New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-21
MARCHING ON LADYSlNIT,H.
ENGLAND CHEERED BY NEWS OF THE
BRITISH ADVANCE.
Copyright: 1900: BY The New-York Tribune.1
LEY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.l


[BY CABLE THE TRIBUNE.]
London jan 81, 1 a. m.-The suspense over
the operations beyond the Tugela River was
borne with a cheerful feeling hour after hour
Yesterday. because the dullest observers were
convinced that the complex combination was In
progress. and that time was required for work.
ing it out This confidence was justified by
fairly good news at midnight
The War once started out at noon with a
correction in the date of the bulletin reporting
Lord Dundonald's skirmish. which was carried
forward twenty-four hours. Details Of this
spirited fight near Acton Homes on Thursday
revealed the excellence Of the scouting done by
the Natal Gardiner force and the Hussars, and
the gallantry with which three hundred Dutch
horsemen were put to rout. One of the prison
ers taken was the husband of one of President
Kr1ger's granddaughters Kruger's descend
ants numerous enough to make a large COM
mando by themselves.
The Central News described Sir Redvers Bull
Ter visiting General warren's headquarters
on Friday and finding the disposition Of his
forces satisfactory. The field artillery continued
to shell the Boer position from General Warren's
line during that day, and at Potgieter's Drift
the naval guns and howitzers bombarded the
outworks in a leisurey manner.
DELIBERATE PLAN OF ACTION.
There were signs of deliberation and caution
.n the British tactics strongly in contrast with
Lord Methuen's recklessness in attacking in
trenchments at sight. A budget Of belated dis
patches describing the march Of the troops to
the TugeIs and the passage of the river tended
TO confirm the previous impression that every
detail had been carefully planned in advance,
ana that the entire movement was directed by
single mind Sir Redvers Butler was clearly on
MS metal, and bent upon proving that he had
the energy and organizing power required for
great strategic combination. The British and
Colonial soldiers were also at their best. de-
tailed description Of the seizure of the pont
Potgieter's Drift thrilling story of colonial
gallantry, and there were fine episodes in the
passage Of richards Drift
cross lights were thrown by Reuters dis
patches from Pretoria upon the British move
ment westward. II was concealed by recon
noissance in force with armored train and
artillery toward Colenso The Boer positions
Were bombarded from the first battlefield while
the bulk Of the army overrunning the upper
Tugela district. Testimony was also borne to
the severity Of the naval gunfire upon the west
ern positions north of Potgieter's Drift
EXTENT OF ATTACKING LINE.
The extent of those positions is not yet de-
nnea' but II cannot be less than twenty-six
miles In an air line from the kopjes fianked by
General Warren to Colense and with the tor
tuous course OF the river It may be thirty-six
miles The British army is attacking in force
al one end. ana is only capable of making recon
H0issAtees al the other extremity. The Beers
can concentrate their forces in the west and
leave the trenches at Colenso empty, but they
VIII De exposed TO the risk Of a flank attack by