The evening times., 1900-02-08
I.srd Roberts, Campaign onen,.

ghp curtain has risen on The Opeuin OF
Field Marshal Lord Roberts campaign 10
South Africa ana at iast there is news If
operations both in Natal and the west. ~
;de former Sir Redvers Buller 49, e. -
>---- i-a--1'- - -l1c lessons Of expert
cnce. and TO be doing some good tactical
work, in striking contrast with his from
al attack at CclenSo. On Monday. a. the
ness desp; tches relate, he made a feint
sttgck in The direction Of BrakfOntein.
which is to the right OF Spion Kop. and
succeeded in occupying the Beers atten-
tion while his right centre crossed
the Tugels on a pontoon hastily con-
structod. and by four O'Clock in
the afternoon aad assaulted and Occu-
pied Krantz Klo0f. a continuation OF
the Brakfontein ridge. On Tuesday the
Beers attempted TO retake the position,
but were repulsed. The casualties in The
- movements are placed at two hundred
and fifty not heavy price to pay for the
advantage gained if il amounts to all that
The British authorities seem TO think it
does We are without definite information
as to the further course of events. except
that General Butler reports his progress
as momentarily checked. as the Beers are
in force in front Of Krantz Kioof. which
also is endladed by the batteries on Spion
Kop and Doom K1oof
The British tactics, as represented in the
dispatches. appear TO be about as We con-
iecturei they would be a week ago. Butler
has developed his right centre and driven
a wedge into JoUbeTt's line. Whether he
can hold Krantz Klo0f or not is perhaps
a question; but if he can. it should be
possible for him 10 pursue the advantage
with a fair chance of dividing the Boer
forces. and even the probability Of his
success in such an undertaking would be
serious for his antagonist. A few miles
gained now would greatly change the
local situation. II is probable thai Sir
George White is trying to execute a con-
forming movement There are good rea-
sons for thinking that he was actively
engaging the besiegers south or southwest
Of Ladysmi.h on Sunday. This was doubt
less with the intention OF drawing the
Beers from Buffers front and very likely
may have rendered it easier for the British
right centre to carry Krantz Kloof.
Lord Dundonald is reported in the Ac-
ton Homes-Tintwa area. and he is prob
ably watching for an opening to get in
touch with Sir George White in the Lady
smith hills. in case the operations 10 the
east should serve to weaken the Boer right
materially. If It were possible for Butler
TO drive his wedge home. and thus cut
Joubert in two, that might furnish the op-
portunity for White TO effect a sortie to
the west and catch the Boer right between
his own and Dundonald's forces. There
are strong indications OF intelligent CO.
operation between the relief column and
the Ladysmith garrison, which are calcu-
lated to bolster opinions favorable tc Bull
ler's ultimate success.
Both Lord Roberts and Lord Kitchener
have gone TO the front The general for
ward movement is believed TO have begun.
The Beers have again attacked General
Gatacre's position at SterkstrOom and
fghting was in progress at that point on
Wednesday. French is strongly posted in
front of Colesberg. We do not hear any
thing further of the infantry force re-
Gently reported as on Its way from Naauw
Poort to seize Norvals Pont, and il may
be several days before any part of the
plan of Lord Roberts definitely develops.
Probably the situation on Modder River is
suggestive of part at least of the gen.
eral scheme. How far Lord Methuen may
have been re-enforced is not announced;
but he must be greatly stronger in troops
and artillery than when he fought the
battle of Magarsfontein. His pres
ent movements indicate that he
is about to make d vigorous attack on
Cronje's left in the direction of Jacobs
dal. doubtless supported by column which
it is surmised Roberts has sent up from
the Cape. The new force would be apt to
move across from the railway at Honey
Nest Kloof, or in that neighborhocd and