The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1900-02-15
ALL Is SPECULATION.
The Real Reason for Gen. Builer's
Latest Retirement.
COMFORTING THEORIES DlSPELLED.
Chances sf Relieving Essayswath
crs~iRE Constantly snasIer--ssa
Dsst OF ner~eassh--A VITA
erInR CrttkeaEsn.

London. Feb. u. 4.4o q. m.----1'he
latest dispatches from the front show
Ing the real reasons for Gen. Buffers
retirrment and his Intention TO try
again, quite destroy the comforting
and Ingenious theories that the move
mens was ah elaborate effort 10 faciiii-
tate the main advance Of Lord Roherts,
. theory which obtained acceptance
largely because Of Mr.. llalfSur's mia
ieading statement TO parliament.
netieeaers 1ra Pr~xarteattsns.
These seemingly useless reticcneeA
and presentations on the part Of ths
government and the war Office arc be.
ginning 10 be criticized severely.
No word has yet issued from the war
Office regarding Gen. Buffers la,es, at-
tempt, although the correspondents
are allowed 20 telegraph with fair
amount OF Freedom. and thus far ouiy
a partial list Of casualties has b~cn
published. The dating OF messages
from Frere Camp may indicate that
Gen. Butler has withdrawn all hia
forces there.
The Situation More ThFcatenisS.
The London newspapers. having be-
come accustomed 10 checks, maintain
n hopeful tone, but the situation Ia
much more threatening than II seemed
10 b. n week ago. Proofs OF the terri
bio strength aud mobility of She Bocr
artillery. together with the rumor thnt
Gen. Joubert 10 taking the initiative
with the object Of cutting Gen. But
ienr'S communications, arc In no way
retEsEuring.
Caa Net Reach Lady snafah.
Even the most sanguine persons be
gin to nee that Il Is quite hopeless TO
expect the relief Of LadyHmish, while II
is clear that, II II be impossible for
Butler 90 reach Ladysmith, IL iH equal
~ impossible for the garrison, exhaust
ID by sickness and privations, to cut a
way out.
DIsauietina Repsrtn.
Reports OF the IIoer advance through
Zululand are disquieting. II they
should be able to strike at Greytowp,
Gen. Butler would be compelled 10
turn his attention 20 the eastern side
Of Natal.
The fact that Lord Roberts has ar.
rived at Modder River. Friday, seems
10 show that he has been on 0 round Of
inspection OF the chief commands and
that the main advance ia not 10 near
~ has been supposed.
S.stssH HoTscacsb at hinsseriy.
sisrtiing intelligence comes from
Kimberly In the Cape newspapers just
received by mail In London. II APP
peart that uinee January the rations
at Kimberly have been Of the mos
Part horse flesh. so repugnAnt TO
womer and children that many refuse
10 eat. II also appears that the death
rate has been heavy. and that the
priyntions Of the garrison have been
increasing steadily.
ThiR news Is startling brcauhc the
censor has not allowed it to be cabl~d.
Possibly auch conditions exist, and ex-
plain the presence of Lord Roberts at
Moeltler River, and the apparent prep
arationH for an advance from that
point.
Turntnz the Tables at kenaburG.
The mention. In the dispatch OF Lord
Roberts to the war Office yesterday. OF
Cen. Clements as commanding at Rens-
burk In interpreted TO show that Gen.
French, with his cavalry, has gone to
Ioin Lord Roberts, and that eonaidcr
able changes IN the distribution Of
troops In thnt direction have occurred.
This unexpected strength and activity
OF the Beers at RenshurT, where they
are rather pressing the British hnn
being pressed by them, causes anxiety.
Alert fsF a Beer nsswaise.
There In no confirmation of the re-
port OF sortie from Ladysmitb. The
latest dispatch from there, dated
Wednesday last, reports that all was
quiet then, and that instructions had
been ISSUED 10 beware of the possible
approach Of the Beers in the guise OF
q British relief force.
A witheriRg Criticism.
To-day sees the beginning Of the fifth
Eaanth Of the war. Charles Williams,
the military expert, nays;
after all this interval our fine big
army, instead OF being free TO maneuy-
er Ia the field. Is tied by the left leg
to Kimberly in order to please ceciI
Rhodes, and by the right leg TO Lady
smith, in order 10 please Joseph Chau.-
be, lain. Yet neither town has the very
smallest military value"
More Tresps Asked Fer.
Although the British win soon have
200. .Oo0 men In South Africa, the Daily
Matt and other papers are still aalting
for more troops.
The stoppage Of shipments Of gold
and diamonds resulted In expsFts from
Cape Colony last month valued at
E2si, asa, as against e2.5i2.iis In Jan