New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-11
VAS IT i SHAM BATTLE ?
MANY EXPLANATIONS II ORDER RE
GARDING THE RETIREMENT OF
GENERAL BTLLER
GENERAL BULLER.

iBF CABLE To The TREBUNEI
London. Feb Il l q. u.-The Boer account Of
General Buffers withdrawal from yaaI Krantz
wzs confirmed yesterday from various sources.
AZ Harnsworth's correspondent gives the
dearest British version showing that the retire
uent Of The brigades began after dusk on
Wednesday night and was completed before
6aybresk with the removal Of the pontoons.
Various explanations are offered by special cor
respondents for this third failure 10 relieve
Ladysnith. and speedy resumption Of opera
tions is predicted The most plausible theory is
that the balloon observers discovered that
Doorn Eloof commanded The road.
All these dispatches have a hollow sound.
General Buffers third advance which was her
aided BY speech 70 fhe troopr and a flourish
q the keys 70 Ladysmith, has lacked the seri-
OuEnesE OF genuine warfare Il was as wei
planned as any Aldershot manoeuvre. with
teinr and attack, and temporary occupation
of kopjes exposed TO an enfiIading. raking fire
from Two higher hills But now that the forces
are safely behind the Tugela the essential char
scter Of this sham battle is disclosed The
whole movement, with General Buffers previous
proclamation Of II and the heavy artillery fire
and Insignificant casualty list looks like feinr
designed 70 divert the enemys attention from
the scene Of General Robertss own operations
Military men say that General Buffers third
passage Of The TUgela has been . curtain raiser
WITH prologue. and that the real drama viii
ncw 90 on al the front, which is apparently
Mod6er River High officials who were in the
se--ar must have enjoyed reading the London
.ou--a : during The last Ten days They have
seemed unusually cheerful and their high spirits
are -o- easily understood. They knew that
Buffers sham battle was the opening nlanGuvre
e Lord Robe-rs's campaign. and could smile
ore- re seriousness with which IL was regarded
by r1e military writer's
DUTCH TO BE RECKoNED WITH.
Z -ow remains u be proved whether the willy
Dutch have been duped as easily as the mill
-a-y experts here The object Of this manRuvre
wzs r3 prevent the passage Of Free State troops
westward u BlOerfortetn. whore they could be
used against Lord Roberts's force. The Lady
s---n garrison has reported that & movement
q the Dutch forces has been IL progress during
the LAST week toward the Drakensberg Range
Possibly This has been anticipated by the west
ward march of a portion Of Warren's division
Win Lord D1ndonald's cavalry but Of this there
are no signs. The bulk Of the Dutch force seems
% have awaited Buffers third advance toward
LaoysuIrh. and Z Lord Roberts strikes series
o. blows This week there may not be time for
-he Free Sta1ers 70 tack across the country
Lord Rooer-s's headquarters are not definitely
announced. although there Is a hint in q brief
c-spztcn from M0dde- River stating that he
L@1 addressed q fresh renonstrsnce 70 Presi-
dents krIger and SUeyu against the wanton de-
sfrlcllon " property by the Beers in Natal Il
NJ rs there. IS seems probable, the campaign
XIII open either with a movement toward Kim
5er.@T o. an advance upon Bloemfontein and
5aco1sca- IS likely 70 be the earliest point Of
attzck He wiu have a large army, with
1IcAers division. General Methuen's force, the
Ho1seh9ld Cavalry and other troops, and viii
Rave railway system Of supplies already in
Operation to Eocder River, and the mule and
* transport service which General Kitchener
Aas been organizing a. Cape Town for add
tals- work eastward There was no direct con-
hrnst-91 q this theory Of the campaign al mid
Aight out IL was in that quarter that the cur
Ian seemed likely rise for something ike
fesi military drama.
additional details of General Aacdonald's
tzlFnishes and retirement have fully confirmed
i4e view that II was z reconnaissance designed
= cover Colonel Broadwood's march 10 sunny
see Incidentally. IL Is shown that the High
-and brigade was in me fighting form, and that
Macdonald was TOO wary general 10 be lured
NO Boer sm5uscade which was arranged
for hiru.
KELLY KENNY NOT ACCOUNTED FOR
There are nainor dispatches from General
h1atscres and General French's forces. in which
20 mention is made Of Kelly-Kenny's division
TAiscre stu remains The defensive and the
-hsfny has increased his strength IN front Of
french, and is II flll possession or the lines OF
oolnnaSpieatiou northward. The most interest
'ng Efa6snt OF which fresh details are recounted
SHORT ROUTE TO SOUTHERN RESORTS.
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