The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-02-03
THE SOUTH AFRICAN SITUATION.

The SOUTH AFRICAN SITUATION
The settled opinion in Loidon today Is
that General Butler has renewed his st
tempt &c relieve Ladysmith, and is fight
ing Tn military writer Of the Leader.
who has generally been in close ogree-
ment With the views OF this journal IN
connecti' with military operations in
| South frica, this morning adopts the
theory e suggested several days ago,
that Blu Ter is trying 70 divide the Boer
forces inFhis frmt. by pushing cut his cen
ire as -Fedge toward Dewdrop. The cen
ccrship Is strict and nothing definite can
be learned. but il is highly probable that
an engagement is in progress TODAY.
There are circumstances and indications
which seem TO be encouraging to British
hopes in Natal. In the first place. if il be
true as stated in English official circles
that OF the TWO hundred and thirteen thou
sand troops now in South Africa. seventy
thousand have net been under Ere the
chances re that Buffers army is stronger
than CO.. d have been supposed before the
fight at spion Kop
This probability developed when, after
Warren's division was compelled to retire
behind h Tugela River badly battered
General Joubert failed Immediately to
strike Buffers right at Cheveley. with "a
view 10 cutting his communication 70
may be assumed that the British right was
too strong or the Boer general woulG not
have ignored so obvious tactical ad-
Venture. Evidently il was contemplated,
4 fer after Spioa Keep the Beers were seen
su-rming down the Dewdrop Road toward
C3ienso. They are apparently beginning
10 be bothered b. superiority Of numbers
the one means by which the British com
manders can hope to overcome the advan-
tage of iheir great mobility-thr0ugh keep
ing them engaged simultaneously al widely
separated poings.
As FAR as We can make deductions from
fragmentary Intelligence. Butler seems TO
have succeeded I'm alternating JoubeFt S
long line. IL appears that Dundouald has
been scouting between Bethany and acton
Homes and has encountered slight opposi-
ton. What this may mean we cannot be
certain. but there is suggestiveness ia the
report that the scouts OF a British flying
column have been met in the north NOV
ing from Zululand and approaching Vry-
held on The road west % Laings Mex.
To meet this danger IL = said that troops
have been withdrawn hurriedly from the
investment Of Iadysmith and sent to re-
enforce the Boer garrison ar Eryheid.
What the flying column in question may
amount 10 is quite conjectural. For more
than two weeks there have been vague
hints that Butler had sent q force around
by Zululaud 20 get in Jouberts rear to-
ward the Neck OF Natal hut they have
been too indefinite for serious consiiara-
ton. A movement Of this kind. IL maze I'm
any considerable force. would naturally
draw materially upon The Boer Strength
around I-adysmitb. Joubert could an ar
ford 10 permit the cutting Of his communi-
cations with the Transvaal. and would be-
compelled 10 detach men 90 prevent d.
sufficient iu number perhaps 10 weaken
his lighting power between Colenso and
Acton Homes. The dispatches state that
at latest accounts the Beers were concen-
trating opposite Zwarts Kop and Mount
Alice. showing that they expected "a Brit
ism attack from the centre.
Probably there viii not be- any extended
movements elsewhere. in advance Of the
more or less decisive engagement whi-h is
IN progress. or will be Oh Buffers front
The activity which is being displayed in
reinforcing the troops iu Northern Cape
Colony the dying visit OF General French
TO Cape Town. the assignment Of Tucker
and his division 60 Modder Riyer-au
these things point TO the early opening OF
a campaign from the west. As we under
stand g.. Tucker is 90 supersede Lord Ne
thuen and with his Cwu force added 10
that now ia front OF Magarsfontein shorId
have mol less than twenty-five thousand
men with which to attack the Beers. and
effect O turn by JacobsdaI. That succeed
irg. the relief OF Kimberley would be easy.
and wiih Kimberley As a base operations
age inst Bloemfsnteiu would be more prem
ising than If conducted across the very
difficult country along the Orange River.
French aud Gataere are preparing for
business. The former is said TO have had
a fight and taken many prisoners. but
the report needs confederation. AltCge =
er. we should say that the 81 ul tiou
throughout the theatre of war is one tia.
ought TO produce very interesting devel-
cpmeuts. and very soon