Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-02-09
RuLLER,s BIG TASK.

RULERS BIG TASK.
The Times in an editorial dealing
with Gen Buffers task says The
problem before him Is unQuestionably
most difficult. We cannot be surprised
or disheartened should he be unable TO
solve II with success. Ills task Is not
merely 20 force way through the
Boer lines TO Ladysmith. That opera
tlon would be formidable enough. But
II would be easy compared with the
feat he must perform IL large strategy
cal results are 10 follow mis- efforts.
oHe must iniict q crushing defeat
upon the Boer army, Unless he can
drive into the Drakensberg or other
wise destroy that army, the relief OF
Ladysmith can hardly be accomplished
with safety. We await the Issue Of the
operation with great anxiety"
Tlsewh here the TIMES takes heart
from the fact that Gen. Butler Is play
ing his part In the general scheme
which is being co-ordinated by Lord
Roberts. II says on this point: The
British public Is still kept In ignor-
ance Of the whereabouts Of some 5000
troops. and great developments may
be expected. II Is difficult TO believe
that the Beers are equally ignorant OF
the disposition OF the British forces.
The great game OF war viii, however
shortly be hegun, and we may conf
IDENTIFY hope that the period Of reverses
is drawing to an end"
Spencer Wilkinson. discussing Gen.
Rullers latest movement in the
Morning Post today, says: 1.-THE ad-
vantage OF this line OF action Is
that II offers. the shortest road TO
I,adysmlth The disadvantage Is that
with modern weapons the operation OF
piercing the enemys front Is one Of the
utmost difficulty After beginning each
side can concentrate on one point OF
the enemy's line the fire Of the long
portion Of its own front, Of all the rifle.
men along a front OF mile and a half,
and Of all the guns along a front of
three or four miles. as the assaiant
chooses his point OF attack he can al
the outset gain superiority OF fire
against that point. but as he advances
and pushes back part OF the enemys
line. the enemy can pour on his troops
the converglng fire Of a great SEMI
circle. while the assailant's fire from
his convex front Is divergent rather
than conyergent
III, however. the assailant can find
cover for his leading party, he has
converglng fire against the two ends
of the defending seml-circle and he
may. therefore, hope to drive his oppo-
nent back, 10 widen the gap he has
made, and then, as he pushes fresh
troops into II and holds the enemy
along the rest OF his front, TO roll up
either wing OF the defense.
This task, hard in any case, Is rem
dered harder when a river must be
crossed, for q river between two enc,
mics prevents the assailant from en-
gaging the defender along his whole
front except with artillery. and there
fore. the defender, as soon as he recog-
nizes the real point OF attack can hur-
ny troops from both wings TO his CEN
ter
"A river also limits the number OF
troops that an assailant can bring 10
bear, for they must all cross bridge
or bridges by dehle
Gen. Butler has made a good start.
In order 20 be able 10 advance, he will
probably have 10 drive the Beers from
Doom Kloof, TO separate the two Boer
wings. and then. while holding one OF
them, to attack and crush the other
THAT cannot be an easy matter, for
they can move troops faster than We,
and will probably pour a converging
fire from the north and west, II not
from the northwest and east on Vaal
Krantz. o.
LADYsMITH's POSITION.
I'VE hear Com Ladysmith that Boer
heavy baggage has gone toward the
passage. The Beers are well aware
that defeat means for them the raising
Of the siege Of Ladysmith and their
retreat from the district II is TO be
hoped that Gen. Butler VIII press the
attack. and will not tire even II the
engagement lasts several days.
THE case resembles that Of Gen.
Grants battle at Fort Donelson. when
he first realized that II was a question
as TO which Of the two armies, both
tired Of fighting, could first renew the
attack, but Gen. Butler cannot relieve
Ladysmth except by defeating and
driving away the Boer army. and thus
raising the siege. He cannot cut his
way through the Beers and march on
Ladysmith, leaving the Beers unde-
stroyed on his flank. That would only
lead to the loss Of his army.
Short 0f breaking the Boer resist
ance he might. however, by sufl-
ciently vigorous and prolonged attack.
compel them 10 call up achievements
from the investing lines. and thus make
II possible for Sir George White TO
break through these lines and TO march
to Skiets Drift. That movement would
be costly IL would begin with the
sacrifice Of the heavy guns and with
heavy loss In the sortie. There would
then be a great pressure on the rear
guard, heavy loss in the ten-mlle and
further loss in the attack In the rear Of
the Beers at Brakfontein or Doom
Kloof, but II would be an honorable
way out OF what has been called the
Ladysmith ENHANCEMENT"
PEACE SUGGESTED.
The Daily Chronicle publishes today
a long disquisitlon upon South African
affairs from S. o. Cronwright-S chrie-
ner. who advocates peace overtures by
Great Britain. He says:
Il am convinced that Of the two re-
publlcs had sufficient guaranty that
their independence would be respected,