The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-01-13
GOOD NEWS COMES QUICK RAPID TRANSIT PROGRAM
NO CABLE TROUBLES WHEN THE
BRITISH WIN.
Resume of the Situation in South
Africa as Shown by the Latest Dis
patches-Buller Ready.

LONDON, January 6.-The apparent
breaking of the calm on the Tugela
River, where Butler faces Joubert, the
immobility at Modder River, where
Cronje blocks Methuen's advance, the
activity at other centers of war is the
general aspect this morning of the sit
uation in South Africa. Those who
control the transmission of news from
the Cape have allowed almost minute
knowledge of Colonel Pitchers raid up
to Douglas General Frenchs engage
ment around Colesberg and General
Gatacre's repulsion of the attack on
Molteno, to reach London. These en-
gagements all resulted more or less
favorably to the British arms, which
explains their prompt transmission.
From the Tugela River however,
come dispatches which give evidence
of having been rigidly censored. OF
course, it is a measure of prudence
that no inkling of the movements
which General Butler intends to make
against the foe should reach the ears
of General Joubert but as the Beers
have hitherto been exceptionally well
served by their intelligence depart
ment, it seems doubtful whether the
dispatches could tell them anything
which they do not know already.
Within a few days 700e additional
troops will be landed in Natal, but
whether it is possible to wait for them
or whether General Buffers hands may
be forced by increasing the difficulties
under which Ladysmth labors it is
impossible to say. Meanwhile extend
ed reconnoissances are the order of the
day on the Tugela, to discover the
presence and position of Boer batteries.
Wherever there are indications of the
enemy's strength the naval guns are
brought into plaV,
General Butler is now strong enough
| to advance should it be deemed nee
essary or advisable to make an at
tack. That a general battle, raging
over some twenty miles of country,
should take place is not likely. A Sc
ries of engagements should follow, one
after another, the British doing their
best to seize upon Ihnlawe and Spring
field, so as to cover further maneuver-
ing against selected spots in the Boer
line of intrenchments.
1t is difficult to follow the fightin =
around Colesberg. AS General French s
| forces are almost surrounding Coles
| berg, his right and left are different,
/ according as they are looked at from
north to south. 1t may be assumed
the Beers would be likely to make a
movement to clear this communication
with the Free State to the north and
|
ward Without a definite description
of the positions of the units of French's s
forces it is impossible to ascertain ex-
actly the various moves in this contest
between forces of equal mobility.
The arrival of the household cavalry
| field artillery and a battalion of the
Essex regiment, which have been sent
to General French, should be sufficient
to force the Beers to evacuate Coles
| berg.
The fighting at Molteno is instruc-
tive in several respects. The Beers
can obviously cling to their positions
with obstinate tenacity and are not to
be driven out except by patient and
scientific generalship, but when they
attempted a counter attack they fail
ed. This has been the case through
the war. Had the British force pos
sessed cavalry the Beers might have
suffered. AS it is, cavalry or more
mounted infantry are needed at every
point by Methuen, Gatacre and Butler