Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1900-02-02
Feeling OF Deep Gloom.


Feeling of Deep Gloom.
London, Jan. 30, AIS a. m.-The
week has opened with the utmost gloom
for the British public, and the reaction
is all the stronger because of the high
hopes that were reposed in Gen. Buller's
turning movement and of his announce
ment that there would be mo turning
back" At the very moment when DR..
Leyds is being received as an honored
guest in the highest circles on the con-
tinent. Great Britain has to face the
worst disaster in n campaign thus far
disastrous. Open talk is heard of the
absolute necessity of abandoning Lady
smith to its fate, while Lord Roberts re-
verts to the original plan of an advance
over the Orange river upon Bloemfon-
tein.
To Ladysmith the disappointment
must be very bitter. A dispatch from
the Boer laager, near the town, dated
January "a, describes the garrison as
"very evidently preparing a desperate
coup in order to effect a junction with
Gen. Buffers advancing army" 1t may
be regarded as a certainty that, in the
George White has lately. been issuing
extra rations, and this fact has given
| rise to an exaggerated idea as to the
length of time the provisions would last.
Even should it be decided to send Gen.
Butler reenforcements and to attempt
to reach Ladysmith by a movement
through the still more difficult country
east of Colenso, it is extremely doubtful
whether the garrison could hold out
long enough, as such movement would
occupy at least month.
Should Send More Troops.
All the editorials this morning
breathe the spirit of calm determine
tion. Not one will allow that any re-
verse could deter the country from the
object it Gas set itself to attain, what
ever the sacrifices which may be in
volved. The Times says: Heavy or
light, the thing has to be done and the
government ought to prepare for the
immediate dispatch of $4,000 men and
to take steps to send yet another So
900, if these should be needed. The
hopeless attempts to carry on the
campaign with four widely separated
columns, each unequal to its task
must be abandoned for a concentra'
tion of force and of purpose"
Defeat Equal to Yorktown.
The Times says: "The catastrophe
is almost without precedent in oul
military history and, indeed, without
parallel except the surrender of York
town.
Very frank criticism of the govern
! ment, however, is beginning to b'
: heard even in quarters that have
, hitherto refrained. The Daily Mai
boldly throws all the blame upon Si
Michael HicksBeach, Lord Lands
downe and Lord Wolseley. 1t point
Simon Cameron from the post of sec
retary of war as a precedent for 'get
ting rid oil incompetent ministers"
/; Buffers strength.
: 1t appears that Gen. Butler had alto
: gether five brigades wholly or partly en-
4 gagged, Gen. Cookies, Gen. Hildyard's
Gen. Hart's, Gen. Woodgate's and Ger
: Lyttleton's, and the % casualties al
: ready announced in Lyttleton's brigad
|
y still surrounds the retreat. 1t is pos
S sible that Gen. Butler has withdraw
e his whole forces, but il is generally as
:, sumed that Lyttleton's brigade an
: Lord Dundonald's cavalry and othe
t troops are still on the north side c
, the Tugea. Gen. Buffers confidenc
v that the Beers did not molest his r,
s treat, because they had been taught I
respect the fighting powers of the Bri
ish soldier, is not shared in Londoi
t, 1t is thought rather that the Beers ha
|, some other plan in store or did nj
), wish to waste their men.
d VIII Not Seek Peace.
l. Berlin, Jan. 29.-The Deutsche Tagt
d Zeitung publishes an interview wit
S DR.. Leyds which represents him as ha,
t. ing said: "The war will certainly la.
It very long time. The Transvaal wi
:. decidedly not be the first to seek peac
t. and will refuse any proposals on IL
a basis of the status quo"
II Seeks Mediation.
e Berlin, Jan. 29.-Despite DR.. Leyd
: protestations, it is currently reportt
p and believed that his purpose here
IS to induce Germany to intervene, h
II chief stipulation for peace being TIL
IS Great Britain should guarantee the il
d dependence of the Boer republics, Wi
" minor territorial cessions. but I
is ports, this latter being left for futu
d negotiations. Another power havir
IS South African possessions may be tax,
ID into the negotiations. If he fails he
DR.. Leyds will probably visit Washin
ton with the same object. Should Il
'e kaiser decline the proposals, and fa
re ing in Washington, st. Petersburg W
ot be tried. The inducements that a
I'd held out to Germany to assist him in b
It, plans are commercial, railway and mi
re ing monopolies to the empire in L
e. Transvaal and assistance against Br
I'd ish competition in South Africa.
:, DJFS SIJDnENIy