The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1900-02-14
.BULLER'S TOUGH JOB.
Will He Succeed In Repching the De.
siegcd at LadySmith2
DAYS OF FIERCE FIGHTING AHEAD.
Boers Arc More Than Ever Determined
to st y titc british Advance.
- Mhole Mar Arep Isrcssnts -
Secnc OF AS,tiyitv.

London, Feb. 8.-Prosumably Gener-
al Butler is lighting again in his third
attempt to relieve Ladysmith and news
of the greatest import may arrive at
any moment. Yet there is more doubt
than exultation for, even IL the recol-
lection of General Buffers two disast-
rous failures. after auspiclous starts,
were not keen in the mind of the pub.
lie, the list of casualties Just published
would be sufficient reminder of the
tremendous dificulties of his task. His
occupation of Vaal Krantz, the key to
the lower ridges. while n praiseworthy
and gallant achievement, by no means
signifies that he and General White
will inevitably join hands.
Buffers forces. after capturing
Krantz kloof, with loss of 250 men.
were stopped by the Boers' enfilading
fire.
Before General Butler there are sew
eral days of hard lighting, and any
attempt to forecast tho result would
be valueless. IL based on precedent.
which can hardly bo done In warfare.
1t would be bound to be done in favor
OF the Beers, for apparently the condi-
tions have not materially altered since
the last frultless attempt On tho
other hand, the British troops are
smarting under defeat and will un-
doubtedly be nerved to more desper-
ate efforts than ever before, and IL flu
rious gallantry can carry General Bull
Ter over the kopjes that face him, La
dysmith will be relieved within week.
But, SO far, British bravery has been,
in the main, woefully misguided
1t is more than likely that General
Barter, at ChleYeley, may be strong
enough to advance on the Tugela and
render valuable assistance from tho
SOUTH while the beleaguered garrison
ITSELF according to the latest despatch
es, should be able to create a potential
diversion when General Butler has
overcome the initial difficulties which
lie in the kopjes Immediately north OF
the Tugela.
Tho latest advices from Sterkstrom
announce that General Gatacre's cav
airy is in pursuit OF the Boers. While
nothing has resulted from this AFFAIR,
1t indicates that the burghers arc fully
alive to the Importance of tho conCen-
tration which is on the verge of occur
ring between the forces of General
Gatacre, Kelly-Kenny and French. and
they do not hesitate to take the ag-
in an attempt to thwart II, though 1t
is believed that sufficiently large
body of troops Will soon be massed at
Colesburg to ensure the unopposed adj
vance of the invading army when II is
ready to start
That 1T is not prepared for this
movement at present. and that all It's
activity is merely preliminary to what
is known as Field Marshal. Lord Rob-
erts main movement, is evidenced by
a despatch from Cape Town. under
date of Feb 4. announcing that the di-
rector of transportation was advertise
ing for OK wagons and drivers. With
out these 1t would be hopeless to think
OF carrying on the invasion, and It
must be month more before they arc
ready Another preliminary is that
General Roberts has only Just sanction
ed the formation of the new colonial
yeomanry, consisting of troop OF 100
men for each district OF the colony,
to protect the loyal farmers. This
force will be officered from among the
local yeomeu