The times., 1899-12-18

that a heavy draft had been made On
JoubeTts forces in Natal for the ope a.
lions against Methuen, French, and Cat
acre.
Without wishing 10 be dogma-ie about
he matter the apparent British conf
dence that Buffers prospects had been
improved by such weakening OF his op-
poneHt. and that he could take advantage
of 1t 10 deliver a crushing blow before the
abzeEJees could return. has never i'm
pressed us as being based on any good mil
itary reasoning On the contrary. We are
more than ever inclined TO think that JoJ-
bert has at least all of his original
strength between the Tugela line and the
Drakepsbcrg range. and that he is eluaL
il not superior. in force to Sir Redyers Bul-
Ter. What has come from the seat OF war
seems also to justify the opinion that
Cronje considerably outnumbers Lord
Methuen at Magersfoutein. and that the
Boer forces in northern Cape Co,Cny are
numerically more than a match for F,euch
and Gatacre.
Couceding these premises, the prospects
for the British army in South Africa must
be regarded as the reverse Of encourag ging
Barring the one chance involved in ire
Clery hypothesis Butler would appear to
have been stalemated in Natal. and unable
to do anything further for the relief Of
Ladysmith until the arrival of fresh re-
cnforcements and guns The probabi ity
that I-adysmith may have to surrender in
the mean time, is grave and daily will
be growing greater But Lord Methuen's
situation. which includes that of Kim
herley, IS even worse. according to the
news indications. His rear and communi-
cations are so seriously in danger, that
London experts are advising a retreat TO
Orange River and junoture with General
French at that point. Such a movement
il feasible. as to which there may be
doubt. would convey its own story Of the
desperat teness of the situation. Should
French abandon Nauuw Poort, he would
leave the strategic triangle at the mercy
Of the Beers, and Gatacre's as the only
BRITISH force to make head against inva-
sion HndN open rebellion in northern Cape
Colony; ~ apparently hopeless undeItak
ing in present circumstances. The only
line Of Communication in possession of the
British would then be the Cape Town and
he Aar raiIway-that is, if the junction
were effected.
u is 10 be remembered, however that
Lord Methuen's ability to retreat is open to
question. There is evidence that he is
being hardly pressed, and that COME has
completed the extension OF his right the
effort to prevent which brought on the ter
rible slaughter the other day. On that side
at least he has the British position enfilad-
ed. and is in a convenient tactical situation
TO tear up Methuen's flank should that
officer determine upon a retograde move
meut. We know less about the conditions
ON the British right toward Jacobsdal, but
they do not seem to offer much cause for
satisfaction. If the published information
is net misleading. Methuen is without any
reasonable hope of success in a frontal at
TACK on the Magersfontein heights
Altogether it is not easy TO see how he
can avoid retreat, or the attempt at it,
which, if unsuccessful, would mean his
surrender and the fall Of Kimberley 1t is
10 be apprehended that On essaying TO re-
crczs the Modder River, he would en-
counter fresh body of Beers from below,
and therefore would be compelled 10 fight
in front. both fanks and rear TO make good
his escape. It requires considerable
optimism to conclude that MeJhuen has
anything like a brilliant show to get out
Of his present predicament.