The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-12
THE SOUTH AFRICAN SITUATION.

| IL now appears that. up TO yesterday. noun
ing worse had happened to General Butler
than what was involved in his compulsory
evacuation OF Krantz Kloof and the re-
storation of the line he held a week be-
fore. Incidentally, We must say that the
scientific balloon scouting which enabled
him to learn that the Beers had planted
twelve heavy guns on Doom Kloof. COM
handing the vaalkrantz Road TO Lady
smith. indicates an Improvement in mill
! tary methods which may well increase con-
| fdence In the caution of the British com
mander in Natal hereafter.
On reasoning which may be good enough.
the London military critics argue that
| Buffers apparent effort to force his right
centre as wedge in between the wings
OF Joubert's containing lines was intended
in reality only as a feint. The basis or
| this theory is the idea that Lord Roberts
| has concluded that Ladysmith cannot be
! reached by Buffers forces without losses
| not to be justified BY the conditions which
now obtain, and that the present business
of the army in Natal is to keep Joubert
actively occupied by frequent attacks OF
serious appearance. so that he may be too
much engaged to attempt the capture Of
Ladyamith by assault. or to spare troops
| from Natal for the reinforcement Of his
| colleagues at Magarsfontein and other
| places.
/ This may be true analysis OF the sit
uation. or IL may represent the conclusion
| that Roberts and Kitchener would like to
| have their opponents deduce from its cur
rent phenomena. 1t is not an unreasona-
Bile theory oil the strength of what out
siders are allowed to know OF actual
movements and purposes; but If 1t be
adopted it should be so with reserve. and
only tentatively. Butler may yet have a
card TO play. and to play in dead earnest,
before ne abandons the hope OF succoring
Sir George White. Ii will be noted that
complete silence has been observed as TO
anything which may have been happening
on Buffers left, in the Acton Homes
Trutwa neighborhood. for many days past.
1t is possible that a turning movement in
that direction may be in preparation.
From Boer sources it is reported that the
Ladysmth garrison. on Thursday night.
was making an effort to deliver a sortie
toward the Free State lager west of the
town. This alleged movement, coincident
IL would appear with the withdrawal of
Hilyard's command from Krantz Kloof.
may have been conformative and designed
TO create q diversion in view Of the eyacu-
ation. since there is no doubt that Butler
and White are in constant communica-
ton; or it may have been undertaken in
consequence of some expectation that the
British left was about % develop and at
tack the Boer positions in the Ladysmith
hills beyond the Free State laage, Con-
sidering that possibilities concealed from
the public eye may Turk around The situa-
tion on the Tugela. it would probably be
unwise at once to jump to a conclusion
that Butler is to do nothing beyond feint
attacks until Roberts gets ready to move
from the Modder and Orange River bases.
and thus perhaps cause Joubert to raise
the siege OF Ladysmith in order that he
may go to the defence OF the Free State.
II it can be assumed that Sir George White
is able to hold his own for matter of
another twenty days. the London writer's
may be right; but.if the Ladysmith gar
rison is in the desperate straits it would
seem fair to suppose it is. then it is prob
able that Butler will make another effort
TO reach it in case he sees any moderate
chance of success.
In any event there is cumulative evil
dence that all grand divisions of the Brit
is in in
concert and under the general direction
OF the field marshal general in chief. Al
though London does not exactly like the
idea Of Sir Hector Macdonad's retirement
from Koodoosberg Drift to the Modder
River, after taking and holding a point OF
apparent vantage on Cronie's right. still.
II is argued that the Increment could oniy
have been intended as a reconnaissance In
force. as anything more important would
not harmonic with what are believed to
be the plans prepared by Lord Roberts
for the invasion Of the Orange Free State.
and. incidentally only. the relief of Kim
bericy There Is good reason to think
that Roberts or Kitchener is at MOdder
Camp with Methuen; perhaps both are
there. Re-enforcements have been arriv-
ing and all the signs indicate an early
movement.
French appears to have come up from
Colesberg to take command OF the cavalry
division. the different parts of which are
understood to be at last combined As
likely as not. Tucker has taken Frcnch's
place in front Of Colesberg. Brabant's
colonial division should have Joined Cat
acre a week ago. Kelly Kenny is not ac-
counted for. without attempting to iden-
tify divisions and dispositions for the
present, as far as can be judged from ap
pearances fresh division of infantry with
the artillery rc-enforcements frCm the
cape. and supporting the cavalry division.
may be expected TO execute a turning
movement on Jacobsdal, crossing the Riet
River at "A drift east of that point Stimuli
taneously Methuen's command should at
tack in the direction OF the Boer left.
These movements. if successful. would
release the Kimberley garrison and open
the way to an advance on Bloemfontein
across the open veldt Spontaneously the
Beers at Colesberg and Stormberg would
be attacked, aud, IL defeated, the British
columns on the quadrilateral would be
free to make movement of conveyance
with the Modder River army. passing into
the Free State by the Colesberg and
Bethulie bridges. 1t is possible that the
Beers may retreat across the Orange with
out a battle. Those at Colesberg are re-
ported to be still in control CT their COM
munications. while the stormberg COM
mandoes are probably able to run away