The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1900-02-27
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The steamer Charles Nelson arriy.
ing nj MAXWELL. Kauai. brought Coast
newspapers Of the 10th and nth insis
but none OF them found their way to
Honolulu on the lnter-island steamers
which came yesterday. The only
through private correspondence. Mr..
Freese. chemist OF the Maxwell plan
tation. In a letter to Mr.. Scott Of Cat
ton, NELL a Co., says: THE San Fran
cisco papers OF February 18th received
on the Nelson state that Butler had
been forced back across the Tugela
river again" As this news accords
with that OF the Advertisers Associated
Press special service up to noon of the
9th, 1t il not an occasion for surprise.
1t was painfully apparent in our own
advices that Butler, in trying to force
the intrenched sharpshooters OF Joub-
erts army had taken too big contract
and was about to suffer the conse-
quences.
The trouble with the British Generals
is that they are as hide-bound by mill
tary tradition as were the Germans and
Austrians whom Napoleon demoralized
by his genius for original campaigning
Like Bourbons they learn nothing and
forget nothing. The student of mill
tary history will see no difference be-
tween the tactics employed by White,
Gatacre. Methuen and Butler in turn
and those which wrought the ruin of
Braddock in the Pennsylvania wilder
ness and of Pakenham at New Orleans.
Confronting a concealed line of perfect
marksmen these British Generals order
their commands to fix bayonets and
advance, officers and men disdaining
cover and depending upon dash and
discipline for success. The history of
all wars shows that this is fatal |
policy. The instances where we'll
manned intrenched positions have been
carried by assault are few and far be-
tween. In nine cases out of ten such
positions have to be reduced by siege
or by concentrating superior number
of well-trained guns for bombardment;
in the tenth case, success is usually due
to demoralized and inefficient defense
such as was exhibited by the French
after the initial disasters of the war
with Prussia and by the Spaniards at
Ell Caney and San Juan hill in the
American skirmish with Spain. For
the usual course of things witness
Grants unsuccessful effort to carry the
works at Vicksburg and Petersburg,
Banks failures at Port Hudson, Burn
sides at Fredericksburg and Lees at |
Gettysburg. These are bloody ex-
amples of the futility of leading the
bravest men into the open to attack
men equally brave and numerous and
well-armed behind earthworks.
1t Is as the United Service Gazette
tBritish) remarked awhile ago. The
whole theory of tactics must be altered |
or the British in South Africa must
accept ultimate defeat. There is no
other remedy. But one way offers to
meet the Beers in the hills and that is
to approach them from tree to tree and
rock to rock and give them as good as
they send; to enter in fact, upon a
gigantic guerrilla war. This may be
CALLING to the proud-spirited British |
officers with their traditions of upright
valor but it cannot be so calling as
defeat. And defeat is as sure for
Roberts as for Butler If he under
takes to crush the rock by the impact
of the wave.
THE DECISION TO BURN.