The Oskaloosa herald., 1900-02-01
IT IS NOT YET SAFE.
Buller's Command Still In Danger
of Capture by Beers.
SpeciaL To the HnPAIn

Special to the HERALD.
New YORK, Jan. IA London u1s-
patch to the Evening World says:
Buffers danger is now forcing itself on
the military experts. A committee of ma
tional defense has already taken it up and
is gravely considering it. Lord Roberts
himself has communicated his anxiety, it
is said.
He has, It Is reported, cabled the COM
mittee that unless Butler and his forces ar
rive safely from their present position to
the south of the Little Tugela river they
will be in imminent danger of having their
communications cut.
Lord Roberts has pointed out that Butler
has with him an immense transport train,
carrying his ammunition and supplies. This
interferes with the mobility of his army.
Buffers main force is now about q miles
from it's base at Frere and Chieyeley. 1t is
between the Big Tugela river, over which
1t has retreated, and the Little Tugela
river, over which 1t has to retreat in or
der to begin the march to it's base.
That part of it comprising Lyttleton's bri-
gade may still be on the north side of the
Tugela at Potgieters drift, though 1t is
generally believed that it, too, has retreat-
ed over the river
1t will take days for Buffers army to
get back to its base. Meantime the Beers
are a few miles away from that in force
at Colenso, only a few miles away from
that base. Last Tuesday they crossed the
river there and made a reconnaissance of
the British camp, evidently with a view OF
ascertaining the strength of the force
which Butler left behind to guard his base
and communications. The party that
crossed came into contact with Buffers
rear guard and killed several of the Brit
ish. That reconnaissance indicated pur-
pose on the part of the Beers to cut Bullers
communications off.
Should they hurl an overwhelming force
over the Tugela and crush the British at
Chieveley they would have Butler in a trap.
Another Casualty List.
London, Jan. 31.-,Gen. Butler reports
that the casualties to the noncommis-
stoned officers and men in the two ac-
tions of January 20 and January 21
were II killed, 233 wounded and miss
ing.
Mobilization of the Fleet.
London, Jan. Silt is now known
that the cabinet devoted much of its
discussions on Saturday 10 the mobili-
zation of the feet. Nothing was set
tied except that, until further security
to the home coasts has been obtained by
naval preparations, the eighth division
shall not be sent TO South Africa.
Abandoned for the Present.
Such scraps of information as can
be gathered regarding the movements
of the armies in the field seem to indi.
cate that the relief of Ladysmith has
been abandoned for the present and
that a concentration of the British for
an invasion of the Free State is in
progress. In addition to Gen. Kelly.
Kenny's movement, Gen. Brabant
chief of the Cape Colonials, has ar,
rived at Sterkstroom.
The natives report that three Boer
guns have been removed from Spyt.
fontein to Kimberley. The Beers are
apparently making a special effort to
reduce the place quickly.
should Acknowledge Defeat.
Berlin, Jan. 31.--The German press
expresses the belief that Great Brit.
ain has about reached the end of he1
military resources and would do well
to acknowledge defeat and to conclude
peace. ......