The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-01-02
EEGLAND's GLOOMY NEW YEAR.
South Africa Furnishes Record OF
Miscalculation and Disaster.

South Africa Furnishes Record OF
Miscalculation and Disaster.
New York, Jan. IA dispatch to the
Tribune from London says: The new
year opened gloomily for England,
with a. record of characterization and
disaster in South Africa to be retrieved
at great cost Of life and treasure. and
with the repUtauOns of generals in the
field and ministers at home hanging
upon the issue Of battle during the next
few weeks. There is no lack Of crit
icism and fault finding in the press and
There are signs OF anxiety in minister
iaI circles over the political effects Of
additional reverSes to British arms,
but there is also a hopeful feeling in
duced by fresh proofs Of the incapacity
OF the Dutch allies TO make use Of their
opportunities.
The Beer victories of Stormberg,
AagersfOntein and COlense have not
been followed up in any instance. There
have been no successful raids On the
lines Of communication, and Lady
snzith, Kimberley and Mafeking have
m0t been overwhelmed by superior num-
bers and guns. There is a. record Of
Beer failures as wen as British de-
feats
The writer's are wisely retcent on
important points and deal lightly with
the dangers Of the situation, but there
Is little doubt that the garrison has
been short Of ammunition, and the
knowledge Of this fact has Influenced
General Butler IN sacrificing his origin
al plan OF campaign and ulasSiug his
forces for the relief Of Ladysmith. He
is still calling IN reinfOrcementts, Tor
the Majestic mas gone TO Durham with
another battalion and numerous drafts.
No additional battahOnS of infantry
will be available from incoming trans
ports FOR a week.
Indications still point to a battle at
the end Of this week although there
may be delays through a mule trans
port service, which General Butler is
evidently organizing on a large scale.
News from the western border IS
meagTe- There are beldted accounts Of
gun practice by the naval brigade at
MOdder river, which is constantly i'm
proving. One dispatch describes the
havoc made by a naval gun which had
found the range for the main source Of
the water supply for the Boer camp.
British accounts Of Baden-POWell's
sortie cannot be expected for severa!
days. The Boer official dispatches
stating that two we'll known British
officers, one Of them a son Of the prime
minister, were wounded, have caused
much anxiety in the world Of wealth
and fashion. Lord Edward Cecil'G
wife the daughter Of Admiral Maxse
and is now in South Africa. Lord
Charles Cavendish- Benduck is a half
brother of the Duke OF Portland and
is an officer of brilliant promise.
A grim story is told of Lord Sails
bury in connection witch the service Of
his son under Baden-POWeu at MAIZE
king. He was offered at the opening
of the war special facilities for getting
early copies OF the dispatches from
Mafeking, but replied that he could
take his turn and wait for the news
papers like other people
The war Office reported at midnight
that Lord Methuen's situation was IN
changed. but that the Beers had re-
tired to COleEburs from their intrench-
ments at Rensburg. me British cav
airy from DOrdrecht had met with
superior force Of the enemy and with
drawn in good order after a skirmish-