The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-01
THE SOUTH AFRICAN SITUATION.

IHE SUUTH AFRICAN SITUATION.
Unless all military opinion in England is
wrong. the first week OF the last year in
the nineteenth century will witness a bat
tie on the Tugela line in Natal. upon the
issue of which may depend not only the fate
Of Ladysmith and its gallant defenders. but
possibly the future OF British empire in
South Africa. Although the news cabled
from Durham Is vague and altogether lack
ing in detail. still what there is Of 1t is
strongly suggestive of an imminent move
ment against the Beers. The probability
of such a thing is perhaps increased by the
marked activity of the British forces in
other parts of the theatre OF war. We
hear. by way of Pretoria, that the MAIZE
king garrison has made a brilliant sortie.
falling in its immediate object and losing
an hundred and nine men in killed and
wounded. Lord Methuen is keeping up a
lively artillery fire on Cronje's trenches;
French appears to have cleared the Beers
from the De Aar-Hopstown line, and Cat
acre is reported to have reoccupied Dor
dTecht which is a matter OF Importance, as
fected area and renders less serious the
Boer command of Stormberg If this last
named intelligence is accurate, it must
be assumed that Gatacre has been consid-
erably re enforced, as otherwise he would
hardly venture to move from the railway
line at CIPHER Cat which We presume he
still holds. He must have been able TO
a.. p.
movement
Now all the developments we have noted
and to them we should add doubtful
account of a fresh sortie from Lady
smith-may have been mere condolences;
but they are quite as likely to have re-
suited from an actual or tacit understand
ing between the various generals. that the
Beers should be simultaneously engaged at
all points, to keep them occupied and TO
prevent the withdrawal Of troops for the
purpose of Strengthening Jouberts forces
in Natal. Sir Redvers Butler will have
all he can manage with the number of
enemies in front of him now, and, as we
have hitherto suggested his ability to
overcome them is by no means regarded as
certain. We have estimated the force he
would have at command today at twenty
eight thousand Our London dispatches
yesterday placed it at twenty-seven thou
sand, which probably allows for details
TO guard communications and so on. But
the London military writer's concede him
sixty-one guns, exclusive of some ef-
fectiye naval guns. and. in addition, twelve
siege howitzers are on the way from Cape
Town and should be in Cheyeley by We'd
nesday.
If Butler really has all the guns stated,
he is probably superior to Joubert in ar
tillery. On the other hand, it is adj
mitted that he is inferior in cavalry. and
this is a serious handicap. The recent
flood in the Tugela and Little Tugela
rivers no doubt has helped the British gen.
eral in his preliminary preparations and
maneuvres, as It does not appear that his
TANKS have been harassed much. if any,
during the past few days. and it is reported
that "Reminiscences on Friday toward
Springfield on the west and Spies Kop on
the east failed to uncover any Beers. On
the same day there was some artillery firing
on the front toward Colenso. near which
point it would seem that Joubert still has
| some men on the south bank of the river
In the present state of information con-
| corning local conditions, it would be foolish
to indulge in conjecture as to what kind
of movement Sir Redvers Buller is about
( to attempt. II seems to be assumed in
| England that he will make some kind OF a
desperate effort to relieve Ladysmith before
I the end OF the week, and as this theory
has the support of the generally best in
| formed military writers, there is p. ohably
| good ground for it. The situation az Lady
smith. doubtless. is much more acute than
| the public is allowed to know. and there
may be state reasons besides which render
it desirable that Butler should risk battle,
notwithstanding the grave consequences
which might flow from a British reverse at
| this time As to the military proposition
| invol, ed. nothing seems clear except that
| the advance will not have the character of
/ another frontal attack on Joubert's centre.
! Therefore It promises to be a turning
movement against the Beers right toward
| Dewdrop. or their left, somewhere between
/ Colenso and the Helpmaakar road. Sir
| Redvers Butler has his reputation as a field
I commander to redeem, and Clery and
/ Hildyard have theirs as strategists to keep
in improved repair. the troops of the
( Ladysmitb relieving column are represent
ed as wild TO retrieve the Tugela disaster,
and there is every reason to think that the
next engagement will be a most desperate
! and bIOOdy one.