New-York tribune., 1900-01-19
THE PASSAGE OF THE TUGELA
BULLER'S FORCES NOW FACE TO FACE
WITH THE INTRENCHED BOERS.
Copyright: 1900: By The Neu-York TrtbuneI
IBx CABLE TO TIE rRIBUNEJ


London, ian 19 a. m.-The account Of the
passage OF the Tugela by General warren's di-
vision and Lyttleton's brigade which I cabled
early yesterday fully confirmed by the War
Office early in the afternoon The only addi-
tionaI details in Lord Roberts's report were the
construction OF a pontoon bridge by Warren's
engineers and the statement that the remainder
Of his force would cross the river speedily. and
that he was hoping TO turn the enemy's position
five miles away.
The fording places Of the two columns can be
identified on a map issued by the Intelligence
Department yesterday. There are ten drifts be-
tween the junction Of the Little Tugela with
the Tugela and richards Drift. where War
ren's pontoon bridge has been flung across the
river. Most Of them are connected with bride
paths and are available only at low water. The
direct road from Springfield TO Ladysmith
crosses the Tugela at Potgieter's Drift but there
is q short cut eastward by a bride path TO the
Marirz and Skiet drifts. whence there is another
road 10 Ladysmith. Lord DundonaId's cavalry
with Lyttleton's brigade took the main road TO
Potgieter's Drift, and Warren's division fol-
lowed another road from Springfield leading
toward Wagon Drift further west and crossed
the river at Trichards Drift. which opens west
ward
PREVIOUS CONJECTURE CORRECT
the passage at Potgieter's Drift was due to
bridge making and an attempt on the part OF
Warren 10 cross the river higher up in order to
turn the enemys position was fully borne out by
Lord Roberts's bulletin. General Butler was
criticised by some military critics for planning
his first battle with two points for the passage
OF the river and not making simultaneous at
tempt at both crossing places. He again selected
two drifts. five instead Of two miles apart, but
was enabled to send troops over at each crossing
the same day. LyttletOn waiting at Pot
gieters for warren's engineers TO lay their pom
toons at richards Drift The first operation
may have yelled the second and more important
one, but probably neither escaped the enemy's OBJ
servstion. The success with which each passage
q the river was attended was due 10 the hills
On the southern bank, where the British ar
tillery was stationed TO command the lower
line Of kopjes opposite. These kopjes were oc-
cupieo by the british troops after the passage
OF the river If General Hndyard's brigade fol-
lows Lytueton's across at Potgieter's there will
be two divisions beyond the TugeIa about six
miles apart but separated by long loop Of
swollen river. and confronted by an enemy
strongly intrenched in line OF hills five miles
away The first defensive line of the Dutch
allies, running seventeen miles from Springfield
10 HlangWana Mountain, has been turned but
there has been concentration Of the Boer
FORCES on the new line westward and il is IN
certain whether General Warren has gone up
the river Tar enough 70 flank the intrenchments
and whether both divisions viii NOT be COM
PEELED to attack them in front in order to break
their way through
The press dispatches received until a late
hour served 10 throw little light upon this mill
tary problem The only direct reference TO it
vas in the Central News correspondence. which
usscilDeo the Boer position as running laterally
WIN The river and having spiou Kop for its
centre That mountain lies al least five miles
~est OF richards Drift. AS the enenv's guns
&C nor reply to the British artillery FIRE, the
extent q their defensive position could not have
Oeen accurately known. The Dsn,, nSau,s,,
correspondent describes General Warren as oc-
cupying one side OF Spion Kop
"AkREN's FLANKING MOVEMENT
supplemental report issued by the War
once before midnight from Lord Rober+.
nounceo that a battery Of field artsr,a.-- -
Deen taken across al Potgieter's with boT-
As@ers already in position they were bor,ta-.