The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-01-12
BULLERS TURN AT LAST.

Sir Rcdvers 8ulIer does not appear to
be as bodly done Up as the dispatches OF
yesterday reported him, for, like a shot
from a maskeG1battery. comes the exciting
news that lifelong turn against Jouberts
right has begun. and that its preliminary
step has been successful. From Springfield
Butler cables that on yesterday he seized
the bridge at Potgieters Drift, which is be-
yond the first named. He is. therefore,
attempting the movement which We ex-
planned several days ago would. in our
judgment, involve his best chance to re-
lieve Ladysmith. Details are entirely lack
ing, but there ought to be no doubt that
hard battle is in progress.
Springfield. as has often been noted in
these columns. has been reported and as
sumed to be the extreme right of the Boer
line. sixteen or twenty miles long. II has
always seemed the vulnerable spot, on ac-
count of the fords and roads TO the west
OF it. as these offer turning possibilities.
JOubert has an indeterminate force at his
command but, at the most liberal esti-
mate it would not be sufficient to admit
Of an indefinite extension OF his defence
line. and we do not believe that he could
have entrenched another five miles west
ward without so weakening points be-
tween Springfield and Inhlawe Mountain
as to have made an attack even to the
east seem feasible
Moreover. the long turn against Jou-
bert's extreme right IL effected, would
bring greater and quicker results than
movement in any other direction. With
the bridge and ford at POtgieters Drift in
possession. Butler will be able to cross the
Tugela. There is one feature of the situa-
ton. however. disclosed in the few words
Of his message, which is not apparently IA
vorable. He says the river is in food
which means that he must depend upon
the wagon bridge for crossing. Il may or
may not be defended on the north side,
but probably is. There viii be hard fight
ing in that case, and slow passage, after
the fight. Nevertheless. on the whole the
despatch reads well With the men and
guns al his disposal Butler should be able
to swing around the Beers flank and take
them in reverse from zunckles or Acton
Homes and then he would be within can
non shot Of Ladysmlth.
We may be sure that IL there is a battle
going on at or beyond Springfield the fight
ing is not confined to that locality For
basic military reasons it does not appear
possible that Butler should take the step
he has so far from his centre and communi-
cations without the intention Of bringing
on general engagement The probabilities
are that he has also made an attack on
Joubert's left some miles east OF CoIenso
where the heavy scouting was reported
yesterday. Incidentally he is doubtless
threatening, and vigorously Smelling the
centre Our original surmise was probably
correct. thaa Sir Charles Warren's divis-
ion at EstOouTs was intended to act as a
flying column against the Boer right. and
would move up the main road which leads
10 ZunckleS wAh a cross road south OF
that port TO Springfield.
Sir Redyers Butler must have approx
mately thirty-four thousand troops. in
Guiding FIVE thousand cavalry. He IS be-
lieyed TO have sixty-six guns. and some OF
them are siege hOwitzers and long-rauge
naval guns. He has evidently taken plenty
OF time to get ready. His initial move
meut looks sensible. reasonably practicable
and like the opening Of a scientific cam
raign. It viii be very surprising il We DC
not have stirring news from the Tugela
before tomorrow morning.