Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-05-10
British Military Leadership.

| Transyaal has demonstrated the lac'
that England has no plethora of great
military leaders. although the work her
troops are now doing is likely 10 ue-
veIon some strong men. The history
of the world has shown that successful
oo,arols have never been found ready
made. They are the men VINO come 10
the surface of affairs in the storm ana
s+raes of great military movements.
r,oir metal has been tested in the
| fiery furnace of war. They nave
Demonstrated in the face of the enemy
+ba genius of command. This is the
school that produced Lord Roberts;
but it has been one that younger Off
GERS have not been able to attend. Not
since the Crimean war, has England
been matched with foemen worthy of
her steel until she encountered in the
present conflict the Beers whose mag
nfficent fighting qualities have COM
neIed the admiration of the world.
The warfare against native tribes
which has chiefly engaged the atten-
ton of English troops in recent
wears has been a very poor school for
the development of military leadership.
Here organization, equipment, and
modern ordnance has given the British
soldiers an immense advantage. 1t
has consequently given them an
exalted idea of their own proWess, and
led them into the error of believing
that no one could stand before them.
This arrogant self-confidence was
specially noticeable in English officers
at the beginning of the present war.
They were evidently disposed to be
lieve that they could drive the Beers
before them in the same dashing way
they would the natives of an African
jungle. They were speedily unde-
ceived in this-but AT terrible cost
The slaughter of English officers in the
earlierstages of the war was something
frightful They did not understand the
foe with which they had to deal, ana
the result led to defeat after defeat.
At last self-confidence was pruned'
English officers had been given
severe schooling; but they had learned
| a great deal They understood that
the Boer was a vastly different propo-
sition from the natives of Burmah or
the fanatical follower of the Mahdi the
Peer il is true. was well supplied with
| religious fervor; but he never de-
nended upon it to stop British bullets.
For this purpose he preferred bould-
nrS IIe knew how to take advantage
of every opportunity which nature
afforded for cover, and having thus
secured to himself the greatest
,uossihIe measure Of protection, he was
able to make matters exceedingly
| interesting for the British troops
charging madly in the open upon an
unseen fee. with vastly more courage
than horse sense.
The same easy seIf-confdence that
lei British officers to adopt these
id,otic tactics in the earlier stages Of
The war, was apparent in their
marches into the enemy's country.
where they went with a needless faith
ia their entire ability to take care Of
any situation that might confront
Thorn. AS a result considerable p0r-
ton Of their army was captured by
the enemy before the idea finally
dawned upon them that this view OF
the situation might, possibly be in
need If revision.
There can be no doubt but what this
ovcr-confdence with its resulting dis
position to underestimate the fighting
abilities and staying powers of the
enemy, which was so largely respon-
sible for the disasters to the British
succession in the early part of the
present war, was very general among
English military leaders at the begin
ming Of hostilitics. Lord Roberts, to be
sure. took a different view Of the stu
alton; but ne was then looked upon as
an old fogy, and the war office was
ftl.citating itself upon having
placed him permanently upon
the shelf The dashing Gen
oral Butler boosted. as he started for
South Africa, amid the enthusiastic
plaudits Of his admirers that he would
eat his Christmas dinner in Pre-
toria, There can be little doubt, too
that his wardrobe was well supplied
with the kid gloves, dancing pumps
etc, etc. that were to be used in con-
nnction with the evening social fes
tiytics that were to follow that event,
but. alas,
The best laid schemes o mice and mel
Gang aft a-glcy:
And leave us naueht but grief and pain
For promised joy
\ few months later. bafiled in his at
tcmpts to relieve Ladysmith, hi:
thoughts are turned from roast goose
plum pudding and social triumphs. We
hear him cxclaiming in disgust at {