The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-02-05

nv "e~ANFF oA Natnt
It is perhaps more than possible that
some Of the opinions prevalent in London
as to General Buffers movements since
last Thursday result from confidential
hints dropped by officials connected with
the War Office. At ali events the impress
sion is strong in that city that the British
Army is again on the move for the relief
of Ladysmith. But facts are not to be had
as yet. Messages from Spearman's Camp
ostensibly sent thence on Saturday rep
resent the situation in front OF Potgieter's
Drift as quiet but 10 is not improbable
that the dates OF these messages have
been changed to suit the purposes Of the
authorities. There would seem to be little
doubt that Dundonald's light brigade has
recrossed the Tugela al one OF the fords
unused ia recent years. which are known
TO exist 10 the west OF Tritchard's Drift.
and has been accommodating around Acton
Homes and perhaps above that place to-
ward Tintwa. Buffers guns heard in
Ladysmit on Friday very likely may have
represented an engagement OF more or
less consequence beyond the Boer extreme
right Further than This anything would
be conjecturaI Clery's division. which has
never been satisfactorily accounted for as
a separate entity since the movement from
Frere and Estcourt began. but has been
mixed no with Warren's division in the
reports. is doubtless on Buffers left. and
may have moved around by Acton Homes
to support DundOnald
The suggestions OF the little news we
can get would appear TO favor the theory
that Buffers force is greater than was
supposed at the time Of the SDi6u Kop
fight II considerably greater. then it is
quite possible that a second attempt to
turn the BOer right aud crush il from a
position between Acton Homes aud the
Ladysmith hills might be successful. This
would be rendered probably feasible BY
ability on Buffers part TO attack simulta-
neously from Zwarts Kop on the centre
and Cheveley on the right Such tactics
should keep tie Boer forces from concen-
trating at one given point as their habit
has been. and might result in victory al
the point Of real attack. But it does not
follow that the movement 10y Acton Homes
is necessarily the main one. although IL is
as likely as not to prove so Il is quite
conceivable that Butler nay contemplate
a double -barrcled battle. with the object
of striking hard both from his left and
centre. and developing according 10 initial
results and the ultimate chances they may
disclose.
The hying column reported near Vryheid
in Northern Natal is exciting much pro-
o.
some Of them the reverse Of intelligent
For example. one Of the London writer's
surmises that Sir George Whites cavalry
and light artillery may be preparing for
a sortie to join this flying column which is
at least eighty miles distant from Lady
smith across about as difficult mountain
country as could be found even in South
Africa. What the column ,onsists OF or
amounts 10 We have not tie faintest idea
II is very apt TO be made up considerably
of irregular horse. and be intrinsically lit
tie more than a scouting for e Still after
it moved west from Zululand and came
within reach Of the British military sphere
east Of a northeast and southwest line 1
drawn through Weeueu. il might be sub
ject 10 support by a column moved up
from that locality; though this is doubt !
full, since a movement Of that kind would |
have been reported 10 Boer headquarters |
and something should have been heard of
it.
The English experts are laying a great
deal OF stress upon the argument that the |
menace to Joubert's communications. rep
resented by the flying column referred to. |
and the pressure which Roberts and Kitch- |
ener are eNerting in Northern Cape Colony |
and on the Modder River, must have com |
PEELED the Beers to withdraw an important
part Of their force from the vicinity OF La
dysmith. Il would be hard TO say how
much weight should be accorded to this
view. There is probably something in it. |
II it has been possible to increase Buffers
strength to the extent OF ten or fifteen
thousand men, and Joubert has felt obliged
to detaeh even few thousand. the game
ought TO be in the British generals hands. |
The first reliable battle news from the Tu-
gela line. it is to be hoped. will furnish a |
key with which to unlock the mystery of |
the situation
Governor GOebeTs Murderer.