Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1900-03-13
CA MPAIGN IN NATAL,
surmises Respecting Future Opera
tions of Buffers ARMY


New York, March 10-A dispatch to
the Tribune from London says: There
are many surmises respecting the future
operations of Buffers army. There were
contradictory reports in circulation as to
the situation near Van Reenan's pass of
the British troops, the withdrawal of
Warren's division from Natal and the
assignment of Gen. White to command
the forces advancing from St0rmberg.
The censorship is still in operation, and
it is not probable that Gen. Kitchener
will allow the secrets respecting future
concentrations to be blurted out. White
outranks all the generals in the field.
except Roberts and Butler. and hence it
is likely that he will be assigned to com
mand the forces now operating below the
Orange river at Burghersdolp and Nor
walls and preparing to invade the Free
State. Gen. White owed his appoint
ment in Natal to Lord Lansdowne, and
he represents the Indian school of fight
ing rather than that of AldershOt. War
rem is senior i'll rank to all the other dl-
vision commanders and his appointment
was due to his own qualifications as a
general trained in South Africa Clery
and Lyttleton are division commanders
whom Gen. Butler will probably prefer
to keep with him.
Difficulties of the Situation.
Gen Buffers friends have an explana-
ton of their own TO offer for his decis-
ion in November to go TO Natal. They
assert that he had intended to recall
Gen. Hunter. Whites chief-ofstaff, to
Estcourt.. where he could plan with Gen.
Clery Ladysmith was surrounded be-
fore this plan could be carried out, and
the difficulties Of the situation were null
tiplied when the Beers invaded Lower
Natal Gen. Butler decided to undertake
the most -arduous work himself rather
than hold Gen. Clery responsible for it.
He went to Natal expecting to relieve
Ladysmth before January and then TO
join Gen. Methuen at Kimberley and
march across the Free State to Bloem-
fontein on the lines which Gen. Roberts
had followed. Gen. Hunter is the best
adviser whom Butler can have in Natal.
and it is probable that he will be put
in command of a division and remain
there.
Field for the Croakers.
The only cloud upon the horizon fer
British eyesis the condition of the Mafek-
ing garrison. The croakers are having
much to say about it. and assume that.
the Boer reports of the capture of all
forts except one are correct Extremists
are disposed TO believe that the garrison
IS weary of the long siege and diet Of
horse flesh and is making a loud call for
a relief column. They admit that the
Beers, having lost Kimberley and Lady
smith, will make a desperate effort to
capture Mafeking and carry off the min
iSters Son to Pretoria. but they are con-
vinced that Gen. Roberts sent Col. Ike
keWich with volunteer corps as far as
the Naal river and that others will fol-
low him with reinforcements and push on
to the relief of the garrison. Gen. Rob
erts certainly will need strong column
at Mafeking at a later stage of the cam
paign when he crosses the Vaal river for
4 l. l.
position on the Wietwatersrand ridge of
which Johannesburg is the key, and Gen.
Warren will be the right man for the
work.