New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-11

ny General Babngton This brigade includes
three regiments of cavalry and a strong body of
provincial horse. Two powerful batteries of
horse artillery have been added. with mobility
nearly equal To that Of cavalry. Methuens
army cannot number less than 1000 men, and
its man9uvrng power has been increased until
there is slight justification for frontal attacks
made without adequate reconnaissance and
scouting Military men assume that he has not
left Modder River until the section of the
howitzer battery with lyddite ammunition has
arrived
COMFORTED BY WHITES SORTIE.
The optimists have been looking at the Natal
situation through rose colored glasses since
General Whites gallant sorie. They accept this
as convincing proof that the garrison has not
lost its fighting power during the long siege, and
that his cavalry will speedily be in touch with
Buffers force. A veteran officer when asked
whether the horses would be At for work after
being shut up so long replied:
They will go all tie better for being well
rested, and it will he hard to hold them in"
General Buffers admirers laugh at the idea
that he will attempt to force the passage Of the
river at the point where the Beers strongest.
They assert that he will mask that crossing
with heavy artillery soon the howitzers
sent up from Durham. but that the main
body of the army will go over higher up, after
feint has been made lower down, and that the
enemy's position will be turned, Ladysmith re-
lieved and the retreat of the Free Staters to the
mountain passes cut off. Nothing can be simpler
than strategy in a comfortable service club
without interruption from the unmannerly
Beers
The relief of Kimberley, when accomplished,
will bring Cecil Rhodes once more into prom
Joxt-,,
a few hours after the Boer ultmatum was de-
livered and narrowly escaped capture at Mod
der River on his way to Kimberley. where he has
been under siege since October 13 Kimberley
has been a lucky place for him since the
discovery of diamonds there, when he arrived
there with f6 in his pocket the foundation
for his vast fortune and great political power.
His instinct true when he returned
TO Kimberley at the outbreak Of the war. He
would have been in the way Of Mr. Hofmeyer
and Premier Schreiner if he had remained at
Cape Town. and would have interfered with sir
Alfred Miners plan Of using the Dutch Min
istry as the instrument for keeping the Dutch
element of Cape Colony quiet. He put himself
in touch with his own Dutch constituents of
Barkly West. upon whom he had always had a
strong grip and also looked after the De Beers
mine and other big properties. He employed a
large force of starving Kaffirs in road making
during the siege. just as he had done many
years before in keeping the miners claims clear
Of water. He will emerge from his self-enforced
retirement at Kimberley If all goes well, with
the reputation of having exposed himself at the
post Of danger nearly two months, when the
Beers were eager to capture him and shut him
up in Jameson's cell in Pretoria. His London
friends are disposed to believe that he VIII not
return to Cape Town after General Methuen
marches in. but will remain at Kimberley In or
der TO set the mines in operation as soon as pos
sible and exert his personal influence among
the Dutch in Barkly West for the restoration or
loyalty and order l. y. r.