Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-01-08
GEN. BULLER'S CHANCE.
TO ACHIEVE A GREAT VICTORY
MAY HAVE BEEN DELAYED
TOO LONG.

New York. Jan. S.-A dispatch to the
Tribune from London says: General
Buffers opportunity for an effective dis
play of strategy has come and it is to be
hoped, not too late. The Hussars and the
battery of field artillery for which he
has, been waiting while Ladysmith was
In deadly peril, are now at the front and
he has every availahle man, gun, horse
and mule.
General Joubert's army is making be-
lated and desperate attempt to carry
Ladysmith by incessant bambardment
and deliberate and persistent attack In
front, according to the latest news from
Ladysmith What the emergency re-
quires is a cautious and rapid, yet far
sighted plan of operations like that adopt
ed by Wellington in the peninsula. There
may be another reverse if the tactics of
the previous battle are repeated. But a
decisive victory may be expected with
confidence if General RULER does not at
tempt to do weeks work during sim
gle day and has the patience and skill for
maneuvering far afield, turning the enc
my's position and cutting off his re-
retreat northwam and westward. No
British general since Waterloo has ever
had SO brilliant an opportunity or so
pressing need for delivering a SERIES Of
rapid and effective blows by which the
enemy may be paralyzed and demoraliz-
ed in the course OF single week.
Yet the English public is so unaccus-
toned to campaign with turning move
ments and maneuvering on a large SCALE
that there will be objection and clamors
II complete victory is not announced as
a result of the first days fighting
Veterans at the military service clubs
We're intensely anxious over the, news
from Ladys,nith and some of them COM
mented adversely upon the apparent lack
of cooperation between Butler and
White at the critical stages Of the cam
paign, although they were in daily COM
munication with each other
General White was passive on Decem-
ber Is, when Gen. Butler attacked the
enemy i'm full force at Colenso and there
was nothing really effective done on Sat
urday on the Tugela, although word was
received at Frere camp as early as 8
O'Clock that the Beers were making a
most determined assault upon Lady
smith, in anticipation of the general ad-
vance of the main British army early this
week.
These comments had a sterner even an
grier tone toward midnight. when the war
office gave out another bulletin from Bull
ler with two hours later news from
White. 1t was brief, but terribly to the
point The BOer attack had been re-
newed on Saturday afternoon, as General
White had apprehended and he was very
hard pressed. Those were the worst
words which had yet flashed out of the
darhness Of Ladysmith. The veterans at
the clubs shook their heads ominously
and bluntly declared that General Butler
had put off the great battle too long.
General French reported the situation
at Colesberg unchanged on Sunday, but
General Forestier- alker. in a bulletin
issued last night by the war Office. gave
an unpleasant account Of what was de-
scrfbed with official euphemism as an 'ac-
cident.' Four companies OF the First
, Suffolk were sent at night to attack the
enemy on a low hill one mile from their
camp. COL Watson, who was in COM
mand, was wounded after ordering the
troops to charge, and the bugie call for a
retreat was sounded, apparently by the
Beers themselves, a trick which has
been played before during the Campaign.
Three companies retreated to the camp in
goci order but the fourth was caught be-
| hind .slrrouEdsd by rhe enemy and sew
, enty men, including seven officers, were
! taken prisoners.
The British warship Thetis, II is re-
ported, has arrived at Durham with the
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