Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-01-18
SITUATION IS SIZED UP.
BULLER IS NOW PREPARING FOR
FRONTAL ADVANCE-WARRE
IS ON THE WEST FLANK.

y New York, Jan. 18-The military ex-
pert Of the Herald discussing the situa-
ton in South Africa says:
From the time that the official dis
patch was published last Friday stating
that General Butler had that day seized
the fort at Potgieter's drift, on the
Tugela river, the censorship has been so
strictly maintained that nothing but
mere conjecture was possible in the
course of events. Now the first real
glimpse is afforded of the weeks cam
paign for the relief of Ladysmith. When
Sir George White photographed that he
was hard pressed during the desperate
assault of the Beers on Caesars camp
last Saturday week, January 6. Sir Red
vers Butler promptly sent forward
Clerys division down to the river front
at Colenso. His dispatch said he had
sent forward 'every available man."
from which it could be inferred that the
bulk of his troops were behind Chieveley
at Frere, and again behind that camp at
Estcourt. Clery reported that he found
the trenches full of Beers in the fortified
position, doubly strengthened since Bull
lers disastrous repulse of December IA.
He did not attempt anything further
than reconnaissance, his orders prob
ably being to content himself with the
feint in order to occupy the attention of
the Beers at that point.
Butler himself was hardly prepared for
the advance which he was contemplating
on an elaborate scale and strategical
scheme of outflanking his opponents.
The reinforcements he had received since
he fell back from Colenso must have
placed him in command of more than
80, 900 men. Gen. Sir Charles Warren had
Joined him. an officer whose Griquiland
expedition years ago furnished him a
reputation Of being able to out-maneuver
the Beers in their own peculiar style of
fighting and on their own ground. From
EstcOurt Warren was ready to start on
long flank movement, either to the
east by Weenen, or the west by Bethany,
making a semi-circle to Ladysmith.
Butler, with his headquarters at Frere,
could make an inner movement, choosing
his point of crossing the Tugela either
directly in front or by turning move
ments on either side. He chose the left
or westward route. and keeping his plans
secret, was enabled to announce the first
successful step Of his advance in his dis
patch from Potgeiters drift. This ford
is little to the westward Of the juno
ton of the Tugela with its southern
branch, the Little Tugela river.
The road from Frere would pass along
the foot of the range of mountains on
the right hand. British cavalry scouts
had, it was stated, some days previously
drift, and it was ascertained that General
Joubert was making fortified position
in the neighborhood. When Butler had
gained the drift, his first step was to in
form himself as to the locality and
strength of his position. 1t was, he said
about four and half miles in front
away from the river and of strong
character. Five days have passed in de-
| liberate preparations for continuing the
| march to Dewdrop. Not only has the
transport of the column to be steadily
| brought up, but the relief supplies for
Ladysmith must be close in the rear.
General Warren's column, it is now
| clear from the last dispatch received is
acting in cooperation with Buffers ad-
| vance guard by moving his division in
| parallel line on the west. While Bull
| ler's plan of operations has been matur-
ing, General Joubert, it may be pre-
sumed, has been hurrying his COM
mandos from the center of his defensive
| line of the Tugela to the extreme west
Some check may have been caused by
the knowledge that the British COM
| mander might at any moment make a
serious move from Colenso, or, further
| to the east at Pieter's on the Weenen
road to LadySmith,