Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-01-31
No More Attempts to Re.
lieve LadySmith.
KIMBERLEY BOMBARDED
IT,
Beers Continue to Throw Shells into
the City-The Lack of Transports
is OBTAINING a Very Large Number
of Men.

NOAANOAs OoAIs ~ 4 a. lit " ~
known that the cabinet devoted much Of
its discussions on Saturday to the mobi-
lization of the fleet. Nothing was settled
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.
On Monday the admiralty issued or
ders that the channe squadron. instead
Of leaving Portland this week for Gibral-
tar, as previously directed, shall assemble
on February s off Eddystone and proceed
to Bantry for a fortnight's exercises off
the Irish coast, thus keeping in home wa
tiers for q time.
This decision to delay the eighth divis-
ion at a time when achievements are
SO urgently required may mean only more
transports are not more available and
that the division will embark when the
shipping is ready. The mobilization of re-
serve W%arships, if such a purse shall be
determined upon, would be of the utmost
importance. There is nothing in the in
%telligence possessed by the public to
cause the cabinets prolonged discussion
of this matter, and the action may be
construed as a general warning to other
nations to keep their hands off.
One thing is certain. Ten thousand
men, all ready to go to South Africa, are
detained for reasons of which the public
has no knowledge. There is talk of AZ
military hattalions being embodied.
These are all of the militia not previously
warned.
Such scraps of information as can be
gathered regarding the armies in the field
seem to indicate hat the relief of Lady
smith has been abandoned for the pres
ent and that a concentration of the Brit
ish force for an invasion Of the Free State
Us in progress. In addition to General
Kelly-Kenny's movement, Gen. Brabant,
chief of the Cape colonials, has arrived
at Sterkstrom.
The natives report that three Boer
guns have been removed from S%pyfontein
to Kimberley. The Beers are apparently
making a special effort to reduce the
| place quickly. The Kimberley garrison
| vas safe last Sunday. a,
~Rensburg, Cape Colony, Friday, Jan.
26.-General French reconnoitered yester-
day by Bastard's Mex with a force OF
HussarS, Inniskillings, four guns of the
| Royal artillery, mounted infantry. the
Yorkshires, Wiltshires n a portion of
| the Essex regiments. Turning to the
northeast he approached the Boer posi-
ton at Reitfontein, nine miles. beyond
! Colesberg, on the wagon road, which
the enemy have been %fortifying with a
| view of falling back when they evacuate
| Colesburg.
Cautiously approaching, Gen. French
! shelled the enemy, who replied with ar
tillery n infantry fire.
The British, who were we'll protected
suffered very little. An officer and nine
men were wounded, one of the latter has
since died, and three men are missing. AS
the Beers were found in great force, con-
firming the reported achievements and
in a strong position, General French dis
continued the attack and returned to
amp
London, Jan. 31.-The Capetown cores.
pondent of the Daily Mail. telegraphine
yesterday, says: Gen. Butler yesterday
(Monday) read the following message
from the queen to Sir Charles Warren's
force: II must express my admiration oil
the troops during the past trying week
especially of those regiments you specify
and of the accomplishment of your ardu.
GUS march,"
General Butler told the men that they
ought not to think because they had re.
tired from their position that all thei,
work was of no avail. On the contrary
in his opinion. they had gained the key tt
the road to Ladysmith, in which he hoped
to be within a week.
General Butler then called for cheers
for the queen, which were heard for mile:
around.