The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-01-13
THE TURN AT P0TGIETERS DRIFT.

We are without additional news Concern
ing the important movement made by Sir
Redvers Butler in establishing az letacL-
ment of his army at Potgieter's Drift. APP
/ parently beyond the extreme right of the
Boer line on the Tugela River AS far as
/ the war maps illustrate the text Of the
! British generals laconie report, the at
/ tempt TO turn Jouberts defences to the
west has been made identically as we ven
tured to predict. some time ago. The ma
/ jority Of the London military writer's Ia ve
/ favored the idea that Butler would terat
against Springfield, and make his real at
tack first on Inhlawe Mountain. and then
on Joubert's left beyond Weenen. Some
/ Of them were. last night unwilling to be-
/ lieve that the Potgieter despatch indi-
Gated anything more than a movement Of
| diversion; but such a view is untenable.
! The secrecy which has been preserved in
/ regard to Sir Charles Warren's division
/ for two weeks. its assumed concentration
] at Estcourt the direct road from that point
/ 10 Dewdrop and many other considera-
/ tions have suggested the Boer right as the
actual and. as we have long thought it,
D the obvious initial objective.
Potgieter's Drift does not appear on any
OF the published maps. and this fact seems
to confuse the English experts. We cannot
be absolutely sure Of its exact location; out
from accounts OF the earlier encounters be-
tween Sir George White and the Beers
west Of Ladysmith. and Of the march OF
the Free State commands around that
place by Acton Homes TO the Tugela-early
in November if We remember right we
| have identified and treated Potgieter's Drift
the ford at Zwartskop on the Tdgela
midway between Springfield and Dewdrop.
The entrenehed position four and a half
miles north o. Potgieter's Drift. in that
case must be just south OF Dewdrop.
II our geography is right it would seem
to follow that Butler has been able TO
marcR around Joubert's right and 10 es-
tablish himself in a position OF tactical
advantage. II is true that his rear may be
open 10 attack from the vicinity OF Spring
field. as suggested by one OF the London
writer's this morning. but if Buffers other
preliminary movements have been as
,horoush as the one under discussion ap-
pears TO have been. probably there is not
great danger from that direction, since We
think il reasonable TO assume that while
Warren's division cTeps around TO Pot
gieter's Drift. Hildyard or Barton prob
ably would support the movement by an
attack east Of Colenso. and that
Clery would attack Inhlawe Noun
tain. II corporation is thorough be-
a.
the Ladysmith relieving column. the sit
uation al Potgieter's ought TO be consid-
cred promising one. A successful at
tack on Dewdrop would place Butler in
communication with L3dysmith and bring
the garrison into the fight. in support Of
the advance That being accomplished.
Butler could readiust his lines and take
Joubert in reverse: and if that situation
could be arrived at. We think the latter
would be compelled 20 retreat 70 the Neck
OF Natal as quickly as possible. Butler S
success in the movement from Potgieter's
means more than simply the relief OF La
dysmith. II means the cutting of OF the
Beers and Free Staters from retreat by
Van Reenen's Pass. certainly. and proba-
bly, by CuDdycleugh Pass. into the Orange
Free state 4 great campaign advantage
would thus be gained, for with these pass
Is in British control the problem Of march
ing on Bloemfontein would be much sim
plifed. But perhaps ii were as well not
TO count the British chickens before they
are Matched.
There is every reason for believing that
hard fighting at two OF three points be-
tween Weeneu on the east. and Zunckles
on the west Of Colenso, Is now in progress.
In the ordinary course or events we ought
TO be able to hear something about il to-
day Put that is By no means a sure thing.