The evening times., 1899-12-08
FRIDAY, DECEMBER S, 1899.
The Coming Battles.

II is sufficiently evident that the curtain
at least two bloody tragedies in Soutt
Africa. The struggles for the relief Of
ladysmith and Kimberley cannot be much
longer postponed, and, indeed, may have
begun already.
On the whole, the news today is rather
encouraging for the British side. In The
west Lord Methuen has again assumed ac.
tive command, being well of his wound
and is understood to be nearly ready tc
move. The Beers are represented as con-
centrated at Spytfontein and as expecting
to mako their next stand at that place
We do not hear any more OF the interme-
diate position, six miles north of Modder
River, where the Ninth Lancers found
them entrenched the other day. This may
mean that Cronje has abandoned the idea
of repeating his Modder tactics, and that
he regards il as desirable to keep his main
body in touch with the containing force
at Kimberley. But this is conjectural.
and there is still room for reasonab' e
doubt that Methuen would be permitted
to advance twenty-four miles nearer to
his objective point unobstructed. This
view is strengthened by a late despatch
today. originating in Pretoria, which
states that fighting was resumed at
Modder on Thursday morning. If true,
this would seem to indicate an attempted
advance against q force in front, or flank
attack by the Beers from the direction OF
Jacobsdal.
1t is now asserted that the most recent
sortie from Kimberley was intended by
Colonel Kekewich to hold as many of the
besiegers as possible, and prevent their re-
enforcement of Cronje against Methuen's
advance. This may be true, and if so
might be good strategy under the circum-
stances; but the proposition, unexplained
by unknown local conditions would appear
about as broad as long. Alternatively
weakening OF the investment might release
Kekewich for the useful purpose Of falling
on the Boer rear. If the commander at
Kimberley acted on the theory credited to
him, We should say that he probably
thought Cronje would give battle at Metgr,
and not fall back at once to Spytfontein;
in which case his strategy doubtless would
be correct.
Methuen has now about sixteen thou-
sand men. and is better of In cavalry ard
artillery than formerly. If his rear and
communications were reliably safer than
they are. his situation would be promising;
but the rebellion in Northern Cape Colony
is spreading fast and dangerously and
Gatacre operating from Queenstown with
a column of six thousand troops, and
French at Naauw Poort, with only twen-
ty-five hundred, have their hands both tied
and full. The London inference is, that
each is playing with the Beers, to keep
them from moving to the assistance of
Cronje. That general, it is persistently
reported, has been REINFORCED by three
thousand men from Natal, and it is fur
ther stated that most of the Beers from
Mafeking are with him at Spytfontein. AL
together, he must have as strong a force
as that of Methuen. Cronje, the English
military writers think, will be in danger
at Spytfontein of having his line of re-
treat TO Jacobsdal cut OF. Should such
a probability be great, it would suggest
his fighting short of the place named. One
can only guess the game.
Sir Redvers Butler has arrived at Frere
and taken chief command in the field This
will leave Clery and Hildyard as wing COM
manders. The relieving column, as report
ed, now aggregates twenty-seven thousand
men, less details to protect communica-
tions. There should be nearly or quite
twenty thousand available for movements
to the right and left of Frere. The Beers
have anticipated attacks from both direc-
tions. They have four thousand Free Stat
ers in an entrenched position in the
Zwarzberg ten miles west of Colenso, COW
ering the approach to Ladysmith by way
of Dewdrop. They have also massed a
force to the east, probably commanding the |
Weenen ford, and have scouting parties all |
along the Tugela and Little Tugela rivers |
British movements are unreported and are |
likely to remain so until something definite |
has been accomplished. The appearance |
of the general-in-chief in field command |
seems to indicate that preparatory steps |
have been completed, and that the army |
is about to advance. Butler is said to have |
waited for additional heavy guns and lyd- |
dite ammunition. He probably has them
by today, and If so, there should be inter-
esting news from Natal by Sunday or Mon
day.