Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-02-10

HEAD LAGER, LADYSMITH, Feb
ruary IAN armorcd train yester-
day made a sortie from C~hfeveIey to-
ward CoIenso and landed two thou
sand British troops on the right of
the Boer position. The Beers imme-
diateIy crossed the river and made
an attack with rifles and artillery,
forcing the withdrawal of both the
train and the troops to Chieveley.
The fighting ON the Upper Tugela
river lasted until $3.50 Tuesday
evening.
PRETORIA, February 5.-ColOnel
PIumer's force February 2 attacked
the Boer position near Ramon Sta
ton, and after heavy fighting, in
Gliding an endeayOr to take the
place by storm, the British were re-
pulsed. Their loss is unknown. No
Beers were injured.
LEIPSIG, February 0.-The Ncueste
Nachrichten prints n special dis
patch from n correspondent who
claims that Gen. Buffers third ne
tempt to relieve Ladysmith has
completely failed.
LONDON, February 9.-Mr. Bal
four, the government leader, reply
ing to a question I'm the House of
Commons this evening as to whether
any information had been received
from the seat of war, said:
sour Information points to the
fact that Gen. BuA.er is not pressing
an advance from the position he has
.n-.l Ma Aons onuasInr 81
right to press him for details of the
operations which are in progress,
nor if he gives such information, do
we deem 1T proper to make this pub
lie until such operations are COM
pIeted. The government had no in
formation as to whether Gen. Nc
DOnaId hes retired"
LONDOE, February o., 6;4O d. M
Up to the present time the war o.
flee has evidently heard nothing of
Gen. Buffers retreat as described in
the dispatch from the BOer head
LANCER, Ladysmith, February Sth.
When shown the BOer dispatch the
officials appeared utterly dumb
founded. Apparently they had not
the least suspicion of the possible
ity of such an outcome of the opera
tons.
1t is said on reliable authority
that General Buffers dispatch an
~nOuncing Mondays and Tuesdays
was particularly hope
full. He described the position gain
ed as effective, SO the news of an
other retirement is exceedingly bit
ter to the British, and, though it
came from Boer sources there is lit
tie disposition to discredit 1t. The
news spread rapidly and naturally
disappointment was visible on all
sides, although the long silence
from thu Upper TugeIa had already
aroused apprehension that General
Butler might have found it impossi-
BILE to go forward, in which case he
would have no option, but to re-
cross the river.
The news caused considerable ex-
element in the House of Commons,
where the government leader, Mr.. Bal
four, had just announced that there
was no news from South Africa.
A war office dispatch from Lord
Roberts, dated Thursday, February s,
confirms the reports that Gen. Cat
acre has reDulsed the Beers at Pen
Hook and Birds River, and that the Sc
curity of both outposts is established.
In regard to Gen. McDonald's opera
lions. Lord Roberts does not mention
the formers retirement to the Modder
River. He says: Mcdonald was dis
patched to prevent the Beers blocking
the main drift at Koodoosberg. and
successfully established himself at
Koodoosberg in spite of the determin-
ed efforts of the Beers to disorganize
him. At McDonald's request, Babing-
ton was sent with reinforeements We'd
nesday. Darlington threatened the
Beers north of Koodoosberg, while an
other force drove off the Beers south
ward"
The dispatch concludes with the
statement: THE enamy have now
evacuated their position. and no one
is in sight"