The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-18
WHAT BULLER IS DOING.
Details of His Advance by a Military
Exnert.


New York, Jan. 18.-The military ex-
pert of the Herald discussing the stu
alton in South Africa, says:
From the time that the official dis
patch was published last Friday stat
ing that Gen Butler had that day seiz-
ed the fort at Potgieters Drift, on the
Tugela river, the censorship has been
so strictly maintained that nothing but
course of events. Now the first real
glimpse is afforded of the weeks cam
paign for the relief of Ladysmith.
When Sir George White photographed
that he was hard pressed during the
desperate assault of the Beers on Cae-
sars camp, last Saturday week, jan
uary 6, Sir Redvers Butler promptly
sent forward Clery's division down to
the river front at ColensO. His dispatch
said he had sent forward every avail
able man" from which it could be in
ferred that the bulk Of his troops We're
behind Chieveley at Frere, and again
behind that camp at Estcourt, Clery re-
ported that ne found the trenches full
of Beers and the fortified position, dou-
bly, strengthened since Buffers disas-
trOus repulse Of December ID. He did
not attempt anything further than
reconnaissance, his orders probably be-
ing to content himself with the feint in
order to occupy the attention of the
Beers at that point.
Butler himself was hardly prepared
for the advance which he was cOnteTn-
plating on an elaborate scale and STRAIT
eglcal scheme of Outf1anking his Oppo-
nents. The reinfOrcements he had re-
ceived since he fell back from CoIenso
must have placed him in command of
more than 10000 men. General Sir
Charles Warren had Joined him, an Of
tcer whose Griqualand expedition
years ago earned for him a reputation
of being able to out-manOuever the
Beers in their own peculiar style of
fighting and on their own ground. From
Estcourt, Warren was in a position to
start on a long f1anking movement,
either to the east, by Weenen or to the
west, by Bethany, making a semi-cir-
Gle to Ladysmith. Butler. with his
headquarters at Frere could make an
inner movement choosing his point of
crossing the Tugela either directly in
front or by turning movements on eth
er side. He chose the left, or westward
route and keeping his plans secret, was
able to announce the first successful
step of his advance in his dispatch from
POtgieters drift.
This ford is a little to the westward
of the junction of the Tugela with it's
southern branch, the little Tugela river
The road from Frere would pass along
the foot of a. range of mountains on
the right hand. British cavalry scouts
had, it was stated, some days previ-
ously come across parties of Beers at
POtgleterS drift, and it was ascertained
that Gen JOubert was making a for
titled position in the neighborhood
first new step was to inform himself as
to the locality and strength of this po-
Sition. 1t was, he said, about four and
half miles in front, away from the
river and of a strong character. Five
days have passed in deliberate prepar-
atiOns for continuing the march to
Dewdrop. Not only has the transport
of the column to be steadily brought
up, but the relief supplies for Lady
smith must be close in the rear. Gen
Warren's column, it is now clear from
the last despatch received, is acting in
cooperation with Buffers advance
guard by moving his division in a par
allel line on the west. While Buffers
plan of operations has been maturing
Gen. Joubert it may be presumed has
been hurrying his commandos from
the center of his defensive line of
the Tugela to the extreme west. Some
check may have been caused by the
knowledge that the British commander
might at any moment make a serious
move from Colenso, or, further 10 the
east, at Pieters or the Weenen road to
Ladysmith.