Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-02-03

New York, Feb. 3.--Very little news
OF the situation in South Africa has
! been given out in London during the
| past "a hours. Much work Is in pro-
gress on the southern frontier OF tbs
Free state but the details are being
| held back until results can be reported
! That Is the impression made by such
DISPATCHES as are allowed 10 come
! through from Sterksroom and Frenchs
camp near Colesberg. The report that
the Boer losses at Spion kop. on We'd
nesGay last exceeded one thousand
dead, although unc0nArmed, has Great
ed a favorable impression and very few
are disposed TO clscredit IT,
The Morning Leader believes that
General Butler has begun a movement
toward Ladysmitn. The article says:
General Butler probably engaged soon
after noon yesterday friday II all
his artillery and munitions had come
up. in any case. his orders were def
mite for an advance al the latest this
morning,
There Is no reason 10 suppose that
the direction Is that " Dunconald's
reconnaissance toward ll1ngers Poort,
close TO Bethany, although some caval-
ny and horse artillery may 90 by that
way so as to operate on. or perhaps
beyond. the Acton Homes road.
I'VE are inclined to believe General
Butler means 20 pound out Of exist
ence any Beers or any works Wing on
the riNsr near the junction Of the little
Tugela, II he succeeds In establishing
himself there on the northern bank he
will virtually have turned the Boer pU.
sltions at Onderbroook and Grobeler's
Kloof, overlooking Colenso. This would
mean the splitting Of the Boer forces
on the south OF Ladysmith. Probably
General White would be able 10 help
the effort by occupying with energy the
containing bodies Of the enemy"
There is no actual news TO support
the statement of the Leader but sew
eral OF the London morning papers pro.
TESS TO believe that General Butler IL
pushing toward Ladysmlth
Warren's troops on Wednesday were
still resting south Of the Tugela. while
General Lyttleton's brigade held its po-
sition on the north bank General Jou-
bert has gone TO the Boer camp on
the upper rugela, an apparent indica,
ton that he expects another attack on
his right,
The Beers are exhibiting considerable
anxiety In regard 20 the movement or
the Britlsh flying column, which start
ed through Zululand in the direction Of
Vryhcld about the time that General
Butler began his move toward SPRING
field. Boer reinforcements from about
Ladysmith have been hurried back to
protect their lines Of communication
northward.
General Charles Tucker, who came
from India 10 command the seventh
division. has gone mp TO M0dder river
This seems TO indicate that the troops
OF that division which are now arrly-
ing at the Cape VIII. as well as those Of
the sixth division. under Kelly Kenny.
be utilized along the border Of the Free
State. and take part In the prospective
invasion.
The reported activity Of Colonel
Plumer's force near Crocodile, Pools,
more than ten days ago. is good sign
that a strong effort will be made by
him TO push through TO Mafeklng,
which has evidently been relieved at
the time the Boer adyices so stated.
The good effect Of Mr.. Wyndham's
speech In explanation of the war cflice's
work was apparent In the commons
and in the press. The unionists spoke
with increased confidence since they
could refer 20 the unique record Of the
war Office in raising and dispatching
10000 troops for foreign service az a
remote distance, and the liberals ad-
mitted that the government was free