The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-02-12

eral Butler.
London. Feb. u, 4:4O a m.-The latest
dispatches from the front, showing the
real reasons for General Buffers re-
tirement and his intention to try again,
quite destroy the comforting and in
genious theory that the movement was
an 5rate feint to facilitate the
main advance Of Lord Roberts, a the
DRY which obtained acceptance largely
because Of Mr.. Balfour's misleading
statcment to parliament. These seem
ingly useless Teticences and prevarica-
tons on the part of the government
and the war Office are beginning to be
criticised severely.
No word has yet issued from the war
Office regarding General Buffers latest
attempt, although the correspondents
are allowed to telegraph with a fair
amount of freedom, and thus far only
a partial list Of casualties has been
published. The dating Of messages
from Frere Camp may indicate that
General Butler has Withdrawn all his
forces there.
The London newspapers, having be-
come accustomed to checks, maintain
a hopeful tone, but the situation IS
much more threatening than it seemed
to be a week ago. Proofs of the terri
bic strength and mobility of the BOer
artillery. together with the rumOr that
General Joubert is taking the initiative
with the object of cutting General
Buffers communications. are in no way
reassuring. Even the most sanguine
persons begin to see that it is quite
hopeless to expect the relief OF Lady
smith. while it is clear that, if it be
impossible for Butler to reach Lady
smith. it is equally impossible for the
garrison, exhausted by sickness and
privauons, TO cut way out.
Boer Advance In Zululand.
Reports Of the Boer advance through
Zululand are disqUieting. If they
should be able to strike at Greytown,
General Butler would be compelled to
turn his attention to the eastern side
of Natal.
The fact mat Lord Robe>ts arrived
at MOdder- river Friday seems to show
that he has been on a round of iRSpec-
ton of the chief commands and that
the main advance is not so near as has
been supposed.
Startling intelligence comes from
Kimberley in the Cape newspapers just
received by mail IL London. 1t appears
that since Jan. 8 the rstions at Kim
hOrsehesh. so repusnant to women and
children that many refuse to eat. 1t
also appears that the death rate has
been heavy and that the p-ivatiOns of
the garrison have been increasing
steadily.
This news is startling because the
censor has not allowed it TO be Cabled.
Possibly such conditions explain the
presence Of Lord Roberts at Modder
river and the apparent preparations
for an advance from that point.
The mention in the dispatches of
Lord Roberts to the war Office yester-
day of General Clements as command
ing at Rensberg is interpreted to show
that General French. with his cavalry,
has gone TO join Lord Roberts. and
that considerable changes in the dis
tTibutiOn of troops in that district have
occurred. The unexpected strength and
activity Of the Beers at Rensberg,
where they are rather pressing the
British than being pressed by them,
causes anxiety. II
On Guard Against Beers.
There is no confirmation of the re-
port of a sortie from Ladvsmith. The
latest dispatch from there. dated on
Wednesday last, reports that all was
quiet then. and that instructions had
been issued 10 beware OF the possible
approach Of Beers in the gUise of a
British relief force
The PieteTmaritzbuTg correspondent
Of the Daily Mail, telegraphing yester- /
day. saws: The Beers have occupied
BIcy's farm. south OF the TUgela, which
is under an hours ride from Chiaveley. /
and have turned the homestead into a
hospital.
"On the farm are hills commanding
both bridges over the Tugela as well as
Forts Wylie and NoIyneux, and from
which q view Of BUluwsna and Lady /
smith is 0btainable.
There is much apprehension here re- /
garding the BCer movement, and the I
are on the alert
The Daily Mail publishes the follow /
Ing dispatch from Sydney. n. 5. W; !
The news Of General Buffers reverse /
has caused a great sensa ton here. Car {
iin9l Moran, in a remarkable speech, ]