Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-03-03

London, March 1.-General Buffers
distinct success in storming Pieters hill
brings the rescue of Ladysmith near, but
the war Office intimated late last night
that an immediate announcement of re-
lief need not be expected. The goings
to and fro at midnight of officials and
messengers suggested that important
news had been received. II this were
the case, Lord Lansdowne obviously de-
sired to sleep on 1t, before taking the
public into his confidence.
General Buffers successful attack
came after the hard fighting Of Friday
and it was improvised and it's execution
began during the armistice of Sunday.
In proposing the armistice the British
commander stipulated that both sides
shold be free to move, but that neither
should do any shooting. He was, there
fore, within his privilege in Immediately
beginning to transfer his troops.
Butler announced to the war Office that
advancing on Ladysmith by yet another
line, his troops on Tuesday took Pieters
HILL and followed that initial sue
cess by carrying the Boer position be-
yond, the assault being successful at
sunset. Tn. dispatch is not remarkable
for clearness. but it may be inferred that
in Euller's opinion the position carried
Ia the main one between his army and
the Boer works on Bulwana mountain,
southeast of Ladysmith. At this point
he says the Beers appear to be in con-
siderable force.
General Buffers tidings come weighted
with his long list of casualties. His
losses, in the four attempts to get Gem
eral White out. aggregate 1000.
Ladysmith Is in desperate straits.
Charles Williams, the military expert,
says he learns on very high authority
presumably that Of Lord Wolseley-
that General Whites force Is almost at
its last gasp.
This is not so much" says Mr.. Will
:ams, ION account of any lack of pro-
visions or of ammunition, neither Of
which is exhausted, as because of the
poisonous waters of the Kip river and
the evil effects of the heat. Even those
who have escaped fever, dysentery and
diarrhoea arc in a state of low vitality.
They can stu man trenches and would
probably hold their own against last,
desperate assault: but they can initiate
nothing. General Butler row knows
that, as units, the regiments will be of
no use to him for months.
THE water of the Kip river is not
available for drinking, and to boil it is
impossible because of the scarcity Of
fuel. 1t is thick with putrid animal
matter. Tea made OF 1t has suspended
fibre. something like beef tea. 1t is
caused by the sewage from the Boer
campA.''
In northern Cape Colony the Beers are
everywhere giving way. The reoccu-
patton of Rcnsbers by Clements Is re-
ported. the Beers falling back on Nor
walls Pont; and the colonial troops un-
der Brabapt have pushed on from Dord-
recht to jamestown, clearing the Beers
out Of that district and crowding them
back on Aliwal North.
There is as vet no word of the evacua-
tion Of stormberg, the Boer stronghold
In northern Cape Colony, or of Burghers-
dorp. the rebel headquarters; but the
successful operations of Roberts to the
north make the Boer positions in this
quarter untenable, and a general retire.
ment Is expected.
From Roberts comes no word Of fur
ther aggressive movements. The dis
patch Of his prisoners to the rear, the
necessity Of scouting while giving his
main army a breathing spell, and the
accumulation of supplies before moving
farther away from his field base on the
railroad at Modder River all may be
expected to take some time, though 1t
Is not like Roberts or Kitchener to delay
longer than absolutely necessary before
driving home their opening wedge.
There is no authoritative indication
yet Of what Lord Roberts will do next
1t seems likely that a branch railway
will be built across the veldt to lessen
the difficulties Of transport. Colonel
Girouard. who built the Soudan railway.
Is with Lord Roberts. The strain on the
western railway is seen from the fact
that the population Of Kimberley, two
weeks after the relief, continues on re-
duced rations. Lord Roberts troops
hA fhns FAR Nnlv haon