New-York tribune., 1900-01-29
GENERAL BULLER'S RETREAT.

UGHEhdE bOLLEhS hEIhEAI.
General Butler has withdrawn his army to the
south side of the Tugela River. That is the
news from South Africa, on General Buffers
authority. It means the complete failure of the
fanking movement for the relief of Ladysmith
The British army on the Tugela is now no bet
ter off than It was several weeks ago. On the
contrary, it is worse off by the loss of many
brave men. It is all very well for General
Butler to report that his men fought braveIy
sustaining the best traditions of the British
army. 1t was to be assumed in advance that
they would do so. But that Is not the point.
The point is that they were beaten Well as
they fought, they found in front of them men
who fought just as well. 1t is we'll for General
Butler to report that his army got back across
the Tugela without the loss of a man or
pound of supplies in crossing, and without
molestation. 1t ought to have done so. But that
is not the point The point is that it has had
to recross the unexpectedly driven back by
the foe it went over to vanquish. There is
moral comfort in courage, even when it is un-
successful But something more than moral
comfort is needed for the relief of Ladysmith
and for the success of the British cause in
South Africa.
1t was remarked in these columns at the be-
ginning of this movement of General Buffers
that success was by no means certain, because
the fanking was being undertaken by an in
ferior force against superior. We all remem-
Der how hard task Grant had in outfanking
Lee. though he had the advantage of having
the much larger army. 1t is not to General
Bullers discredit that he has failed to outfank
an army of seventy thousand with an army of
thirty-five thousand. The fault lay in making
the attempt For the attempt General Butler is
doubtless, to be held responsible, save as the
political considerations, which have been the
bane of this whole campaign, imposed upon him
an unreasonable task. There can be no doubt
that it was grave blunder to attempt to hold
Ladysmith. The place should have been aban-
doned. as Newcastle and Dundee were, and all
British forces should have been concentrated at
some place which they could have held without
trouble. That, however, will not be taken into
account now. The facts are that General Butler
undertook this movement upon his own author
ity, before Lord Roberts reached Cape Town
and has managed it throughout without inter
ference; and that it has utterly-almost disas-
trously-failed. 1t is to be feared the SEQUEL
will be the erection of one more monument in
the graveyard of military regulations" as
South Africa is well called, bearing the name of
Redvers Butler
What the effect of this retreat will be upon
Ladysmith is the most serious question of the
much longer it can hold out is problematic |
Recent reports said provisions were still plenti
full. But the supply of ammunition must be |
running low. The garrison has shown splendid |
spirit and courage 1t may be able to survive the
of General Buffers failure and
hold out weeks longer. 1t may yet be saved, if
Lord Roberts shall turn his attention toward 1t |
and send a stronger expedition to its relief |
The supposition is. however that he has been |
paying his attention to an advance into the !
Orange Free State from the neghborhood of |
Colesberg, leaving General Butler to save Lady |
smith. To take up the job at which Butler has
failed would probably disarrange his plan of |
campaign. It is possible that he may persist in |
his original plans, and either leave Ladysmith |
to its fate or seek to relieve it by an advance
upon Bloemfonten If he is assured that Lady |
smith has supplies sufficient for a few weeks !
more, the latter may we'll be his plan For it is |
pretty certain that Ladysmith can hold out as |
long as food and ammunition last There is |
little danger Of its being taken by storm. And
there is now practically no hope of it's being re-
neved by General Butler. The iesting words Of
one of its garrison are now Invested with grim !
truth. He told his friends in Buffers army
that If they didn't do better, the Ladysmith
garrison would have to march down to their |
relief, instead of being relieved by them The |
pest that is now reasonably to be hoped is that !
both the garrison and the bafled siege-raisers |
may be able to hold their ground until some
more powerful force shall be set in action for |
their joint relief