The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-04
BUTLER THOUGHT
TOBEON THE MOVE
continued from First Page.)

nshed extracts from a remarkable doctis
ment ernanating from the office OF the Sec
rotary of State at Pretoria, dated Decenl-
Der 10th.
The document comprises 10000 words and
is counters sned by Secretary OF state
Reitz. 1t seems specially written for tho
American public. II says:
I'VE. to u great extent, denend on
America and Europe for our food stuffa
It will be criminal on the part OF great
powers to suffer this little ton to Ders
ish by famine since the sword has failed.
Since in 1870 the President OF the
United States acknowledged our republic
as sovereign State and Americans have
Eccked here. In every instance the hand
of fellowship has been extended to THANH
Not single case OF disagreement Is 90
record. bur win the first war note Of the
opprssor we ure informed that Amcrica
Is acting IN ,cagne with the enemy. II
our sister republic has NO sympathy with
US, II the boosted confidence or Great
Britain Is to be preferred to sincerity ana
TRUTH we will no longer believe In tina
Justice and integrity OF the american na~
ton and her profession OF CHRISTIANITY wa
will consider er.pcty sound.
Secretary Refz further says the Boeri
have never abused the white flag and that
the British murdered worren. children and
American and German subjects at Deer+
doport-
REVIEW OF SITUATION.
LONDON. Feb. 4.-spencer Wllkinson
writes the following review of the sltua-
ton in South Africa for the Associated
Press at midnight:
"It IS morally impossible for Buffers
army, so long as there Is any fight left
In it to sit still, while Sir George Whtea
IS invested at Ladysmith- Better than
that would be to lose 10000 men in an at,
tempt at relief Accordingly it is prob
able that General Blller will try again
and indeed that he is now on the move
or fighting.
..As he has kept General Lyttleton's bril-
gada north OF the river. the probability
is that his next move will be an advances
on LyttIeton's right. Efe would hardly
go to Lyttieton's left, because that would
only lead to a fresh attack OF Spton Kop
and the rnnge OF which 1t Is a part He
would not go to the east of Colenso e1-
cept with his whole force, less Barton's
brigade. The retention OF Lyttletons
brigade at Potgeiters Drift may. there
fore. be taken as proof that tho nsW
move will not be to the east OF Colenso.
East OF Potgefter'S, there are severas
Drifts, one or two OF which General Bul.
ler,s guns command and he can thereforo
cross the river. but the Beers have had
ample time to prepare positions oeyond
the river sI59
Ia frontal attack would, as usual, bo
costly. but unless the General is prepared
for heavy loss he has little chancs Of
breaking through the Boer defences.
THE RIGHT PLAN
The right plan would be that adopted
by General Sherman when he pushed
back Johnston from ChatranooEa TO Atlan-
Ia. Sherman enrrenched along JohnstonS
front and then extended his line to one oe
the tnaks- By the time Sherman was
ready to move q force around behind his
entrenched line to attack Johnston in the
flank and threaten his retreat. tho Cons
federate General usually withdrew. Suck
attacks are possible only when force Is
numerically superior. We do not know
the strength OF the Beers in Natal. VIM
ston Churchill estimates them at only
1900, Of whom 1000 are observing Lady
smith. This would give Buller 1000
against 1000. and should render posstbla
something like Shernan's nanoeusres.
But theretis reason to belive that Buffers
own estimate OF the Boer force Is much
higher.
Lord Roberts will certainly not hurry
his. move from the Cape. He will nrss
complete the assembling OF his forces4
which Will not all have arrived for ar-
other three weeks Then he viii have
transport properly organized and tu
working order before he will start Aften
that he will probably make a rapid
move. but no outcry will Induce him To
start until he considers all Is ready.
Last weeks report that sMafekfng had
( been relieved seems to have arisen from
Colonel P1uMer's skirmish near Croco-
die Pools The repore came from Roen
sources and this origin of 1t seams TO
show that the Beers are not sansutne
OF success In the northwest They .havs
probably reduced their forces In that re.
gion IN order to strengthen themselves
against Aethuen and General Builsr.ss