The Otago Daily Times. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1900.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11659, 16 February 1900, Page 4

The Otago Daily Times. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1900.

The nows from the war which, poming via San Francisco and Australia, whs published by us yesterday is interesting if it cannot bo regarded as in all respects satisfactory. Most distressful reading is the account of the terrible slaughter of the Highland Brigade at Magersfontein, when they fell into the awful trap in which they were exposed in the darkness of the night to the fire of the enemy at a range of less than 50 yards. And although the confused retirement of the .survivors of the mangled brigade may have been, as one correspondent described it, "the most unpleasant sight the British soldier of to-dfiy has ever seen," it must be remembered that the Highlanders were placed with awful suddenness in the most 'hopeless predicament British soldiers have ever occupied. Someone had blundered; but, though their comrades, officers, and men, foil thickly round them they struggled on and on so long as a faint hope remained that they might be able to retrieve tho disaster which, through no fault of their own,, had befallen them. , When np last they fell back they only did what the bravest troops similarly circumstanced would have done. The choice was between being killed to a man and preserving their lives for the future service of their country. "It was as if the earthopened, and from the cleft, and as far as our men reached, fire belched and shot swept tjie veldt." It would be improper to attach too much importance to, such a .statement as that which charges Lord Methuen with being " crazy " when he ordered General Wauchope forward, but it is only too evident that there was a differenca of opinion between the two generals respecting the wisdom of the movement, and that General Wauchope was overruled: Different accounts that we have received of the death of this gallant officer, who had never taken part in an engagement without being wounded in it, agree in stating that, after he fell, he virtually apologised to his men for. the movement, which, in obedience to orders, he had led. Far more pleasant is the detailed account cabled from Melbourne of the attack which the Boers made on Ladysmith on the 6th January. It shows that the British victory was much more complete ilian. the version of the fight which we received by cable led us to believe, i The enemy fought clearly with great de-

termination and courage, but the British, troops were handled with superior skill, and the enemy, as they were driven back by the garrison's artillery, were fallen upon by both infantry and cavalry, The Boers, however, maintained the attack* with stubborn persistency, and it was not until darkness came on, after 19 •Hours' fighting, ' that they retired. Then, with characteristic cunning, they fell back, indirect line with the neutral carfipi which is occupied by non-com-batants, south of the town, and by that means protected themselves from fire. Again the .*. enemy abused the white flag, imder cover of which they shot down men of the Manchester Regiment and temporarily secured others as prisoners. This occurrence only tends to corroborate the already, sufficiently overwhelming evidence concerning the prnctioo oE these despicable tactics by the enemy, and to justify the intimation which Sir Redvers Buller has sent to the Boer commanders that in future the?, white flag will only be respcoted if simultaneously with its being displayed the' enemy fling down their guns and throw up their hands. There is one sentence in the account, of the attack on Ladysmith, 'which in'the light of subsequent events is full of pathos. The particulars are furnished from within the besieged town itself, when tlie shelling of the Boers' positions by the guns of the relieving army was already being wistfully watched. "We are now probably within two days',of General Puller's arrival," it was-said;/ Since that was written fire weeks have passed, and Sir lledvers Bullev has not yet been able to relieve the beleaguered town. It is gratifying, however, to find that the information cabled from Melbourne contradicts that which has come to us more tardily by the mail steamer. It is reported in the San Francisco mail news that deaths , .from enteric fever and dysentery at Ladysmith average 10 daily, but this is completely disposed of by the later and more cheering intelligence that the fever has left the town, and, not only that, but also that the food supplies are being carefully husbanded and are " spinning out splendidly." That being so, there seeni3 to be no substantial ground for the fears that have been expressed that the garrison may be so- worn by privations and disease as to be unable to do much in the way of helping General Buller, The opportunity for the garrison to assist the relief army will, it is to be hoped,) occur sooner than present indications suggest i.s likely. It may bo that, as is suggested, General Buller has deferred to the representations of military authorities in London and advauced before, he was fully prepared; but such a step on his part would be inconsistent with the reputation he possesses of being a "cautious as well as a skilful .commander. In any case, it is perfectly obvious that he has a task of tremendous difficulty before him.

Besides.a'large-quantity of information about the war, the San Franoiscp mail has brought us word of a great pro-Boer denionstration at Washington. It is possible to over-estimate the significance of'such a gathering. The Boors unquestionably have their sympathisers 'in America, just, as they have them in Great Britain and in the colonies, and it would probably he a task of no great' difficulty in'a city like Washington; with a population of 230,000 souls,. to rake together a sufficient number of pro-Boers to fill the largest hall in the city. The task would be rendered the more easy, becjiuse, as we know, the cause of the Boers has been espoused in the United States by the Democrats for political purposes, The principal speaker was apparently Mr Sulzer, who is a member of Congress and a Democrat. Mr Suker it was who recently distinguished himself by introducing in the House of Representatives a resolution "protesting against the barbarous manner in which Great Britain has conducted the war, and authorising the President to take such steps as may be expedient in his judgment' to secure the observance of the laws of war as recognised by all civilised nations, and to bring about an honourable peace." The terms of this resolution indicate very distinctly that Mr Sulzer's information ou the subject of the war is strictly limited, and if iv- . telligent Americans gauge by his knowledge of the facts his declaration that "the Boers are right" they will arrive at a -very correct estimate of its value. The only, other representative American who is mentioned as having taken part in this pro-Boer demonstration is Senator Mason, of Illinois. Of him, also, we have heard before. Like Mr Suker in the Congress, he proposed in the Senate some time ago a resolution of sympathy with the Bflers, but it was regarded as of little significance. , "-Mr, Mason's position," the New York corespondent of The Times wrote, "is not one of authority, either in the Senate or with the public." When Mr Suker and Mr Mason are the leaders of the pro-Boer demonstration in Washington it may, we -trust, bo regarded as of little significance. The heart of the American people is undoubtedly with Great Britain in the present,struggle, just as that of the British was with the United States iv last year's war.

The Cable Company aye advised of the interruption of tho English land lines owing to a very heavy snowstorm.. In consequence there has been some delay in the traffic to and 'from-England for the past two days.

The annual meeting of tho Otago Harbour Board was hold yesterday afternoon, when the Hon. H. Gourley was rc-e'.ected chairman, and the committees for the year were appointed, the membership being the same as last year, with the exception that the name ot Mr Ross has bcon substituted for that of Mr Wright. Messrs J. T. Mackerras, .Tanies Robin, T. Ross, and tho Hon. D. Finkerlon have been nominated as the_ representatives of the Government on the board for the next two years.

The French' corvette Euro, now at Port Chalmers, was visited on Wednesday by Or J. Carroll (representing tlie mayo'l and the Hon. H. Gmirlcy (chairman of the Harbour Board). They wore : courteously received by Commandant Tlubonlt, and shown over the ship, after which thay were entertained in the. captain's cabin. In tho afternoon Commandant Thiboult, accompanied by Mr P. C. Neill, the French Consul, returned the visit. They were received at the Town Hall by Or Carroll, who, through Mr .T. A. Dallas, as' interpreter, extended a cordial welcome to the commandant and his officers. The party then adjourned to the mayor's room, where Cr Carroll proposed the health of Commandant Thiboult, his welcome on behalf of the mp.yor and citizens being endorsed by Mr Gourley. Commandant' Thiboult returned thanks, and expressed the pleasure he felt at visiting tho colony. He in turn proposed success to New Zealand, the British race, and the acting mayor.' It was arranged that Cr Carroll and Mr Gourley should drive the commandant and as many of his officers as could accompany him around tho city on Monday, visiting various places of interest.

At a meeting of the newly-elected Henley River Board Mr John Stevenson was unanimously re-elected chairman."

The Southland Times reports that George , Gilbert Kennedy, 18 years of age, was killed in a gravel pit at Springhills on Wednesday by a fall of earth, 'a man who was working in the, pit. did'not see the accident, but when ho turned round.-ho' saw Kennedy 'pinned: against a wheel. He went to give assistance^ but the young man never spoke. ■ ; At Wednesday's sitting of the Magistrate's Court, Lane and v Co. (for whom- Mr Macdonald appeared) sought to recover; £5 10s 5d from John Burns on a judgment summons.. The debtor on being, examined stated that he had been out of work for some time, .that he had no money of his own, and that Mswife had means for tho maintenance of the house. Mr 0. C, Graham, S.M., who occupied the bench, refused to make an order at pre* I sent, but adjourned the case until March U, to give- the debtor an opportunity of obtaining employment. -. The well-known firm of Messrs Turnbull and Jones have taken over the electrical' engineering- branch' of Messrs Stevenson and Poolo's New Zealand Engineering and Electrical Company.- Messrs Turnbull and .Toner have just received an order for an:Bso light dynamo for Messrs \Vardell Bros., of Christchurch, whioh makes the fourth machine ordered by this firm, who run a supply station on their premises, and who will have (when, the n.e\v machine arrives) a plant '. capacity of over 3800 lamps of eight-candle power." , The Steele-Payne Bellringers, who have just returned from a successful tour through the goldSelds townships, will appe°ar at Caversham this evening and at Roslyn tomorrow evening. They will also give a sacred concert on Sunday evening in the Agricultural Hall.

The Variety Coiripany appearing at the Alhambra Theatre gave another entertainment last evening, and were thoroughly successful in tliciy, effort? to amuse. In the; Leslie brothers. Mr Fuller-has secured two -.most capable performers of extreme versatility, and their playing on a iarge "number of instruments is quite a feature of the performance. Air Georgo/Williamson is also a strong addition to the company, and is,, in his black-face specialties, particularly amusing. Qn Saturday night a number of novelties aro promised, the Leslie brothers, among other things, giving a unique entertainment, in which they will produce music from the furnishings to be commonly met with in. a. hotel bar. ; ■- ■ - . ;