The evening times., 1899-10-30
MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1899.
The battle of Iadysmiti, n ,

As predicted in London yesterday the
Beers began active operations against the
British garrison at Ladysmith this morn
ing. opening fire from the heights over
looking the exterior line on the north
These were speedily sienced The --latest
despatch states that an attack on Sir
George Whites left flank the position OF
which We take to be in the direction OF
Besters Station, was in progress. No fur
ther news of importance has yet reached
us.
1t should be remembered that any attemp,
10 estimate the situation or prospects of the
British forces at Ladysmith or to form the
orieS regarding the probable course or re
suits Of the battle now in progress will be
greatly hampered by the fact that the mill
tary censorship is rigid enough to suppress
any news deemed undesirable for publica-
ton. from the war Office point of view.
We can only use what the British Govern
ment sees fit TO give out, as a basis for
Judgment and comment
Generally speaking. the conditions at La
dysmith are as they have bssn predicted.
not been executed as rapidly as was expect
ed by some military critics, and it seems
apparent that Joubert was not prepared to
assume the offensive on Sunday as it was
thought he might. As reported. he did not
leave Glencoe until Saturday.
AS previously stated in The Times. the
British position is assailed on three
sides; by the column of General Erasmus
on the north, by that of General Meyer on
the east and by the Free State comman-
dos on the west and northwest. Notwith-
standing the destruction of the bridge
above Elandslaagte by General French. the
Beers have been able to transport two
heavy guns. which they have emplaced on
heights TO the north of Ladysmith. at a
distance of four thousand five hundred
yards from Sir George Whites exte-
rior line of defence 1t is said
that these pieces have a longer range
than any guns of the garrison. The
value of this fact. if it be one, remains to
be seen.
There is no indication that White con-
templates a retreat. As might be expected.
the enemy has cut off the water supply
from the hills; but a number CT wells have
been dug in the town, and there are near
by streams whose banks will be full for a
long time, the season of rains having set
in. 1t is probable that Sir George White !
has been able to provision himself for /
some weeks at least, as, at latest accounts,
his communications with his base were still
intact. The war Office authorities in Lon
don yesterday appeared to be fostering the
idea that he would succeed in keeping them
open, view which We must regard as
altogether too optimistic. As far as Col
enso. perhaps, it is possible the country
could be kept clear of Beers by cavalry
operations and sorties; but the British
general, in our opinion, has not sufficient
force TO cover such an extended line as
would be necessary to include Colenso
while, even if he could do so, il is difficult
to see what would prevent Joubert from
cutting the railway at Estcourt, or even
nearer if he wished to. We look to hear of
Whites complete isolation, barring, of
course, his ability to defeat and demoral-
zes the superior force attacking him in a
pitched battle.
]
lion that, supposing he can find men
enough to spare from the investment of
Ladysmith, Joubert will send a raiding
'oree toward Pietermaritzburg for the pur-
pose of destroying the railway and bridges.
md making it difficult for re-enforcements
o reach White from Durham. But the re-
iuction of Ladysmith is undoubtedly the
hing most important to the Beers at pres
mt. and it is even a question whether their
trategists would advise movement to-
ward the coast in existing circumstances,
although it might be difficult TO restrain
he army from attempting such an ad-
'enture.
When Sir Redvers Buffers army CORPS :
caches South Africa, if Sir George White l
S then still able to hold out, it might be C
ne British policy to strike directly for the Il
orange Free State from the Cape. That n
lovement would undoubtedly have the ef- f
ect of Withdrawing the Free Staters from k
fatal for the defence of Bloemfonsein. and o
s Pretoria and the whole Transvaal would n
e threatened at the same time. it may be I
that Joubert would not be slow p
trekking back through Laing's Mex. n
All of these considerations are plain to b
lie leaders of both armies, and will largely b
ominate the current military situation, the p
'gic OF which is plsin and simple. Jou- al
ert will strike a serious blow at Lady, ol
NTH If he can. trusting to whatever ef- 81