Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 January 1900 — ACROSS THE TUGELA. [ARTICLE]

ACROSS THE TUGELA.

BULLER’S ARMY ADVANCES TOWARD LADYSMITH. The General loanee an Addreoa to Hie Men Haying There Conld be No Turning Back—The First Skirmish la Won by the British. Gen. Buller’s successful effort to get his army across the Tugela river evidently was planned with care. The British generals seem to have concealed the exact nature of their movements from their enemy, one brigade in the center of the position crossing with the aid of artillery fire at Potgieter’s ford, while another, five miles to the left, crossed a tew hours later and secured a good position on the enemy’s flank. Whether or not, snys a correspondent, the Boers have been anticipating such a movement and practically preparing to yield to Buller’s advance remains to be determined. It does not appear that they made the show of resistance which they had been expected to make, or that they were on the alert, as, presumably, they would have been in ease of a stubborn purpose to resist to the utmost the crossing of the Tugela. While this advance carries the British forces past one more obstacle on the way to Ladysmith it also enables the Boers to put themselves in a position much stronger strategically. Bo long as they held the Tugela they were forced to stretch out their line along the river for many miles. Their force was thus not only weakened, but exposed to Afik attacks. It seems likely that befre giving up this position they had prepared themselves to make a much more effective resistance under more favorable conditions. By concentrating at a point nearer Ladysmith they would have not only the advantages of a choice of positions in a familiar country, but of having their enemy in a place from which it would be extremely difficult to make an orderly retreat. A watchful army free to take its choice of positions for resisting an invading force has a signal advantage over an advancing army which, whatever path it chooses, is bound down to the necessity of reaching a definite known objective—in this case Ladysmith. The Boers, apparently are not likely to be outflanked easily in this region. On the other hand, should they succeed in repulsing Buller, they could make his position on their own side of a stream which is unfordable save at' a few points extremely awkward. Another correspondent says that Gen. Buller himself has made his headquarters in a farm house tielonging to Martinius Pretorius, and located supposedly in the neighborhood of Spearman’s farm. He issued an address to his men telling them that they were going to relieve their comrades at Ladysmith and that there could be no turning back. It is not exactly known the number of (troops with Buller, as about 5,000 of his men remain unaccounted for. However, it is believed that his total force now amounts to 30,000 men, with eight field batteries, divided into three or four brigades. Gen. Warren, with about 8,000 men, is reported to lie well lodged five miles back from the river at Sproenkop. He has thrown a few shells at the Boers, but has received no reply, the Boers being apparently too busy intrenching and preparing to give Warren a warm time when he attempts the advance in the direction of Ladysmith. Gen. Lyttleton’s force of probably 10,000 men and a majority of the guns is at Potgieter’s drift bombarding the enemy. Lord Dundonald’s cavalry' is supposed to be on a reconuoissance for the purpose of cutting the Boer linys of communication, a task of great difficulty, as it requires an advance as far as Blaan bank. The first skirmish between the British and the Boers, preliminary to the impending struggle north of the Tugela. was reported Friday. The action resulted in a victory for the British.