New-York tribune., 1900-01-20
THE ADVANCE ON LADYsuITH.

Lord Dundonald is showing himself worthy of
his great name We are told he completely non
plussed the Beers and scattered them in confu-
sion at the crossing of the Tugela River. Since
then he has diligently followed up his advan-
tage, striking now here, now there, with admi-
rable mobility, and all the time pressing on
toward the beleaguered town he is trying to re-
lieve. He is in fact, fourth in command, being
subordinate to General Warren and he to Gen
eral Butler and he to Lord Roberts But he has
won much praise in this campaign through the
circumstance of being the leader of the advance
toward Ladysmith and the commander of the
only cavalry troops in Sir Charles Warren's
army. His success with that arm of the service
suggests the advantage the British would have
enjoyed if they had at the outset had an ample
force of cavalry, instead of actually discourag-
ing the sending of it to South Africa.
1t is an interesting circumstance, too, that
just as the great Dundonald won most of his
amazing victories through strategy the present
bearer of the name is leading the vanguard in
strategic campaign. We have already described
the task of fianking the Beers which General
Butler is now engaged in. The latest news
makes clear the magnitude of 1t. He is trying
TO flank not merely the Boer fOrtiications on
the Tugela at COlenso, but the whole scene of
conflict around Ladysmith itself. He is not go
ing to strike the Colenso fortresses in flank, but
to strike in the rear the Boer fortiications
around the beleaguered town. Ladysmith is to
be relieved first. After that the reduction of
the river forts will be a simple matter. Nor is
that all. General Warren's army is now in the
vicinity of Acton Homes That is about twenty
two miles west of Ladysmith 1t is also only
fourteen miles from Tintwa Pass and eighteen
miles from Van Reenen's Pass, and is between
them and the Boer army. That is to say, it Is
cutting off the Orange Free State army from
the passes by which it invaded Natal and
through which alone it could retreat homeward
in case of defeat. A single days dash of Dun
donald's hcrsemen would cut the railroad line
that leads back to Harrlsmith, leaving the
Orange State men no line of communication
with their base of supplies
What the next move will be is not, of course,
to be confidently predicted. General Warren
has with him about fifteen thousand men. That
may be deemed n strong enough force to strike
straight in toward Ladysmith. There is a good
road from Acton Homes to Ladysmith by way
of Dewdrop, with no river to cross and with no
large hills. The country is level and open and
well adapted to the operation Of a British army
in force The British must now be within
days march of the Boer intrenchments at Tele-
graph Hill and elsewhere at the west of Lady
smith. Meantime an army or equal size mas
been left confronting Colenso or somewhere In
that region. We have had no definite news
from it for some time. 1t may be lying still,
menacing the Boer centre at Colenso, or it may
be moving eastward to flank the Beers at the
other side. Time will tell, and it will probably
be short time At any rate, it is to be assumed
that both divisions of General Buffers army
will act together when the final movement upon
Ladysmith is made. We shall be surprised if
that movement does not mean pretty stiff
fight The two armies are pretty nearly matched
in size and are most resolute. The British know
that their defeat means the fall of Ladysmith,
and the Beers know that their defeat means the
destruction of their army in Natal. Both will
fight stubbornly, and heavy price will have to
be paid for victory whichever wins it.