The San Francisco call., 1899-12-06

Il ONDON. Dec s.-A feeling of
anxiety and irritation was in the
air last evening al the clubs,
hotels. theaters and wherever men
were congregated. There was but
one exclamation. When will they allow
news 10 come through" This feeling IS
reflected in the petulant criticisms of the
work of the censor which are 10 be found
In the columns OF several OF the great
London dailies. This absolute silence at
"a time when the next blow is about 10 he
delivered "a blow which is likely 20 be
vital 20 the fortunes Of the campaign. is
most hard 10 bear What makes the sus-
pense more difficult 20 endure is the
knowledge that n is caused. not By the
natural circumstance of the case hot
boy The deliberate determination OF tho
military authorities. II is fully apprc-
ciated that any moment may bring news
of the greatest Importance.
From Natal comes word that the Beers
have retired from Weenen. southeast u
Colenso. i looks as II a part Of Sir
Francis Clery's division had been de-
tached 10 make wide detour on the
east OF Frere Station. The first result Of
such movement viii be 20 drive any out
living force Of Beers across the Blau-
wakrass River. its subsequent object
would be 10 work around so as 10 menace
the enemys position at Colenso from the
east
General Butler must now have available
for operation for forcing Tugela River
nearly - 900 men. II must not neces-
sarily be assumed that all will be con-
centrated al Colenso. General Butler m9y
attempt what Methuen said was imposci-
BILE for him. 20 outhank the enemy. lie
viii feint at many places. but the actual
point al which he crosses may be that at
which he finds the enemy the least
strong. This would account for the eX-
treme secrecy observed as 10 movements
of the British troops. Far more de-
pends on the passage OF Tugela River
than depended on that OF Modder River.
General Jcubert Is reported TO have
strengthened both his right and left
TANKS in the preparation for tactics Ike
these. but IL by no means follows that
he would be able 10 Illustrate them. The
Roer position on the Tugela mas been
made eX .eedIngly strong as cgains, any
front attack. while the character OF the
country ll this region largely helps Jou-
fert' IS dispositions The Beers are report
"A to be m very great numbers al Grob-
lers kloof ard elsewhere around Colerso.
From a British point Of view ii is hoped
that The Beers viii stand and await at
tack On given position. Should they
spread themselves in mobile bodies for
two miles ~long the course OF the Tuge!a
the result would be something like guer-
Tiiia warfare.
The delay which has occurred in the
British advance can not only be explained
by General Buffers desire 10 get up an
overwhelming number Of batteries, but
also by carefully planned ana extensive
movements whereby the Beers position
ar C0leuso can be simultaneously attacked
from the rorth. south. east and west.
An urronnrmed report says that Cen
eral Butler began his advance on Thurs
day. II hardly seems probable that the
bridge az Frere had been sufficiently re-
paired on that date.
The Beers are said 20 be confident OF
capturing Ladysmith unless their Zines
can be turned. The conflict will be a
most desperate one and will task Buffers
resources.
General Methucn, II IS reported, re-
sumes his advance toward Kimberley to-
day in personal command OF his column
from which 81 Is clear that his wound Is
only a slight one. His delay is explained
hy the need Of bringing up more ammuni-
tlon and concentrating large supplies for
Kimberley. which IS IN great straits for
food.
The whereabouts Of the Boer forces is
uncertain. II would appear that they are
not az Spytfontein. which is so near Mod
der River that IL IS certain 10 be under
observation. The probable line Of retreat
and one which Il was said a portion OF