The evening times., 1900-01-09
THE SITUATION IN NATAL.

The news OF Sir George Stewart Whites
success in repulsing the BOer assault Upon
the works at Ladysmith after seventeen
hours Of continuous fighting, has hearten-
ed the British public and revived feeling
Of optimism which can hardly be regarded
as justified by the situation as disclosed
by the dispatches and reasonable deduc-
tions from them. One Point Of previous
doubt has been definitely settled by the
battle of Sunday last, and not in a way
encouraging to the British. 1t is that the
Beers are quite capable OF rushing fOrti-
fed positions in mass, and cannot hence
forward be counted upon TO limit them
selves to defensive battle tactics When
We reflect that they are without bayonets,
and yet were able repeatedly to take two
at least of Whites redoubts, Il must be
conceded their their aggressive ability is
no; to be despised. an opinion this journal
adopted long ago on the record Of Majuba
Hill.
Granting that the Boer repulse was COM
plete and bloody it canLot be regarded as
final on any military reasoning. 1t might
become so in fact; but the fact would
have to be based on extraneous operations,
and not on what the garrison has done.
Whites losses must have been serious,
ard his expenditure of ammunition ruin
Gus. He viii now be hampered with the
care Of a large number OF wounded, and.
in the circumstances, the reactlve effect
Of the recent struggle on a body OF men
weakened by insufficient food disease, and
anxiety, will not tend to enhance the
morale OF the force. Under these condi-
tons there is small reason to doubt that
the assault will be renewed unless Sir
Redvers Butler can make it hot enough
for his foes on the Tugela line to render
it impracticable for them to spare the
troops necessary 70. another attempt on
Ladysmith.
What Butler has done so far, or what he
seems able to accomplish Immediately. does
not appear to fulfill this condition Stra-
tegically and tacticaIIy his position is one
of inferority. His force is unwieIdy and
his transport service inadequate. Five
thousand mounted men-regulars and ir
regulars-will probably cover his force for
scouting and light flank work There is a
scarcity Of water in the field, and this. Il
is saiA, has prevented him from concen-
trating even at CheveIey. But still more
depressing circumstances exist in the Boer
possession of Inhlawe Mountain on his
right, and Springfield on his left. both
south OF the Tugela. and both strongly and
scientifically fortified. In the battle OF Co
lensO, he was effectually nanked from the
former position and compelled to retreat
That Buffers situation is regarded as i'm
pregnable. even for defensive purposes. By
the British war authorities. is improbable
II is reported that hurry orders have been
sent TO put Durham in a state Of defence.
an action which if true is ominously sug-
gestive. Indeed it would be far from sur
prising II the Beers. having demonstrated
their strength in attack to their own salts
faction. were to assume the offensive and
assail Butler, in case he has not already
taken the initiative
The censorship over the news from, Natal
is too strict to afford US any hint OF what is
going on at Cheveley, Frere, or Estcourt
There Is a possibility that Butler is engi-
neeriug some movement which, il success
fui. Will change the face Of the situation.
/ but he will have TO act very quickly now
| II Ladysmith is to be saved and he will
/ have TO 20 about il in some way other than
| by frontal attack. II he could manage to
/ seize Inhlawe, and simultaneously effest a
| long turn beyond Springfield, that might do
| the business; but the taking OF Inhlawe
/ would doubtless mean a heavy sacrifice OF
/ life and might fail, in which case the
other movement might be too hazardous,
/ as it would divide the British forces. The
! London military critics are severe upon
/ Butler for permitting the Bocrs to fortify
/ themselves on his side Of the river. and in
/ ideal positions commanding his fianks. He
may have the best Of excuses fer permitting
. it. but the result is the same.
/ This morning We hear that General
/ Joubert has been severely injured by hav-
/ ing his horse roll over nm after being shot,
and that he is out OF the fight for the fu-
/ ture He will no doubt be succeeded in
the field command in Natal by General
( Schalk- Burger. Il viii make no differ
ence. The Boer commanders and their men
do the fighting, but they appear to be doing
] II uuQGT lue dAFlte anu dCIoL AAAb " AAe
plans Of the best foreign strategists. On
/ this account they have been able to out
general the British commanders so far.
/ Perhaps Butler may be about to show that
| he too, is a strategist, or he may be oAly
waiting for Roberts and Kitchener, who are
due at the Cape today, to come up and ex-
/ tricate him from a precarious situation.
! Eut one thing may be set down Gs certain.
\ If the British on the Tugela do not get
/ down to work and accomplish something
/ tangible Immediately the doom OF Lady
/ smith is sealed, and II will not be many
4 days before the curtain will fall upon that
| long siege and heroic defence.
THE BROWN GUN TESTS.
The Trustees Want Assurances From
the War Department..