New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-09
THE WAR IN NATAL.


The tale of Ladysmith is quickly told. The
Beers have there attempted large piece OF
that strategy in which they were six months
ago supposed TO be deficient but in which they
are seen to be past masters. The "labored
rampant lines" along the Tugela River were not
meant merely to enable them to stand at bay
against General Butler and to check his prog
ress, though indeed the checking of his progress
northward was one prime object. No, but
Ladysmith was all the time their real objective.
Their plan was to engage the attention OF the
British at the Tugea River until they could
get all their army around to the south of Lady
smith and make q grand assault upon that
place. Their army was massed In the triangle
formed by the Tugela and Kip rivers and the
mountain ridges at the west and was literally
facing both ways. On the one hand it faced
General Butler. and from Bulwer Bridge and
the drift at COlenso clear down to the Kip con-
fronted him with fifteen miles of Notifications.
On the other hand it faced Ladysmith and
pressed the siege of that place from the south.
The north side of Ladysmith was left almost
open, there being little fear that the garrison
would try to break out in that direction. And
when the oppOrtune moment came the attack
was delivered upon the town from the south,
so that If General Butler should try to create
a diversion in behalf Of the town the BOer army
could swing right around in its tracks and face
him.
That is the plan of campaign that came to its
elimination on Saturday and Sunday. The
Boer attack upon Ladysmith came from the
south 1t was directed most savagely at C@
sars Camp and Wagon Hill, which lie just
south of Ladysmith and not more than two
miles from the centre of the town. These two
positions consisting of three redoubts. form n
straight line about two miles long, running due
east and west Evidently the fighting
stubborn and severe. for are told that the
Beers pushed right up TO the British lines. until
at the last they were driven back with the
bayOnet. The news of this attack was quickly
flashed by heliograph across the hills TO Chieve-
ley, nearly score of miles to the SOUTH and on
the instant the alarm was sounded in General
Buffers camp, and General Clery's division was
hurried out TO apply a counter irritant at Co
lenso that would If possible, draw back
the Beers from Ladysmith to defend the passes
of the Tugela. This British advance seems to
have been from the southeast toward the north
west, attacking not only Coenso but the Boer
Notifications further down stream In what
degree it assisted General White to repulse the
attack upon the town can only be cOnjectured.
But it seems reasonable TO assume that it was
of material service to him, perhaps saving him
from disaster For it is scarcely suppOsable
that he would have been able without such aid
to repulse the determined onslaught of an army
of Beers numbering probably three or four
times many men as his own. 1t will not es
cape observation that the Boer strategy, while
highly promising from one point of view, in
volved grave danger from another point
circumstance by no means uncommon in mill
tary strategy. The Boer army was placed
where it would be able to operate from the
same base against either Of the British armies
and to press the siege of Ladysmith while at
the same time holding General Butler in check.
But it was also placed where it was liable to
attack from both of the British armies at once.
The latter circumstance appears at this writing
to have determined the outcome of the whole
movement.
Not the least interesting feature of the in
cident is the quietus it puts upon the rumors
that General Butler has been preparing great
stroke, 10 he delivered before Lord Roberts
lands at Cape Town and assumes immediate d-
rectlon of the campaign. There has been much
uneasiness lest General Butler should attempt
something of the sort and come to grief What
basis there was for the rumors does not appear,
and in the absence of absolute confirmation it
will be judicious to regard them with a large
measure of scepticism Only complete success
could possibly have justified such a venture
repulse, even a drawn battle, would have
subjected General Butler in such circumstances
TO the severest censure, If nothing more than
censure We have seen no reason to suppose
him so eager for personal credit as to risk all
on desperate a hazard. But whatever may
or may not have been designed, this Boer attack
has changed the whole face of the situation
The Beers have taken the initiative, and Gen
eral Butler has been forced nolens volens to
act. Whether he presses on the attack along
the Tugela River, or, having called the Beers
off from Ladysmith. again becomes quiet and
awaits the coming of Lord Roberts, he will
avoid the charge Of rashness and be able TO
vindicate his course. 1t would be interesting
by the way. to know why the Beers made their
attack just at this time Was il because they
were fully ready to do so, or because they knew
Lord Roberts was near at hand and so fastened
TO strike before that formidable soldier should
actually be in the field? In any case the judg-
ment OF the Great War Eagle" holds true, that
1.-The Boer is an astute. courageous foe, who has
In some measure taken time by the forelock"
1t may be equally true as the same authority
declares, that "he has also had great chances,
"of which he has quite missed taking advan-
"tage" But Of what belligerent can that not
be said?
---------~----------@
O1fr history &c vouOR and ~ sat 30