The age-herald., 1900-01-21
Buffers FIankinq Movement.

At this writing Butler Is supposed to be consistently and steadily pushing on to Ladysmfth around Joubert's right flank or rather around the tatter's right flank when he was facing Colenso afIis present right flank must be well up to the outposts of Ladysmlth. As the movement is in pro- gross not much more can be said than that Butler Is not inclined to assault even new lne-for 10000 men are seen by the balloon ists at work with pick and shovel-but he stands ready to repel any assault advanc- ing in the meantime nearer and nearer to Ladysmith. This movement is scientific, reasonable and adapted to the circum- stances of the case. It is based on some knowledge at least of the foe to be assailed. It is not idiotic, in other words.
 Beyond the relief of Ladysmith, the ques- enough to cut Joubert's communications, thus compelling him to retire probably to the neck of Natal? This question brings up an inquiry to strength of the two oppos- ing forces.
 If Butler has at his command 10000 men, and it is believed he has that number of men, he is strong enough to control the di- verging railroads of Ladysmith. A recent estimate of a British officer in the. Cen terne.e- -y- ssevfew puts the Boer strength at these figures:
 Around Ladysmith.... ..... ...... ..... g 600 n. .l,.. In the Kimberley district......... ......12, 900 At Mafeking and minor points. .... 5,00O
 Iotal...... ......... ............ QUO
 It is indeed doubtful whether there are over 50,OOO Boers actually in the field The maximum of Boer strength is now put by the best judges at S7 900 men, as folows Transvaalers... ........ ........ ....... 40 900 Merceharles' '..'. .... .......... 4,oo0 Uitlanders naturaliZed since 1897 ...... 3,000 Uitlanders naturalized before 1895 ...... 5000 Free Sta'ters... ........27,5 800 FOrelgnerS........ ....... ............ 25J0 Nape reDeis...'''' .'.''.'. .......'.... 4oso
 The very latest and best authority as to the populations from which these forces are drawn Is that of J. W. Jagger, president of the United Chambers of Commerce of Cape Colony. He puts the Boer population of the Transvaal a 80, 900; of the Free State at 7S,1O0 It seems incredible that such popula- tions could send out 675OO soldiers. The Cape rebels may be underestimated in the table, but the number of Boers from the Transvaal and the Free State are certainly overestimated, even if every able-boded man is in the army. The estimate of 50 900 men actually in the trenches is probably as good an estimate as can be made, and even this estimate calls for a spontaniety and unanimfty of action never before known.
 The world is misled by the mobility of the Boer forces. All, or nearly all, are mounted. They move about readily and quickly. They have good Mauser rifles. and they know how to use them. They know the country well, and their leaders doubt less understand the kind of warfare best adapted to all the circumstances of the case. It Is these things that have, besides the idiotic frontal attack of the Methuens and Gatacres of the British service, given facts justify The Butler movement which calls for and invites an assault and battle on the part of the Boers will soon show ,nhat the relative strength of the two ar mics about Ladysnith really is.