TOWARD RELIEF OF LADYSMITH.

Evening Post, Volume LIX, Issue 11, 13 January 1900, Page 4

TOWARD RELIEF OF LADYSMITH.

At last Buller has again moved in force to assail the Boer position on we north side of the Tugelu. It is now some three weeks ago that we had a hint that his transport service could not be made effective for a forward movement until the middle of January, and to-day's neAvs seems confirmation of that statement. Tho pity of it is that he was not able to do last Saturday that which he is now doing, and so have relieved the strain* upon the hardly-pressed Ladysmith garrison. No doubb, however, there was good cause for his then comparative inaction. Yet it is somewhat exasperating to be told, as we since have been, that the Boer entrenchments opposite Buller's position were emptied of men las>t Saturday to concentrate in the attack on Ladysmith. If 'Jiis be true, what a chance Buller may have misseu ! Still, experience has shown that he was quite justified, assuming such to have been his view, in supposing that his enemy was "lying low" for nun. That our General, contemplates a big fight as the outcome of this movement seems indicated by the despatch of 200 Indian stretcher-bearers from Durban to the front. The spirit of international law is against the employment of Indian boldiers in the present war, but there is no reason why they should not be utilised as camp followers. As we read the cable message of to-day Buller aas crossed the Little Tugela at Springfield without opposition, and has advanced northerly to the south bank of the main river, where he apparently has had the good fortune to obtain possession of a bridge. Prom this point to Ladysmith may be taken in the absence of precise data to be about fifteen miles, and four miles from where Buller now is, and presumably on the route he must follow toward Ladysmith the Boers are strongly entrenched. It thus appears that we may at any hour get news of a stubborn fight tor mastery of this pass on the road to the beleaguered town. We have more than once suggested that Buller' s advance would be by Weenen and the lower drifts of the Tugela — the <way that Clery went — and the enemy seem to have had some such opinion, for to-day it is reported that a strong force of Boers is now laagered five miles east of Colenso. These, however, can no doubt be held in check by the British force remaining at headquarters. The news of the next few days promises to be of surpassing interest, because the present advance looks like the beginning of a determined effort for the relief of Ladysmith.