The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-14
BULLER's FLANK MOVEMENT


Nearing ON the Campaign.
NEW YORK. Jan. 13.-Discussins the
Anglo-Boer war situation the London cor
respondent Of the Tribune says:
No further news has yet been issued
with regard to Gen. Buffers flank move
ment but the general feeling. as ex-
pressed In this mornings newspapers, is
one Of hope rather than anxiety. Butler
is, apparently, attempting the turning
movement west of Colenso which nearly
all military experts were expecting when
his first battle was fought on December
Is, directly in front. The military writ
ers have assumed during the last fort
night, that there would be turning move
ment, but that IT would be east Of Colen-
so from Weenen. Some of these experts
chung with tenacity to their theory yes
terday, and described the Potgieter DEM
onstration as a feint, designed to distract
Joubert's attention from the real point Of
attack at the other end of the line, but
this explanation was not borne out by
Gen. Buffers own presence at Springfield.
He had probably been waiting for tho
completion of his mule transport service,
which would enable him to carry the main
body of his army away from the railway
base of supplies and fight day after day
on the enemys flank until a junction
could be effected with Whites army. The
veterans also suggested that he might
have fingered in his camp until Gen.
Roberts arrival at Cape Town in order to
allow the new commander in chief the
privilege of vetoing at the last moment
the proposed manner of campaign.
Whatever was the precise cause of his
tins R1Il1 yya nj lac In ba
saddle and second battle, or series of
battles, would be fought for the relief Of
Ladysmith. singularly enough. the only
previous reference to this Western turn
ing movement which had appeared in
print, was in dispatch from the Boer
camp at Colenso 1t was vague rumor
that the British were building a railway
from Freere camp toward Potgieters drift.
The occupation of the south bank of the
Tugela at that point by the British could
not have been a surprise to the Beers.
The drift is at the apex of long bend or
loop, and back of 1t are low ranges of
kopjes, with broken country all the way
to Ladysmith A turning movement east
of Colenso. would have threatened the
main line Of the Boer communications
northward, but would have left the Free
State troops free to retire westward to
their own frontier. A turning movement,
west of Colenso by Potgieter's drift, IL
successful, would cut off the direct line of
retreat of the Free State burghers to their
mountain passes, but would not block their
way northward unless Gen. White should
attack in the rear.
Believed u Crisis Is Near.
The clubs were crowded with FOUNDERS
last night, eager to bear the important
news which they were confident would
come before morning. There was an I'M
wonted air Of hustle and cheerfulness at
the war Office. But hour after hour passed
without disclosures. There was general
conviction that the crisis Of the campaign
had come and that Gen. Butler was in
position to retrieve his reputation by
series of great strokes, The dangerous
character of this flank movement. by
which his own camp at Chiveley would be
exposed to a counter attack by the Dutch
was also discerned, and the probability
OF a series Of desperate battles sobered
every one The process Of reconstructing
the cabinet. which has been the chief en-
ployment OF the marplots and pesslmists,
was suspended unit. Butler could be heard
from. The message which would electri-
II OF doom to fresh disappointment the