The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-01-21
IN NATAL.

The reports arriving from Natal agree in
stating that Gen. Warren's artillery had opened
on tho Boer positions that block the forward
movement Of his infantry. and that must DO
carried before he can complete the turning
movement on which the success OF Gen. Bull
ler's operation for the relief Of Ladysmith
depends. The Beers appear to occupy n very
strong position on what Ia called Tabanmyana
Mountain. which lies. apparently. well In front
OF Gen. warren's right and Gen Iyttleton's
lett. II Is obvious from the dispatches that
are allowed TO pass the censor that 70
have as yet only the barest outlines OF
movements already accomplished and that
could he no longer concealed from the Beers.
But though nothing Is said on the subject. It Is
perfectly clear that Gen. Butler IL proceeding
with extreme circumspectIon and In "A manner
b~cfitting tho issues at stake. The Beers, on
their side. appear TO be preparing for the en-
counter with an energy and resolution that
bellies the reports Of their Encouragement and
WEAKNESS OF the war. The British recon
noissances 50 far seem to have entirely failed
to draw the Boer fire and induce them To I'M
mask their positions. the latter seemingly pre-
ferring to withhold 1t for the day Ct action.
such tactics are necessarily to the disadvantage
OF an attacking force. which Is more liable to
be checked and r~epulsed by sudden fire from
an unexpected quarter than when advancing
under a tolerably warm fire from visible points.
The fact that the Beers are said to be heavily
reinforcing their right shows them to be thor
oughly alive to the danger OF allowing the
British to establish themselves on the roads 70
the Drakensberg passes. and the lighting
which Is reported to have begun may be eX-
pected to be quite the ~severest OF the war In
consequence. On what may be the results OF a
Boer defeat and the relief OF Ladysmith. 1t is
unnecessary Just now to speculate. Much will
depend on the degree OF tho defeat and the
condition OF the garrison OF Ladysmith
when relieved, and OF the situation at
, the other points OF action. and the political
condition Of Cape Colony. From what Is ac-
tually known OF the situation In the Transvaal
there Is no reason to believe that the Beers
have at all relaxed in their determination to
carry on the war to the bitter end. From the
British Government. as at present composed.
they know that they have but one thing to
expect-complete straightforward that sur
render now would not procure them any more
favorable terms than twelve months hence.
supposing the war should last so long. after
the exhaustion of all their resources.
The relief Of Ladysmith. however. isa mill
tary necessity. for the prestige Of the British
Army IL involved and it Is a political necessity
In order that the Dutch OF Cape Colony may DO
induced to keep within bounds. In addition TO
the Philipstown and lIopetown districts that
were proclaimed the other day. the Prieska
district further west has since been placed
under martial law. and there are others that are
threatened with it. The advance Of the British
troops into the Free State and Transyaal would
be seriously compromised were the 5000
Cape Dutch capable OF bearing arms to rise A.
a critical juncturs in the campaign and
cut the communications with tho coast. The
relief OF Ladysmith, therefore. has to be ei-
fected at any cost. Gen. Buffers report Of the
fighting begun yesterday shows that the Boer
main position had not been attain ed. the Boer:
merely falling back from the advanced ridge,
between 1t and the British advance as the
British artillery was pushed forward covering
the infantry. The attack appears to have beer
under the orders OF Gen. Clery. who is with
Gen. Warren. When evening came on about ont
hundred British wounded had been brought
10, the number OF the killed being unknown
Lord Dundonald with his cavalry Is said t
have passed 10 the northwest Of the Boer right
and there Is some speculation as TO what III,
Beers may do under the circumstances Th'
report, however. is vague In substance.
Gen. French is still some fifteen miles from
Norvals Pont on tho Orange River, the Boer
In his front numbering, it is said, from six d
seven thousand. with a strong force at tn,
river. Col. Plummer is said, by a Pretoria de
spatch. TO be at Gaberones with three armore
rains trying to devise some means Of reach
ing Mafeking, about one hundred miles away