The times., 1899-11-20
MoNDAY. NoNEMBER b. Isal.
BuIIcr's PLAN OF cam1aien.

Heretofore general interest in the SO-ih
African war has been almost entirely con
fined 20 the operations in northern Nasa',
where the battles Of Dundee and EIand-
slaagte and the close siege Of Ladysmith
have shown what British troops can do
against superior numbers. and with other
uufayCrable conditions added. It is true
that the gallant defence Of Mafeking by
Baden Powell. and Of Kimberley by Keke-
vieh have been worthy of attention. bur
the game Of war in their part OF the vast
South African field has necessarily ap-
peared unimportant when compared with
the stirring movements Of the TRAGEDY as
il has developed in the eastern coICny.
So until now we have been almost eXclu-
siFely following the struggle between G n
Grad Joubert with Sir George Stewart
White. and watching the formers 81 ate
gical plans 10 foil the relieving column
From this time on. it viii be necessary 10
widen cur sphere Of observation and 10 con
slider me march Of events in Natal in con
neetion with the Development OF the gen
cral plan Of campaign for The vho,e thea
ire OF war, which Gen. Redycrs BuI-
lor Is beginning 10 unfold. and which. i'm its
last analysis involves TIE entire area OF
South Africa from Ihe Cape 10 northern
Rhodesia
II it has been difficult To keep track of
Jhe rapidly changing situation in the Itda
region between Pietermaritzburg and
I-afng- c1ck. hampered as the lore gn reaEe-
is by The censorship and inaccurate or mis-
leading reports. it viii not be easier in the
future 10 help Sir Cornelius Clery-Eho
sgperssdes Major General Hndyard
command OF the relieving column-to de-
bark his infantry. artillery. and supplies
~ Durban- 90 march with him 10 the sac
cor or Ladysmith. 10 assist Colonel Long
IN holding EstcourU until Clery comes up.
and 10 ba with Sir George White behind
his eurenahments; and az the same tine
90 move along with Lord Methuen from
The Orange River 10 wherever he is going.
and ride on raid into the Free state with
French aud his cavalry division in short,
there Is now likely 10 be what General
Sherman termed war all over The field. and
there viii generally be strategic or tacti-
cal relations between movements widely
separated. apparently independent often
Eeiled. and stIll oftener hard 10 understand
because in many cases meant 10 be msun-
derstood.
From general view Uf the situation. as
our information makes il appear today. the
reader VIII gather the idea thar the time
Tor British generalship. stralagems. and dl-
versions has about come. and that all Of
that sort OF thing viii rot hereafter be 10
The bag of the Beers By this morning
Sir Bedyers Butler VIII have thirty thou
sand men in South Africa. ten thousand
OF which are somewhere between Durham
and Estcouu. Sir Cornelius Clary has.
therefore force OF sufficient strength to
begin operations. He Is no doubt hansi-
caped by weakness IN the cavalry arm, the
transports carrying the mounted troops and
their horses being slow ships. He may
have 10 proceed without a strong force OF
cavalry as the policy Of the general-in-
chief may reserve most Of thar branch o,
The service now or soon 10 be available for
use elsewhere. He VIII probably find the
Mooi River bridge destroyed. and GER
taiHIy the one over the Tugela River at
Colenso. And then It is evident thar his
advance VIII be harried by SchaIk Burger
from the east. and possibly by other Boer
columns His enemy is in considerable
force il front OF Esrcou.t and al weenens.
eighteen miles northeast. Before CIcry's
arrival ~ Estcourt It's garrison may be
compelled 10 fan back. AT best. the indi-
cations are that the relieving column VIII
make slow progress, and will be exposed
10 severe aghtug over q rough hiII coun-
try fun ot cover FOR ths resisting army. and
10 destructive artillery nrc at every stream
necessary 20 cross on poutoons
These conditions. which have been quite
anticipated by the military critics OF Eng
land and Europe surely cannot nave been
unexpected by SIT Rcdyers Butler at the
Cape. The question was being asked in
London yesterday: Why did nor the gen
sFaI-lB-chief send enough men and guns AT
once 10 Natal 10 crush opposition AID make
ahe immediate relief Of i.adysmith a GER
Taiuty? lie is The only living men. per-
haps. who could give al answer with au-
thorlty, bat his reasons may be guessed al
with possibly considerable probability Of
hitting near the trith
II Butler Is ir position 10 know that
White has ammunition. supplies. works |
and effective force sufficient 10 warrant the
conclusion that be can hold cut against
the Siege for ten Gays or a fortnight longer |
that knowledge might account fo- the Brit