The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-02-12
ENGLAND AGAIN ADMITS
DEFEAT IN SOUTH AFRICA
RepuIse of Buffers Forces in Attempt to Re-
Iieve Ladysmth Causes Depression
Throughout England.

| London. February 1C. APO a. m.-London
accepts as true the Bocr statement that
General Eul'cr failed again. These state
men,s we're PASSED by the British censor
at Alden and are read in the Hight Of
Mr.. Balfour's announcement in the COM
mons that General Butler is not pressing
his advance.
Mr. Winston Churchill wires that Wall
krantz was impracticable. for the guns
which were needed 70 support a further
advance. His cableEram leaves General
Butler on Tuesday night sending fresh
brigade TO relieve the tired soldiers cf
Naalkrantz.
The descriptive writers with Genera.
Rullcr were allowed rather free hand
again in explaining the ugly position
which the British held and the natural
obstacles which had 20 he overcome 80
il Is easy TO infer that with Boer rihemen
and artillery defending them, these halls,
ravines and iunsles have not been over
come and thus he public is prepared in
advance for bad news.
Hope Ran High at Ladysmith
Helioerams from I.adysmith dated Mon
dav describe the effect General Butler $
cannouada had on the worn garrison.
Hone ran high that the long period ol M
activity and tedium was drawing To 2
close. The crash of guns was almost
continuous for ten hours and at tunes
IL seemed as though as many - twenty
shells burs. in a minute. The Beers pre-
pairing always for tine possinlii.E OF ue-
feat were driving herds and sending lohS
wagon trains toward the DrakenSpufs
D d.. -r- HI Is
lowed. broken only by frogs croakIns
and the occasional blaze of star shells.
surrounding the town with a circle %
light to prevent the uuOhserved approach
of the enemy. 3 series Of British mines
laid for the Beers. exploded accidentally
shaking and alarming the city and camp
General MacDonald's retirement puzzles
the military commentators. The theory
that finds acceptance is that il was or
derad by Lord Roberts and that ooth
General Buffers and General Nacoon-
aids, aro~e s-s wee hY the direction Of
The 81 +. naudcr-iu-Chief in order 20 occu-
pv the Beers at widely separated points.
SO they would be unable TO transfer any
portion Of their forces to oppose the pro-
jectcd central advance.
May Force Orange River Line.
Charles Williams. a military writer who
is understood to be in confidential rela-
tons with Lord Wolseley. says that he
yond doubt the most authoritative op.n-
ion i'm London regards il as probable tha-
an endeavor viii b.. made go force the
line of the Orange river before Ncdnes-
dav next. probably by Monday
Lord Sausbury's SON. Lord Edward Ce-
eli. is responsible tor M1fekiug being SO
well provisioucd. AZ tho outbreai, of the
war he learned the amount Of army
stores to be sent 20 Mafeking and
on his own initiative. pledged his pri-
waite means and had the stores quadrG-
pied He is now i'm Mafekins and one
of It's nohlest defenders.
A dispatch 90 The Times from koodcrs-
burg. dated Thursday. February Sth, says.
ut is reported that Boer fe-eniorce-
ments are arriving from Magersl ohltii'.
Our Dositfon is easily tetable. but the
entire force has been ordered 70 return
10 Moddcr river tomorrow.
The Times has the following from KIN
berley. dated February Sth;
"The Boer big guns shelled as ar day
break yesterday. 5ut nobody was Killed
The correspondent Of The Times ~
T.oursnzo Marques. under date Of Febrl-
AIRY Sth. says.
"Rcceut visitors to Inhambane report
that she Portuguese customs aulhei ltit7
there seized "a quantity OF arms ana i-l.l-
munition consigned uader q false dec'a-
ration
The first lord of the admiralty. MIR
George J. Goscheu is preparing estimates
for large increase m the navy. IT IS
thought not Improbable THAI parliament
win hs asked for e2o03o.0oo for new
ships
The war Office has reduced the mimi
mum standard OF height again-this time
10 five feet three inches for infantry ana
five feet two inches for artillery.
Fight as Long as Shells Last.
Or. Levds issued a statement for pub
LEGATION in England denying purport,d
interviews in which he is reported as
predicting the Intervention 'of the pow
crs i'm the event that the British invaoe
the Free state. He says he is convinced
that the Bocr war viii continue as long
as the two republics have arms and am
nunit.on re the mauser cartridges give
out. the Beers. he asserts. viii fall back
upon Martini-fICnrV rifles. for which they
have "A supply OF ammunition that Is
practically intNhauStiblc.
\ dispatch from Spearman's camp
dated Yesterday OFrdaO noon SAYS that
owing to the Bocr cross fire and the nm
possibility Of fntTcuchinc NaalkTautZ. Cen
eral Bullcr's force withdrew.
The Financial News which publishes
this dispatch, suggests that General Butler
has not actually rccrossed the IuEe.a.