New-York tribune., 1900-01-14
NERVOUSNESS IN LONDON.
ANXIOUSLY AWAITING NEWS FROM
AFRICA-BULLER'S TACTICS
DISCUSSED.
DISCUSSED
Icopyright: 1900: BY The New-York Tribune.1
IBT CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.l


IBT CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.l
London, Jan. IA. / a m.-The War Office was
prolific in casualty lists yesterday-from Mafe-
king, Stormberg, Colesberg and other camps
but was silent hour after hour respecting Gen
eral Buffers turning movement. The comments
upon that movement made twenty-four hours
earlier still held good at late hour last night.
There were no new facts, and the theories Of ex-
perts were of no value because there was an
utter lack of information upon which to base
them It was evident that General Buffers ad-
TO Potgieter's Drift, if not feint for dis
guisng a real attack CoIenso or seventeen
miles below on the weenen road, was the first
naneuvre in a series directed against the
emy's flank and rear and that time must be
allowed for working out the entire plan of oper-
ations- The passage Of the Tugela by a strong
column when a fiat bottomed scow or a rough
floating bridge worked by a single rope was the
only means Of transit would require time, even
tf the enemy did not molest the invaders. and
possibly it could only be undertaken under cover
OF darkness. Military writers here have
ceeded in locating the drift with fair degree
of certainty but the district is off the main road
and little is known about it, It is a grazing
region occupied mainly by Dutch farmers
Springfield is insignificant village with few
houses and two Kaffir stores. The journey by
postcart from Springfield to Ladysmith via Pot
gieter's Drift occupies seven and one-half hours
These are the only obtainable facts respecting
the quarter where General Butler is known to be
operating.
The croakers were inclined to suspect at mid
night that the War Office was holding back
bad news. Their complaints merely indicated
their own nervousness. The officials themselves
ed Tbev IN he
dark the corps of reporters clamoring for
news The opinion in well informed military
circles is hopeful. The danger of counter at
tack is not overlooked, especially when there
are reports that eight Boer camps were dis
covered by the British scouts earlier in the
week the south bank of the TugeIa. It is
assumed with confidence however that Gen
eral Warren's division is provided with a mule
tIain and carries its own supplies, and cutting
its communications with the rear will not be a
serious accident. The most sanguine experts
expect him to push on to Ladysmfth after
crossing the Tugela, either breaking through or
turning the Boer line. and when reinforced by
General White to move south toward Coenso.
Theories like these are trides light as air. What
Englishmen want is positive information about
what General Butler has done, not what the
optimists hope he may do. With all its un-
certainties, however, this turning movement
offers a better chance for the speedy deliverance
OF Ladysmith and a crushing defeat of the
Dutch forces than & direct frontal attack upon
Colenso
The news from other sections of the field of
operations is also meagre. Reuter- has sent an
encouraging report from Rensburg of the ad-
vance Of a strong force under French's com
mand, under cover of artillery fire. and its en-
campment on the eastern flank of the enemy.
This maneuvre probably threatens the Dutch
line Of retreat toward the Orange River. The
enemy has clearly been disturbed by It, for an
unsuccessful attempt has been made to take the
British position. Details were lacking at a late
hour, but there seemed to be the promise of
successful close Of General French's ingenious
rnaneuvres around colesberg in which his chief
object has been not TO capture the town, but
cutting the enemy's communications with the
bridges over the Orange River
Belated press accounts of Gatacre's reconnois-
sanee toward Stormberg add nothing to the
official report NJ r