The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-05
A CRISIS REACHED.
British Public Awaits Decisive Battle
of the War.

VI t44S w ak
New York, Jan. 5.-A dispatch to the
Tribune from London says.
The clubs were crowded last evening
until midnight since there was a gen
eraI impression that the crisis of the
war had come, with a battle impending
on the Tugela. This feeling of suspense
was strengthened by bulletins reciting
vigorous shelling of the Boer trenches
Yesterday morning with lyddite and the
minor incidents such as the shifting of
the enemy's position, the stampede of
their horses and constant outpost
brushes.
In the newspaper offices there was
sheaf of unimportant dispatches relat-
ing to the adventures of ThorneycrOftS
scouts on the Upper Tugela, admissions
of Boer deserters, that General Jou-
bert's army was suffering from lack of
food. the trial of traction engines for
transport service, the destruction of
large gun at COlenSo by a shell from
naval gun and the escape of six horse
men from Ladysmith during a thunder
storm, two of whom were Enthusiastically
reported as DR.. Jameson and Col.
Rhodes. These were trifles light as air
in comparison with the momentous
conflict which was known to be i'm
minent.
General Butler since his defeat has
called into Natal every battalion and
battery upon which he could lay his
HanQS ana mas SI1IIeneQ MS FORCE III
every way practicable for a. supreme
effort to break through the Boer line of
defense and relieve Ladysmith. even
the stoutest hearted Englishman has
been constrained to hold his breath I'M
til the issue of the battle is known.
Public anxiety has not been deeper than
the feeling of suspense among military
men. They have described the Boer
defensive position, sixteen miles in
length, with relays of horses behind it
by which the forces could be rapidly
concentrated at any point that might
be strongly attacked, as something
unique in military history. There never
was anything like it and ordinary tao
tics and strategy studied by the staff
college have provided no expedients for
regulating a scientific attack on
swollen river with concealment of the
enemy's positions.
Boer occupation of two points on the
southern bank and the extension of
their line until it was hardly practicable
to turn it; and the remarkable mobility
of the Dutch force has increased the
difficulties of a most formidable enter
prise. The most thoughtful veterans
have added that, while the new defen-
sive scheme with long range guns in
concealed trenches and thousands of
ponies under saddle, had been sue
cessful when attacked at the point of
greatest resistance, it might prove
weak and vulnerable at the point of
least resistance. The Beers, adapting
themselves to British tactics, had de-
vised a most ingenious scheme of de-
Tense. It might prove weak if the
British generals in turn could adapt their
attack to it with any degree of tiexibil-
ity.
While Colenso remains the center of
interest, operations have proceeded else
where which serve to indicate increased
mobility and improved tactics on the
British side. The Dutch forces have
made a belated effort to follow up their
victory at Stormberg by an advance
upon Molteno and Cyphregat, but Cen
eral Gatacre sent infantry and bat
terry to relieve the Cape police and the
Irish rifles and reoccupied both viii
lagos after a brisk artillery fire.
The two Dutch commandos which
had skirmished with the outposts and
advanced on the British camp, retreat
ed when the shells began to burst
among them. General Gatacre's official
report shows that the police have re-
tired from Dordrecht and taken a posi-
ton on the Indwe line and that a COM
pany of mounted infantry had recon
ishing is on small scale, there is evil
dence that Gatacre is alert and vigilant
and that his scouting work is well done.
Reinforcements have been sent from
De Aar to General French who is still
lowering about Colesburg and apparent
" manOeuvering TO cut off the retreat
of the Beers to the railway bridge, hav-
ing already blocked the passage to the
road bridge over the Orange river. A
heavy artillery fire is reported but the
result of the fighting is indecisive as
Cen French avoids a frontal attack
and is content to hold a strong position