The evening times., 1900-02-28
Bad News From Butler

There. is an uncomfortable pause in the
British rejoicing over Lord Roberts vic
tory at Koodoe's Rand today, pending de-
tails of the fight of the Irish brigade on
Railway Hill, near Peters Station. in Ma
tai Sir Redyers Butler so far seems to
have suppressed the most serious part of
the news of this engagement, in which,
there is reason to fear, half of the force
concerned was wiped out.
Probably the British general felt that he
was justified in making sacrifices to gain
control of Railway Hill. as. in the opinion
of experts familiar with the situation be-
tween Colenso and Ladysmith, it would
give him such complete command of the
Boer positions near Peters Station as to
render them untenable and the British
advance into Ladysmith at once feasible.
However that may be, the affair Itself ap-
pears to have resulted in repetition or
the disaster of Spion Kop, and all classes
of people in England are waiting with sor-
rowful anxiety for the list of killed and
wounded The War Office. as happens not
infrequently, has news which up to noon
today it has refused to publish.
II may be said in behalf of Sir Redvers
Butler. perhaps. that he should not be
blamed for the fact that an almost impossi-
bic task has been assigned to him. Prac-
tically he has been expected to move
through a semi-circle of towering. precip-
itous natural defences. scientifically forti-
fed and supplied with artillery, and no.
where with diameter of less than dozen
or fifteen miles 10 reach his objective. But
the British public is very much inclined &c
erumble IL Butler. and ugly remarks con-
cerning his "blundering frontal attacks
are being made rather freely in London.
Certainly the net results of his operations
for the relief of Ladysmith did not appear
10 be great at the date OF our latest reliable
reports from his front His long turn BY
Acton Homes was a failure and he had tC
retreat upon his original Cheveley line
Then he managed to take Inhlawe Noun
tain and get across the Tugela on Joubert's
Ieft-to the east of Colenso. By ten days
incessant fighting he has succeeded in
reaching the ground in front OF Pieter's
station. The affair of Railway Hill does
not tend to confidence that he viii neces-
ssrity make much further progress at once
unless his efforts are supported by circum-
stances unconnected with the local situa-
tion.
Butler. indeed, may be able to relieve Sir
George White before many hours. II 50
II will almost surely be only because the
surrender Of Cronje and the advance OF
Roberts on Bloemfontein. make ii a mill
tary necessity fer the BoeT army 10 hurry
ever the border to the defence CT the Free
State Should this movement be refused
or DELAYED there is a chance that Roberts
might be able to cut in between the ar
mics Of the Beers. and defeat them in de-
tail. Il would seem to be JoubeTt's proper
policy 10 concentrate as great a force as
russibIe in front of the British advance.
before Roberts can have time to take
Rloemfcntein and seize the railway north
to the Vaal. On this reasoning it appears
probable that the siege of Ladysnith may
be abandoned and a trek made for Bloem-
fontein or the Vaal line. if il should seem
too late to save the former from capture.
Yet there is always the possibility that
.Joubert may regard Ladysmith as so near
ly starved out. that he will risk a few
DAYS TO finish the business. and place a
victory TO the Boer credit before retreat
ing. We do not say that such thing IS
probable: but that it is possible.