The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-01-30
THE CRISIS ~ NATAL.

There Is no Disgusting tho gravity Of the
s~ltuntion with which the British General com-
manding In Natal IL confronted. and there
sprears small hope Of hi. being able TO re-
trieve the mIsfortunes that have attended all
his efforts 40 far TO succor the beleaguereu
garrison OF Ladysmith. His first attempt to
! force a way through the Boer line OF Investment
disastrously failed, a. he states In his oficial
de- patch on the action AT Colehso on Dec. ID.
through tho disobedience OF orders by Col,
Long. commanding the Field Artillery brigade
detailed TO support the movements OF the IN
fantry brigaies The great strength OF the
Boer positions rendering 1t inexpedient To re-
new the attempt at Colenso. Con, Butler ue-
cidsd to try a turning movement to the west
ward round the Boer right flank. That has
failed even more disastrously than the direct
attack at Colenso, and the division that ut
tempted II. " once more south OF the
Tugela. shaken and seriously reduced
in lumber by the losses Incurred IN
the fighting at Spion hop that lasted from
dhybreak to dark on Jan, ~. The Boer de-
spatch describing the Incidents OF that DAY mas
come opportunely to al the gaps In Gen. Bull
ler's account. and enables one To form an idea OF
| the importance OF the position for which both
sides fought so strenuously. II was OF
tHS HEsl importance W NV p"iN '""N
the British should not be allowed 10 get
artillery on to the summit Of the mountain.
and TO that end they brought all their
resources into action. Following the tactics
that won them Majuba. they rode up the slope
| OF Spion Kop to the first ledge. where they left
| their horses in safety on the dead ground
where they could not be reached by the British
fire. Then. under cover OF the fire from their
Krupp. Creusot and Maxim guns. they scaled
the heights, carrying ledge after ledge un'ii
they reached the summit from which the
British positions were commanded.
Short OF water and ammunition. the intrench-
ments numbered with the dead and wounded.
the General commanding. Woodga,e, among
the latter, his successor decided that the posi-
ton had become untenable and withdrew dur
ing the night. leaving the Beers In undisputed
possession. The crisis In the turning move
ment was now reached and ended untayorably
for the British. the pressure on the Boer right
being entirely taken or by the retreat OF Gen.
Warren's division across the Tugela. and the
danger OF one or other OF the southern passes
OF the DrakensberR being seized by the British,
averted.
The list OF the killed. wounded and missing
has not yet been completed. but II Is said to he
the heaviest Of any since the war began.
As nothing has been said OF the withdrawal
OF Gen. Lyttleton's brigade from the loop OF the
Tugela at Potgieter's Drift. it may be assumed
that he still holds his positions at that point.
II 80. there is Just a possibility that an effort
will be made to hold out a hand To Gen. White
and the Laiysmith garrison in an attempt TO
break out OF Ladysmith and Join forces
with Gen. Butler. This. OF course. would
he q last resort as an alternative
M papifplafipn Thnra anpaara hnu-
ever. some doubt as to the probability
Of It's success. for It has been stated that every
position lying between Ladysmith and the
Tugela has been intrenched 80 as to oppose q
sortie from or an advance to Lsdysmith. No
doubt a considerable part Of the Boer force that
opposed Gen. Warren. after leaving a sufficient
number near the Tugela to watch his move
ments. has returned To the vicinity Of the
beleaguered town and Is prepared for what
ever contingency may present itself. What
ever that contingency may be must soon be
decided, for every days inaction brings the
moment nearer when the garrison must be re-
lieved. try 10 cut It's way out. or surrender.
Boer dispatches have already reported that
movements have been observed that looked
like preparations for a sortie. SO that should II
be made it will not take them by surprise.
AT the other points there seems no chan &c In
the general situation. Gen. French appears to
make no progress worth speaking OF. the Bosr
force in front Of him having been reinforced
from some quarter; while Jacobsdal is
being intrenched to guard against q turning
movement by Gen. Methuen's force. which
remains planted at Modder River camp. The
rumor OF the relief Of Ma'eking has apparently
no foundation and is unlikely. for the reason
that the railway bridge south OF Gaberones.
which had been repaired by Col. Plumsr's
force. was burnt by the Beers. thereby stop
ping the advance OF the armored trains.