Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1900-01-25
ACROSS THE TUGELA.
aiJLLER.s ARMY ADVANCES TO
WARD LADYSMiTH.
The General Issues an Address TO MS
Men Saying There Could be NO Turn
inc Back-The First Skirmish Is Won
by the British.

Con Ruller's successful effort to get
bic army across the Tugela river evl-
don+lv was planned with care. line brlt-
;sh generals seem to have concealed the
axact nature of their movements from
their enemy, one brigade in the center
of the position crossing with the ald OF
artillery fire at Potgieter's ford, Wnlie
another. five miles to the left, crossed
few hours later and secured gooa "o
sition on the enemy's flank.
Whether or not, says correspondent
the Beers have been anticipating such
movement and practically preparing 70
WELD to Buffers advance remains TO De
determined. 1t does not appear that tney
made the show of resistance Wnlch tney
had been expected to make, or that tney
were on the alert, as, presumably, they
would have been in case of STUBBORN
nnrpose to resist to the utmost the cross
ing of the Tugela While this advance
carries the British forces past one more
obstacle on the way to Ladysmtn IL also
enables the Beers to put themselves In
a position much stronger strateglcally. 30
long as they held the Tugela they were
forced to stretch out their line along the
river for many miles, Their force was
thus not only weakened, but exposed to
flank attacks. 1t seems likely that be-
fore giving up this position they had pre-
pared themselves tosmake a much more
effective resistance under more favora-
BILE conditions. By concentrating at
point nearer Ladysmith they would nave
not only the advantages Of a choice OF
positions in a familiar country, but or
having their enemy in place from when
it would be extremely difficult to make
an orderly retreat. A Watchful army
free to take it's choice of positions for re
sisting an invading force has signal adj
vantage over an advancing army which,
whatever path it chooses, is bound down
to the necessity of reaching a definite
known objective-in this case LadySmlth.
The Beers, apparently are not likely to
be outfanked easily in this region. On
the other hand, should they succeed in
repulsing Butler, they could make his po-
sition on their own side of a stream which
is unfordable save at a few points ex-
tremely awkward.
Another correspondent says that Gen.
Butler himself has made his headquar-
ters in farm house belonging to Mar
tinius Pretorius, and located supposedly
Ill LIE VI cpcdIludA . AoA LIZ
He issued an address to his men telling
them that they were going to relieve their
comrades at Ladysmith and that there
could be no turning back. 1t is not ex-
actly known the number of troops with
Butler, as about 5000 of his men remain
unaccounted for. However, it is believ-
ed that his total force now amounts to
10000 men, with eight field batteries,
divided into three or four brigades.
Gen. Warren, with about 5000 men, is
reported to be we'll lodged five miles back
from the river at Sproenkop. He has
thrown few shells at the Beers, but
has received no reply, the Beers being APP
parently too busy intrenching and prepar-
ing to give Warren warm time when
he attempts the advance in the direction
of Ladysmith.
Gen. Lyttleton's force of probably TO-
600 men and majority of the guns is
at Potgieter's drift bombarding the enc
my. Lord Dundonald's cavalry is sup
posed to be on a reconnaissance for the
purpose of cutting the Boer lines of COM
munication, task of great difficulty, as
it requires an advance as far as Blaan-
bank
The first skirmish between the British
and the Beers, preliminary to the impend-
ing struggle north of the Tugela, was re-
ported Friday. The action resulted in
victory for the British