The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-02-09
THE ADVANCE DENIED.

proved.
THE ADVANCE DENIED.
London, February 5.-The CORE
SpCndent of the Associated Press
learns from official sources that alb
solu ely no confirmation has been re-
ceived by the war office of the report
hat General Butler has r~ecrossed The
Tugcla river and is marching on
LadySmith. On the contrary, accord
ing to the information of the war Of
flee at the present moment. there is
every indication that things are quiet
at the front and that no immediate
movement is anticipated.
Regarding the dispatches from Lady
smith saying that Buffers guns have
been heard there, it is surmised that
some practice may have been going on
with the new batteries which have
lust reached THE front.
THIS DENIAL NOT BELIEVED.
The war office statement that it ha
received no confirmation of the report
that General Butler has recrossed the
Tugela has failed to shake public be-
lief THAT operations Of tremendous i'm
p%ortance are proceeding at the Tugela,
and it is thought that either the de-
NAL was prompted by a desire to keep
the military movements as secret as
possible until something is accomplish
ed, Oh that General Butler is keeping
the home officials in the dark pending
results. 1t is obviously extremely diff
fcult to extract the truth from the
conflicting statements surrounding
General Buffers movement, but, most
Of the commentators agree that the
aggregate of the items tends to con
firm the belief that movements of i'm
portance are in progress. 1t is true
that the correspondents at General Bull
ler's headquarters convey the impress
sion that his main force is still south
of the Tugela, but it is easily %cOnceiv-
able that the dispatches are so cen
sored as to convey a false impression.
Possibly, though dated Saturday and
Sunday, the dispatches were in reality
written prior to the movements re-
| ported to lave commenced Friday.
This a already happened on various
occasions, dispatches being detained
by the censor and redated when actu-
ally released.
Whatever may be the actual situa-
ton, there seems no doubt that Cen
eIal Buffers preparations for a fresh
attempt to relieve Ladysmith were
completed Thursday or Friday, and
though the start was possibly deferred
from the date first selected, it will not
be long before it is definitely known
that General Buffers forces are again
fighting their way towards Ladysmith.
Those, however, who expect General
Butler to reach the beleaguered town
tonight seem TO have forgotten the
presence of the Beers. The best in
formed people. while sanguine, fully
realize that a British victory can only
be achieved at a heavy cost.
l. London, February 5.-4:48 p. ma
special dispatch from Durham, Natal
mite news from General Butler, but il
is reported that there was heavy
fighting yesterday"
BOER PROTEST TO GENERAL
ROBERTS.
Cape Town, February 5.-President
Steyn and President Kruger have
communicated with Field Marsha
! Lord Roberts, the British commander
in-chief, protesting against the de.
struotion of farm Houses and the de
v~astattion of property.
Lor Roberts, in replying. declared
the charges were not sustained, adding
that wanto destruction of property
was contrary to British practices.
A dispatch from Naauwpoort. says
There is great activity here on tbs
Rensburg-Hanover road, due to tn
dispatch of an overwhelming force o.
infantry seize Norval's Point Th'
naval brigade having completed tn
reconnaissance, is being retired to re
coup loss Inc BOerS at COleSOurS ar
virtually surrounded.
BULLER'S FLANK MOVEMENT.
London, February 6, 4 a. m.-Militar!
opinion in London continues to ASSUME
from very slender materials that Gen
eral Butler is again throwing his ar
my against the Boer works. A retiret
general, Sir William Henry Greene
whose distinguished career give
weight to his opinion, thinks that Gen
eral Butler with 25,0 900 men is makinl
a wide detour to west and nortl
in order to avoid the toughest part
Of the country.
IN THE WESTERN FIELD.
' 1t is from the western field tina