The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-02-14
Will the British Ever
Get to Ladysmith :
Beers are Taking the Ag'
gresslve-.-British Growing
Uneasy.


ing the real reasons for Gen Buffers
retirement and his intention to try
again quite destroy the comforting
and ingenious theory that the move
ment was as elaborate feiut to facili
tate the main advance Of LORD
Roberts, theory which obtained
acceptance largely because OF Mr.
Balfour's misleading statement to
parliament
These seemingly useless reticecces
and prevaracasions on the part OF tee
government and the war Office are
beginning to be criticised severely
No word has yet issued from The
war Office regarding Gen Bu'ler's
latest attempt, although the cores
ponden.s are allowed to telegraph
with fair amount of freedom. and
thus a partial list of casualties has
been published The dating OF
messages from Frere Camp may
indicate that Gen Butler has with
drawn all his forces there
The London newspapers, having
become accustomed to checks,
maintain a hopeful tone. but the
situation is much more threatening
than it seemed to be a week ago
Proofs of the terrible strength aud
mobility of the Boer areillery,
together with the rumor that Gen
Joubert is taking the initiative With
the object of cutting Gen Buffers
concentrations are in no way reas
euring
Even the most sanguine persons
begin to see that it is quite hopeless
to expect the relief of Ladysmith,
while it is clear that. if it be impos
sible to reach Ladysmith, it is equal
ly impossible for the garrison. ex
hausted by sickness and privations,
to cut way out.
Reports of Boer advance through
Zululand are disquieting If they
should be able to strike at Greytown.
Gen Boiler would be compelled to
turn his attention to the eastern side
of Natal.
The fact that Lord Roberts ar.
rived at Modder river Friday seems
to show that he has been on round
of inspection to the chief commands
and that the main advance is not so
near as has been supposed
Startling intelligence comes from
Kimberly in the Cape newspapers
just received by nail in London 1t
appeared that since Jan 8 the rasions
at Kimberly have been for the most
part horse flesh, so repugnant to
women and children that many refuse
TO eat 1t also appears that the
death rate has been heavy and that
the privations of the garrison have
been increasing steadily.
This news is startling because the
censor has not allowed it to. be
cab!ed Possibly such conditions
explain the presence of Lord Roberts
at Modder river and the apparent
preparations for an advance from
that point
The mention in the dispatch of
Lord Roberts to the war Office yester
day of Gen Clements as commanding
a. ReDsburg is interpreted to show
that Gen French. with his cavalry,
has gone to Lord Roberts, and that
considerable changes in the distribu-
ton of troops in the district have
occurred.
The unexpected strength and
activity of the Beers at Rensburg,
where they are rather pressing the
British thsn being pressed by them.
causes anxiety.
There is no confirmation of the
report of q sertie from. Ladysmitb
The latest dispatch f,om there, dated
Wednesday last, reports that all was
quiet then aud that instructions bad
been issued to beware o. the possible
approach OF Beers in the guise of a
British relief force
Today sees the beginning of the
fifth month of the war Charles
Williams, the military expert. says
CATER all this interval, our fue, big
army. instead of being free to ma.
nouvre in the field. is tied by the left
leg to Kimberley 10 order to please
Ceci Rhodes, and by the right leg
10 Ladyemlth in order to please JOS
Chamberlain. Yet neither town has
even the smallest military value .
Although the British will soon
have 200, 900 men in South Africa,
the Daily Mail and other papers are
stli asking for more troops
The stoppage of shipments of gold
and diamonds reduces the value OF
exports from Cape Colony last month
to s25l, ,lS2. as against s2,3l2, ia
in January Of last year
DoJ,D,, 0DOcC TIIE TUEEJ