The evening times., 1899-11-23
THURSDAY. NOVEMBER %, 1880.
Joubcrt's Coup Behind Estcourt.

J"ubcrt's Coup Behind Estcourt.
In the news from Natal this morning
We have new evidence of the utter unre-
liability OF reports which have been given
out in London lately concerning the situa-
ton between Pietermaritzburg and Lady
smith. More than TWO weeks ago it was
positively stated that Brigadier General
Wolfe Murray had with him at Estcourt
not less than four thousand men. No
weakening of the garrison was suggested
when Wolfe Murray returned 10 the colo
nial capital leaving Colonel Long in COM
mand. and. when, a few days later, Major
General Hildyard arrived at Estcourt the
assumption was that he brought re-en-
forcements with him from Durham AS TO
the British force on the Mooi River below
Estcourt that has been supposed to con-
sist of fresh men from the First Division.
The statements of today. of course, may
be quite as misleading as those preceding.
II they are not they must be held as rep
resenting either incompreheusible delay
on the part of Sir c. F. Clery in getting
ready for business, or ineXcusable blum
dering Any attempt to keep up with the
Natal procession on the basis Of the vary
irg and confusing Information furnished
to the public, is about as hopeless as an
endeayor TO play the races successfully
with Confederate money.
According to today's cables Hildydrd has
only TWO thousand men at Estcourt. and
there are TWO thousand men more at Mooi
River under Colonel Barton. We will ac-
cept the statements as 10 numbers as just
as likely 10 be true as false, and no more
So Otherwise the situation is what We
forecasted it this morning, only a little
more serious. Estcourt is cut off, the
MOoi force is isolated and the Beers have
enveloped the line of communication with
Pietermaritzburg as far south as Noting
ham-if one report can be believed This
would put Joubsrt's advance within thirty
five miles of Pietermaritzburg which is pro-
ably wrong or premature. No doubt he
would have scouting and raiding parties
well beyond his main body, but the chances
are that he is not in force much beyond
Mooi River. just below which, however,
there seems 10 be evidence that he has
strongly fortified the Mooi Hills at and
about Willow Grange. This will make a
movement on the railway line by CIery, a
very costly undertaking.
There is apparently some idea that the
appearance of the Beers at Nottingham in
dicates a design on their part 10 attack
Pietermaritzburg. On this point We re-
serve opinion. To make such a movement
probable, in view of the long line over
which Joubert has spread his army, and
his necessity TO hold White in check at |
Ladysmith, Hildyard at Estcourt and Bar
ton at Helen's Bridge, it would have to be |
assumed that Clery's organization for ac- |
and that Pietermaritzburg is much more
open to assault than it reasonably should |
be. But Clery is the days mystery. If |
Hildyard and Barton have only four thou
sand troops between them, the general 1
commanding in southern Natal ought by
this time to have not less than twelve or
thirteen thousand men of the First Di-
vision, outside of the Estcourt and Mooi
garrisons, which together represent less
the first transport reached Durham. Our
dispatches only give Clery nine thousand,
and where they are is entirely a matter
of conjecture.
The only possible light We have on the
subject is furnished by London report
which states that an advance was to be |
made at once from Pietermaritzburg to
stop Joubert at Nottingham, or thereabouts.
This would suggest the presence at the |
former place of Clery's main body, and
naturally it should be there, but We are
afraid even to jump to so necessary a con.
clusion.
The situation is more intensely inter-
esting than has been the case since the
battle of Elandslaagte. Judged by the in
sufficient data at our command ii does
not look well for the British We are told
that Buffers reason for sending Clery and
Hildyard to the scene was that he knew
them to be accomplished strategists. 1t is
possible that some evidence of such ability
may be shortly presented to u.s. 1t is diff
cult in the meantime not to think that
Joubert, who has proven his claims to
strategy, has not managed to render their
task more arduous one than 1t would
have been if the relieving column had been
ready to move a few days ago. For ex-
ample, unless Clery can strike an imme- |
1ia:e blow it would seem probable that the
Boers will have Barton cleaned out at the
Mooi River and destroy Helens Bridge.
and that the fate of Estcourt may not be
better. Eildyard may have had excellent |
reasons for aiicwih; himself to be iso-
stcd. and We are afraid one of them