The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-02-09


had sufficient guarantee that their in
dependence would be respected the Trans
vaal wouu grant a five year RETROSPECT.
tive franchise the Burghers would retire
60 their own countries and the war wou,0
cease Immediately"
These views coming from a k'nsman OF
w. T. Schrlener the Cape premier. viii
probably excite much comment Mr.
Cronweism -schreiner points out that
the Dutch outnumber the English colon
lists and that " local self-governmeni
continues to exist it will be In the control
of a large and exasperated anti Brit sh
majority formerly lmbued with the con
viction thai the war was forced on the
Eoers.
LONDON. FEB. 9.-speucer Wilkinson
discussing Genera Buffers latest move
merits in the Morning Post says;
"The advantage of this line of action Il
that 81 cffers the shortest road to Lady
smith. The disadvantage Is that with
modern weapons the operation OF piercing
the encmy's front is one Of the utmost
difficulties After beginning each side can
concentrate on one point Of the enemys
line the fire OF The long portion of IT.
own front. Of all the riflemen along n
front OF a mile and half and of az the
gums along "a front Of three fo miles.
AS The assallant chooses MS 30 nj Of at
tack he can at the outset gain a super
ior ty of fire against that poir:. but as he
advances and pushes back part of the
on Judge Taft about noon. After a con-
enemys line, the enemy can pour on his
troos. the fire of great semi-circle while
the assailants fire from his convex front
is dtverged rather than convergent
'If however, the assailant can fnl ocv-
er for his leading party he has a converg-
ing fire against the two ends Of The de-
rending semi-crcle and he may. therefore.
hope to drive his opponent back, 90 widen
the gap he has made. and then. as ne
pushes fresh troops into Il and holds 'he
enemy along the rest OF his from to roll
up either wing Of the defense.
This task, hard In any case Is readcr-
ed harder when a river must be crossed,
for river between two armies prevents
the assaiant from engaging the defender
along his who,e front except occasionally
and the defender as soon as he recognizes
the real poit Of attack. ca hurry trcors
from both wings TO his center.
General Butler has made a cool start.
In order to be able 10 advance he win
probably have to drive the Beers from
Doom Kloof. to separate the two Boei
wings and then. while holding one Of
them to attack and crush the other
That cannot be an easy matter, for
they can move troops faster than we,
and will probably pour converg'ng FIRE
from the north and west II not from he
northwest and east on vaal KrantS
1--WE hear from I.adysmlth THAI Boer
heavy baggage has been NOV
ed toward the passage. The
Beers are well aware that defeat
means for them the raising Of the selge
OF Ladysmith and their retreat from tn
district II is TO be hoped that General
Butler VIII press the attack and VIII not
tire even II the engagements lasts sev
eral days The case recembles thar OF
General Grants battle at FortD onallson.
when he first realized that it was a ques-
tion as 90 which army, could FIRST renw
The attack. hut General Buner cannot re-
lieve Ladysm,th except by defeating and
driving away the Boer army and rhus
raising the se'ge. He cannot cut his way
through the Beers and march on Lady
smith. leavn ng the Beers undestroyed on
his uank That would only lead TO the
loss Of his army.
short Of breaking xhe Boer resIstence
he might, however. by sufficiently vg.
orous and prolonged attack. compel them
90 call up rcinforcements from the invest
ing lines and thus make Il possible for
Sir George whBe through these lines and
to march to Sket's drift. That move
ment would be costly. II would begin
with The sacrifice OF the heavy guns and
with a heavy loss in the sortie. There
would then be a great pressure on the
rear guard. heavy loss hr the ten nile
march and further loss IN tie attack on
the rear OF the Beers ait BralfoEtein or
Dorm Kloff. but II would be an honorable
way out Of what has been called the
Ladysmith ENHANCEMENT