, 1900-01-20
BRITISH AND BOERS
GREATEST BATTLE OF THE SOUTH
AFRICAN WAR is BELIEVED
TO BE UNDER WAY.
A Mounted Force of English Troops Sc
cure Several Important Positions
Boer Tactics Puzzle the British,
But the Latter Are Keeping Their
Eyes Open and Expect Anything.

London, Jan. 2O.-Up to 4 O'Clock
this morning no further dispatches
form South Africa had been received
but there is every Indication that a big
fight for the passage of the western
roads will take place today, If it did
not commence yesterday, when General
Warren was reported to be advancing
steadily. But it is hardly possible that
all the artillery of Generals Warren
and Lyttleton was across the drifts yes
terday morning. These indications as
well as General Warren's longer march
point to serious effort being made to-
day.
The war situation last evening was
! as follows: General Warren, having
made an advance of five miles and
having sent Lord Dundonald to his
left flank, is in possession OF some of
the kopjes which command u ravine
behind the Spion kop. The British
troops are now in a circle around the
Boer position,a lat the northern end OF
the formation, where Lord Dundonald's
command is, being slightly BEN back
to the westward. General Lyttleton's
brigade had advanced two miles to-
ward the Beers position at Brakfon-
TEN, which is about four miles north of
Potgeister's drift. The Beers would
not show themselves, but the howitz-
ers and naval guns on Mt. Alice, south
of the Tugela river, directed by infor-
nation secured by a balloon ~reconnois-
sance, were able TO do much damage
10 the Boer trenches.
Under cover of this fire General Lyt-
t%leton's men took a strong position be-
hind some ridges facing the Beers.
With his force in this position it
seems impossible that any great length
of time can elapse beforea decisive bat
tie is fought. From the disposition Of
General Buffers troops it would seem
probable that as soon as General War
ren's turning movement is complete
and Lord Dundonald advances on the
road to Dewdrop, while still in touch
| with General Warren, sealing the d.
rect line Of retreat to the Free State,
to General Lyttleton, supported prob
ably by General Hildyard's brigade,
will make an attack.
This is what appears likely tnat the
British will do, but what will the Beers
be doing meanwhile? We are still in
ignorance as to the Boer forces, which
confront the British generals. except
that we know they have been reinforc-
| ed.
Accepting a comparatively modest
| estimate of their strength, General
| Warren and General Butler are likely
to find opposed to them a force which
in numbers is at least equal to their
own, excellent marksmen, tenacious
fighters accustomed to the country and
climate, and in strong position.
The British army is weak in two
arms, artillery and cavalry. which
could he used with most effect in such
| situation. Then the fact Of the Beers
offering practically no opposition to the
British crossing the river and refusing
to fire upon General Lyttleton's ad-
vance, and screening their heavy guns,
which must have been in position, be-
tokens a deep laid plan to resist the
| British advance. Talk of camp, one
correspondent says, is that this SEEM
ingly inexplicable surrender of river to
the British portends some cunningruse.
But, as has been pointed out, If Gen
eral Butler g certain that the Beers
have weakened their lines at Colenso
and Grobler's kop, to strengthen those
in front of MIN at Potgeisters drift,
there is nothing to prevent him from
being cunning also and attacking FUR
Their to the east, where the distance to
Ladysmith. is less.
1t is well to bear in mind that the
statements of the forces under Gener-
ais Butler and Warren do not account
for all the troops under Sir Redvers-
Buffers command by a large number.