The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-02-07
IN SOUTH AFRICA.

the field seem 10 indicate that the re-
lief of Ladysmith has been abandoned
tor the present aud that a concentration
Of the Britisu for an invasion of the
Free State is in progress.
There is almost complete absence
Of news from British sources in South
Africa. The only reliable despatch Of |
any Importance is the confirmation of |
the report that Gen. Kelly Reuney, |
commanding the Sixth division, has |
occupied Thebus, about midway be- |
tween Gen. French at Rensburg and |
Gen. Gatacre Sterkstroom. From |
this it is deduced hat q junction OF |
these forces is being made preparatory
to beginning the plan OF an advance on
Bloemfonteiu.
RENsBURe, Jan. 3l.-Gen. French
reconnotered Yesterday beyond Bias
tard's Mex. The Beers were found in
great force, confirming the reported re-
inforce ment. AS they were in a strong
position General French discontinued
the attack and returned to camp.
LONDON, Jan 81 -Perss dispatches
ind cate a new phase Of the campaign
in the movement of the SIKH Division
under Gen. X LEY Kenney upon
the Orange Free State. This is con-
| firmed by despatch from Lorenzo Mar
quese, stating that Col. DeVlllebois,
marshal, h left the scene Of opera
tons in Natal and proceeded to Orange
river, near Colesburg. DeVillebois is
o French officer credited with directing
the Boer campaign north of Tugela as
head Of the board Of strategy.
LONDON, Jan. 31.-A member of the
House Of Lords, quoted in these de-
spatches yesterday relative to The eban-
donment of Ladyemith, told your cor
respondent today that the strength OF
the opposition shown at the opening
OF Parliament has alarmed the minis
try, who now fear to announce the in
tention OF abandoning White.
, LONDON, Feb. 1.-The supplemental
lists o, losses fill two columns of non
pareil type in the morning papers, maxi
l 300 reported thus far for Gen. Bull
ler's operations north OF the Tugela,
The Daily Chronicle estimates that the
l total exceeds 1900. The forty per cent
loss at Spion Kop is greater than any
: British force ever suffered except pos
sibly at Albuora.
I The admiralty has warned all half
,, pay naval officers to hold themselves in
readiness for service. This, with the
r fact that able seamen not thoroughly
/ experienced have been withdrawn from
4 the channel squadron, is taken to indi
; cate the early mobilization of the re-
l serve fleet, especially ga" division.
Since the beginning of the war the
total number of killed foots up 9,65e
men.
AT meeting of the army and navy
members of the House of Common;
yesterday, a resolution expressing alb
solute confidence in whatever the gov
eminent thought necessary commanded
only two votes. Instead of this a re: o
luton was adopted calling for the i'm.
4 mediate formation Of home defence
! force.
Lord Salisbury has called another
cabinet council which will meet Friday
or Saturday to consider the situation
Public spirits are at very low ebb
q Accounts of the battle Of Spion Kol
! continue to filter in. All testify to TIT
Z terrific Boer fire.
a A Photograph message to Swartz Kol
4 from Ladysmith says: "News of tb'
q prolongaion of the siege, resulting
A from Gen. Buffers failure, is received
8 with tortitude. We can hold on. Tn
a garrison is healthier, CHEEKY and con
I fident. Disease is disappearing ant
4 there is no morse sickness. Rain
Y give plenty o. grass. The Doe
= laagers around are again full of men
y who have returned from Upper. Tug la
: The b ers have also taken up neg
position on the hills netr Coenso
where they are in great force. Rein
forcements are apparently arriving
q from the Transvaal. Strong bodies O
! Beers are also visible between here an,
Potgieter's Diff"
LONDON, Feb. 2.-Mr. Wyndham'
is remarkable declaration in the House o
Commons that Great Britain will hav
% in fortnight 1900 regulars in Soutl
Africa, 1000 Canadians and Austral
ians aud 26 600 South African vClun
teers is received with wonderment
70 OF this total of $4,000 troops with 35
h guns, all are now there, with the sin
l. gle exception of about $4,000 that ar
. ahoat Beyond comparison, this is th
~ largest force Great Britain has ever pu
10 in the field Attic end OF the Climeal
a war she had scraped together 5000
y men. Wellington at Waterloo hat
g 25 900.
Mr.. Wyndham's speech was th
4 strongest defence Ihe government la
yet put forward as to what has beer
il done and is being done. The genera
k tone of The morning papers is that hi
& figures will astonish the country
Roughly speaking, only $4,000 men ar
at the font. Ten thousand other
y have been lost and 10000 are shut VI
% at Ladysmith.
y The weight of these masses must dc
stroy the equilibrium which now hold
the British forces sta ionary wheneve
they are in contact with the Boer army
l. Lack of transport and organization
will not explain ado quately why whel
. generals at the front request reinforce
a ments, THEY get them in rather smal
% numbers. knowledge is slowly pen
=. etrating to London that large garrison
l. must be kept at Cape Colony TO hold
}. down the Cape Dutch who, as every