The evening times., 1900-02-28

There. is an uncomfortable pause in the
British rejoicing over Lord Roberts vic
tory at Koodoe's Rand today. pending de-
tails Of the fight Of the Irish brigade on
Railway Hill, near Pietcr's Station. in Ma
tai. Sir Redyers Butler so far seems 10
have suppressed the most serious part Of
the news Of this engagement, in which,
there is reason to fear, half Of the force
concerned was wiped out
Probably the British general felt that he
was justified in making sacrifices to gain
control OF Railway HILL as. in the opinion
Of experts familiar with the situation be-
tween ColensO and Ladysmith. it would
give him such complete command OF the
BOer positions near Peters Station as TO
render them untenaole and the British
advance into Ladysmith at once feasible.
However that may be. the affair itself ap-
pears TO have resulted in a repetition OF
the disaster Of Spion Kop. and all classes
Of people in England are waiting with sor-
rowful anxiety for the list Of killed and
wounded The War Office. as happens not
infrequently. has news which up to noon
today it has refused to publish.
1t may be said in behalf Of Sir Redyers
BullCr. perhaps. that he should not be
blamed for the fact that an almost impossi-
bic task has been assigned to him. Prac-
tically he has been expected to move
through a semi-circle OF towering. precip-
itous natural defences. scientifically fort-
fled and supplied with artillery. and no
where with a diameter OF less than dozen
or fifteen miles TO reach his objective. But
the British public is very much inclined &c
grumble II Butler. and ugly remarks con-
cerning his "blundering frontal attacks
are being made rather freely in London.
Certainly the net results Of his operations
for the relief Of Ladysmith did not appear
10 be great at the date OF our latest reliable
reports from his front. HIS long turn b.
Acton Homes was a failure and he had tc
/ retreat upon his original Cheyeley line
3 Then he managed TO take Inhlawe Noun
. tain and get across the Tugela on Joubert's
/ Ieft-to the east Of Colenso. BY ten days
. incessaut fighting he has succeeded in
reaching the ground in front Of Pieter's
/ station. The affair Of Railway Hill does
not tend 10 confidence that he viii neces-
ssrIly make much further progress at once
unless his efforts are supported by circum-
4 stances uuconnected with the local situa-
/ tion.
Butler. indeed. may be able to relieve Sir
! George White before many hours. II 50
! it will almost surely be only because the
( surrender Of Cronje and the advance Of
( Roberts on Bloemfoutein. make it mill
! tary necessity for the BOsr army 20 hurry
J ever the border to the defence OF the Free
( Stale. should this movement be refused
/ or delayed there Is a chance that Roberts
/ might be able 20 cut IL between the ar
. mics Of the Beers. and defeat them ia de-
| tail. Il would seem to be Joubert'G proper
policy 10 concentrate as great force as
POSSIBLE in front Of the British advance.
! before Roberts can have time TO take
/ Blocmfentein and seize the railway north
I 10 the Vaal On this reasoning Il appears
probable that the siege OF Ladysmith may
be abandoned and a trek made for Bloem-
fontoin. or the Vaal line. il il should seem
too late TO save tkr former from capture
Yet there is always the possibility that
JOubert may regard Ladysmith as so near
Is starved out that he viii risk a feE
days to finish the business. and place "a
! victory 10 the BOer credit before retreat
ing. We do not say that such a thing Is
probable: but that it is possible