The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-01-19
BATTLE SOON.
Experts Say That It Cannot Be Delayed
Beyond Today.
Butler Has 5000 Men in
FIanking Operations.
His Total Forces Number Prob
ably $4,000 Men.
Detailed Account of the Passage of the
Tugela River.


critics In utilization with the war office
consider that the expected battle along
the wide arc south and west OF Lady
smith can hardly be delayed beyond to-
day. From Durham It is reported that
fighting has already begun.
Gen. Buffers forces. engaged In the
fianking operations across the 1ugelA
are some thirteen thousand to fourteen
thousand bayonets, i200 horses and 40
guns.
The disposition of his other $4,000 or
90, O00 men is not known although the
assumption is that the whole army will
be- In action when the hour for combined
movement arrives.
Three weeks ago, Gen. Butler had 3d.
COO men. Considerable rei1forcement'
have since reached him, giving him prob
ably 5000 men and 90 guns, all told
Estimates Of how many men and guns
the Beers have to Oppose him are mere
guess work. In net replying to Gen.
Lyttieton's shells. they are using the
taotios that proved SO sucoe ssful in the
ba titles of Magsrsfontein and Colenso-
lying low in their trenches and thus hop
ing to conceal their precise position un-
til the Infantry advance. The Daily
Chronicles military expert sees curl
Gus analogy between Gen. Buller's sit
uation now and the eve Of Magersfon-
tein. Now as then, the Beers are making
a stand, with their backs to Investing
lines within few miles As Lord
Methuen, after crossing Modder river
had to attack the Spytfontein and Ma
sersfontein hills. so Gen. Butler. after
passing the Tugela, faces Invisible an
trenohments In a rough country. One
correspondent mentions Gen. Buller's
wheeled transport Of t00) vehicles, which
connect him with the rail head, about
80 miles to the rear.
Among these vehicles are 80 traction
engines which draw from 10 to 10 wagon
each, Gen. Buller's warning about the
misuse OF the white flag by the BoeI
In his proclamation to the troops Is con-
sidered a rather broad hint to give no
quarters. His phrase, "Ihere Will be
no turning back, is played upon editori-
ally by the morning papers. as presaging
cheerful announcements.
alton in Natal makes other points In
the theatre of war seem microscopic
Lord Methuen lies behind his works ut
Modder river. 1t Is estimated that his
forces VIII have to be nearly or quite
doubled before he can relieve Kimberley.
toward Gen. French at Rensburg. Win
these he expected to advance. Gen
Gatacrs's men occupy Lopsburg, slight
advancs.
This war office announces that next
week will embark ~ guns. 3.IlO men
and 2,2i0 horses. This Is the largest
consignment of ARTILLERY ever sent
abroad. The war office invites 500 volun-
teers to form sharp shooters battai-
lon OF yeomanry.
Sir William Mac Cormac In the Lancet
says that OF the 800 wounded In the hos
pitfalls visited by him, only eight had bsen
hit by shells.
Mr.. Kipling has written the following
characteristic letter TO the British Guiana
branch OF the navy league, In recognition
Of contribution to ths war fund;
"Bravo, British Guiana. Sssing what
they have had 70 contend with lately In
the sugar line, they have dona unoom-
monty we'll. Please convey to them my
best thanks-tirst, as vice-president of
the league; second, as psrpetrator OF
'Ths Absent Minded Beggar. and third.
as a fellow contributor to the big JACK pot
which We arc boiling upon Thomas's
behalf. Have you sem Brazil and Trini-
dad come into the gamer"
The Cape Town correspondent OF the
Times, discussing Afrikander disloyalty
SAYS:
"I believe the sympathy OF every
DutClmAn In COutn alTioh 10 win sho
two REPUBLICS, and that a general rising
10 still quits possible. However, there
Is nothing to implicate the Bond party
as a whole In an officially organized CON-
spiraoy against the imperial government,
although the Bond leaders have winked
at or pandered to sedition In order to
preserve their popularity.
"Tte British failures and the appear
snce of the Beers on British territory
have fomsnted rebellion; but, even now
a decisive British victory would prevent
Its further spread.
This correspondent testities to the value
of the services rendered by MIR. Schrien-
er, the Cape Irsmier. In an embarrassing
position. He speaks less highly OF MT;
Hofmeyer. the real leader OF the BOND
party, and severely condemns the Dutch
press of tue colony which he says, Is do
Ing its utmost while keeping on the
windy side Of the law TO pIomcts rebel
lion and to envenom racial antagonism.
The British losses, In killed, wounded
and captured, up to date, are 1857 ofhc-
ers and men.