New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-16
NO DANGER AT LADYSMITH.
NAL PLAN-HIS PROBABLE
MOVEMENTS.
IBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.l

[BY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.l
London. Nov. 10, / a. m.-Englishmen are be-
ginning to wonder whether il is true that no
news is good news. Not homing pigeon nor
native runner nor heliograph flash had revealed
the secrets of five days at Ladysmth, but there
strong belief-not in military circles. but
in the clubs-at midnight that the War Office
was not ignorant Of what going on, and was
convinced that the Dutch allies, despairing Of
the effects of long range fire, would come TO
close quarters within few days and attempt to
carry the British position by direct attack in
front 1 have failed to find any official con-
frmation OF this.
The tone in high quarters is confident and
cheerful Military authoNties. since General
Carleton's reverse have hoped that General
White would remain quiet and act on strictly
defensive lines until the arrival Of the bulk Of
the army corps and they are contented with
the situation and highly gratifed that nothing
has happened except sluggish, ineffective bonn
bardment OF Ladysmith and indecisve skir-
mishes the western border. They smile in
credulously when any one suggests that General
Jouberts forces may attempt to carry Lady
smith by storm.
Meanwhile the exigencies of afternoon Journal
ism are met by the publication Of the twice told
tale Of Colonel Baden-Powelrs brilliant charge
mornings papers are puzzng over the Admir-
atys reports Of the movements of the trans
ports for clews respecting General Buffers plan
Of campaign and the strength Of the relief col
umn now forming at Lower Natal.
THE CENSORSHIP CONFUsEs EXPERTS.
The censorship is we'll managed. for Just
enough news comes through to confuse every
expert and render an intelligent judgment out
frc+ c1innOstiOn that
the first division of 10000 men would be sent to
Durham with an unbroken organization; but this
hardly seems tenabe, owing to the mysterious
detention at Cape Town OF several battalions
and the splitting up Of the brigade of Guards.
The theory entertained was that the entire
Third Division would also go to Durham. since
three battalions Of Fusiliers of that command
had been sent on to Natal; but this has been
upset by the sailing Of the Britannia with the
second battalion Of Irish Fusiliers, OF the same
division for East London, one of the three
bases Of supplies originally selected for con-
centric movement upon Bloemfontein-
Apparently General Butler has a soul above
red tape and is dsposing his troops as they
arrive without regard for the original scheme
~ organization. but in accordance with the
actual military requirements. If all arrivals
have been reported, over eighteen thousand
troops have reached South Africa, Of which
nearly eight thousand have been sent to Dur
ban and about thousand to East London while
over nine thousand have remained at cape
Town.
MEANING OF BULLER'S ARRANGEMENTS.
This distribution of forces serves to indicate
that the situation at Ladysmith cannot be re-
garded by General Butler critical, for other
box,a detained large a
force at Cape Town. The deduction which the
most thoughtful military experts make from
the details Of the decentralization Of the army
corns ,s that General Butler Is recasting the
original scheme of organization for the sake OF
Securing an efficient column for the relief OF
Ladysmith without disarranging completely the
general plan OF campaign. and that by the emu
Of the week that column in lower NataI Will
be deficient in cavalry alone
The dearth of news encouraged speculation
respecting lines OF the British attack "HeA
an army corps IS fairly on the grounu Nne VI
two military critics hazard the conjecture 'ha'
a.starting diplomatic surprise is in reserve anu
that strong column will land at Deiagoa Day
by arrangement with Portugal and GERMANY
and take advantage Of the shortest possiOie |
line to advance upon Pretoria distance Vi
about three hundred and fifty miles lHIS Gun
lecture is generally regarded as fancifui. SOBER
minded critics contend that when LaoySili'"
is relieved the Free Staters Will retire 10 van
Reenan's Pass and the Beers to Lang ENeH'
where each body can hold strong defensive
positions, but that the British Army Will not
be drawn in either direction.
NO PREMATURE ADVANCE.
According TO this view portion OF the torce
hon landed
East London or Port Elizabeth, for cooperation |
with General Buffers general advance through
the Free State, which will be begun when ne Is
fully prepared for IT. Close associates OF Butler
assert that he will look after the pressing neeus
OF Ladysmth and Kimberley. ana WIZ not De
hurried into pr ,mature advance, wei knowing
that time is I'm favor of an organized and dis
cipned army. and heavily against the irregular
commands Of the Dutch allies
Although there is no official denial or the
BENSOIYPTIJS TOOTH POWDER,