. 1t was not true. he added
that the War Office had sent the Brit
ish army into the field with guns which
placed them at a hopeless disadvantage
with their enemies. He did not claim
that the system was perfect, but the
critics ought not to ignore the extra
ordinary military problems of the pres
ent war between which and the prob
lens with which continental headqaar-
tcrs STATS had to deal there was no
parallel. For the first time in The his
tory of the world the country had Ia
meet an enemy entirely mounted and
entered into the war with Il vast num-
Der of mounted soldiers it would have
long before been concluded. Hereafter
also it would be recognized that guns
were not as mobile as horse soldiers
and that field artillery must be made
part of the regular equipment of every
army. But, seeing that the British WA
Office had not Jagged behind the best
military opinion of to-day it was ludic.
rous to charge it with want of pre.
science. lie was sure Justice would be
done In due time 10 the administrative
system of the army. The last thing tho
government desired was any undue
concealment of unpleasant facts.
GOVERNMENT CRITICISED
London. Jan. 10.--Sir Charles Dixie
member of Parliament. speaking al
Cinderford tonight. said that Mr.
Balfour had asserted that sufficient
steps had been taken bypthe Govern
ment, considering the knowledge pos
sessed at the time. but had admitted
full knowledge of the Bocr arma-
ments.
Sir Charles declared that he was pre-
pared to ask in the House of Commons
whether the Government had taken