Daily inter mountain., 1900-01-13
It is Designed to Cut Off the
B0er Sources of Supply and
May be Successful.
OF LADYSMITH
There is a Chance That the Town
May Have to Surrender Soon
Kitchener is the Real Head of the
South African Army.

Anglo Boer war situation, the London
correspondent of the Tribune says:
No further news has yet been issued
with regard to General Buffers flank
movement, but the general feeling, as
expressed in this mornings newspapers,
is one Of hope rather than of anxiety.
| Butler is apparently attempting the
turning movement west of Colenso,
which nearly all military experts were
expecting when his first battle was
fought, ON December Is, directly in
front. The military writer's have as
sumed during the last fortnight that
there would be a turning movement. but
that it would be east Of Colenso from
Weenen.
Some of these experts clung with
tenacity to their theory yesterday and
described the Potgieter demonstration
as feint designed to distract Joubert's
attention from the real point of attack
at the other end Of the line, but this ex-
planaaion was not borne, out by General
Buffers own presence at Springfield. He
had probably been waiting for the COM
pletion of his mule train service, which
would enable him to carry the main body
of his army away from the railway base
of supplies and fight day after day on
the enemys flank until junction could
be effected with Whites army.
The veterans suggested that he might
have fingered in his camp until General
3 Roberts arrival at Capetown in order
(! to allow the new chief the
privilege of vetoing at the last moment
hn nj nf INN
| Whatever was the precise cause of his
inaction, General Butler was at last in
the saddle, and a second battle or series
of battles would be fought for the relief
of Ladysmith Singularly enough the
only previous reference to this western
turning movement which had appeared
in print was in dispatch from the Boer
camp at Colenso. 1t was a vague rumor
/ that the British were building a railway
from Frere camp toward Potgieter's
drift. The occupation of the south bank
| of the Tugela at that point by the Brit
i. ish could not have been surprise to
the Beers. The drift is at the apex Of
a long bend or loop. and back of it are
low ranges of kopjes, with broken coun-
try all the way to Ladysmith
! U
would have threatened the main line of
the Boer communications northward, but
would have left the Free State troops
free to retire westward to their own
frontier. A turning movement west of
, COlensO by Potgieter's drift if success
full, would cut off the direct line of re-
treat Of the Free State burghers to their
mountain passes. but would not block
their way northward, unless General
White should attack in the rear
The clubs were crowded with loungers
last night eager to hear the important
news which they were confident would
come before morning. There was an un-
wonted air Of hustle and cheerfulness at
the war office. But hour after hour
passed without disclosures. There was
a general conviction that the crisis of the
campaign had come and that General Bul.
Ter was in a position to retrieve his repu-
tationiby series of great strokes.
| The dangerous character of this flank
movement by which his camp at Chic,
veley would be exposed to a counter at
tack ~ the Dutch, was also discerned
and thu probability of a series Of desper-
ate ba fles sobered everyone.
The process Of reconstructing the cabi-
net. which has been the chief employment
Of the marplots and pessimists. was sus-
pended until Butler could be heard FROM
The nb$sage which would electrify or
doom to fresh disappointment the English
people had not come at midnight.
As the names in the casualty list Of the
Ladysmith battle represent Is military
organize lions, 1t is clear that nearly the
whole garrison was engaged In the se--
enteen. hou:> fight. This list disposes
effectually Of the Boer estimates OF losses
which General Butler took needless pains
to correct. Those losses were evidently
heavy unless General Whites man were
forced 70 SPAR their ammunition.
| A Boer tel gram from PretoIiL iow ad-