The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-03-11
IN SOUTH AFRICA.

49, Wv ~'A'Ai h' 'A A''Ns' ."
by the report from Pretoria that Gen. Butler Is
again on the move. According to a despatch
from the Boer camp in the BigGarsberg Noun
tains. dated THURSDAY. a British division was
operating on their let flank from the direction
OF Helpmakaar. and a despatch OF Friday says
that the main body Of Gen. Buffers force was
advancing by way OF the Sunday River.
that is. up the road leading from Ladysmith
to Newcastle. There are no reports from
the British side corroborating this. bat it may
be accepted a. accurate. The inference, then.
Is that Gen. Butler Is operating adouble move-
ment. one directed against the centre OF the
Boer position and the other aiming at turning
their left and driving them UP the narrowing
neck OF territory to Laing's Mex. Whether this
latter will be effected by a movement from
Helpmakaar by the road on the west sido
OF the Buffalo River to DUNDEE. or by
crossing it at Rorke's Drift md making a de-
tour through the northwest angle OF Zululand
toward Nryheid or Utrecht. is not Yet indi-
Gated. but The former seems. at the moment.
the more probable. II successful 1t promises q
more immediate result. and does not leave too
wide q gap between the two wings Of the
British force.
The strength OF the Boer Army holding the
bIEkdI SDttk - NdIlON~IJ tNlLIIltlei NJ rum leu
10 fifteen thousand men: It certainly cannot
exceed the latter figure. Whether they can
long hold so extcn led q line more than
twenty-five miles with SO small a force is very
doubtful, and the doubt IA confirmed by a re-
port that they are already sending their stores
to the rear. When they do retire they are not
likely to make another stand before reaching
the Ingogo River and Mountains. the scene OF
one Of their victories in 1881. Once at
this point they would be among the
eastern spurs OF the DrakensUerg that cross
the Buffalo River, and form a strong line Of
defence to and beyond Vryheid to the south
east But the length OF time during which
they may be- allie to delay Gen. Builer' s adj
vance depends on events In the centre OF tho
Free State and on the west OF the Transvaal.
There should be some hard fighting. however.
before Gen. Butler reaches Laing's Mex or
penetrates the country to the northeast. which
has been several times Indicated In these notes
as one Of the detectives Of mis- march, IT, order
to cut the unlcations between Pretoria
and De.agoa Bay.
As showing that the Doors are preparing
against a British advance from the southwest
into the Trnnsvaal. II Is reported that acamuhas
been established at Bloemhofon the north bank
OF the Naa!, near the western border Of the
Transvaal. to guard the roads leading from
Kimberley across the river toward Klcrksdorp.
tho present western terminus Of the railway
from johannesburg.
Up TO Friday evening no important news
had been received In London from Gen.
Roberts. who appears TO have lost touch with
the Beers, whose reported fight Is now de-
serb el rs an orderly retreat. BY putting n
considerable distance between hen selves and
the head OF the British column the Beers have
increased the Difficulties Of its advance. every
mile added to tho length OF the communica-
lions greatly increasing the trouble II keeping
so largo a body Of men supplied with food.
The addition Of Gen. Warrcn's q vision. now on
its way from Natal. to Lord Roberts's force will
bring its effective fighting strength Up to some
thing like 10000 men.
The return OF President Kruger 10 pretorl,
on Friday disposes az the absurd stories that
were put in circulation in connection with the
recent retreat from Paardoberg, and it Is ex-
tremcly i'm improbable that he should have been
allowed 10 risk himself and the Free State
President 80 far from any means Of escape at
so critical a moment in the affairs 81 the repub-
lies. Equally dubious are the reasons given
for Gen. Joubert's presence AT Pretoria IN
the War ONCE. Az the commander-in.chiet
directing the operations over the whole ne d Of
action covering so large an area and atso many
widely separated points his place is at the
centre. from whore no can best send out his
orders and AZ the same time be In immediate
communication with the executives OF the two
States. The fact that The SUS correspondent
at Pretoria telegram s that President Kruger
has expressed himself satisfied with the gem
eral situation discounts heavily the unauthen-
ticatei reports representing him MS having los.
confidence In his Generals and Army.