The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-09
IMPORTANT NEWS EXPECTED.
May Come From other Quarters As
Well as From BuiIer

London, Feb. s, 2:15 p. m.-News of the
greatest import may arrive at any NOM
ent. Yet here there is more doubt than
eXultation, for even if the recollection
OF Gen. Buffers two disastrous failures
after auspicious starts were not keen in
the minds of the public, the list of cas-
ualties published to-day would be a suffi-
cient reminder of the tremendous diff
culties of his task
His occupation of Vaalkrantz, the key
to the lower ridges, while a praiseworthy
and gallant achievement, by no means
signifies that he and Gen. White will in
evitably join hands. Before Gen. Bull
Ter there are several days of hard fight
ing, and any attempt TO forecast the re-
suit would be valueless. If based on pre-
cedent, which can hardly be done in
warfare, it would be bound to be in fa-
vor of the Beers, for, apparently, the
conditions have not materially altered
since the last fruitless attempt.
On the other hand the British troops
are smarting under defeat and will un-
doubtedly be nerved to more desperate
efforts than ever before, and if furious
gallantry can carry Gen. Butler over the
kopjes that face him, Ladysmith will be
relieved within a week. But, so far,
British bravery has been in the main,
woefully misguided.
1t is more than likely than Gen. Bar
ton at Chieveley, may be strong enough
to advance on the Tugela and render val
liable assistance from the southeast,
while the beleaguered garrison itself, ac
cording to the latest dispatches should
he able to create potential diversion
when Gen. Butler has overcome the ini-
tial difficulties which lie in the kopjes
Immediately north of the Tugela.
In Other Quarters.
Turning from the transcendent interest
in Ladysmith, the whole war area pre-
sents a scene of important activity. The
Boer attack on Gen. Gatacre's forces Pc
the burghers after shelling the camp, re-
firing upon the arrival of British REIN
forcements.
The affair scarcely warrants being call
ed a skirmish, The British casualties were
one man killed and four men wounded.
The latest advices from Sterkstroem an
nounce that Gen. Gatacre's cavlary is in
pursuit of the Beers. While nothing has
resulted from this affair, it indicates that
the burghers are fully alive to the import
ance of the concentration, which is on the
verge of occurring between the forces of
Gems. Gatacre, kelly-Kenny and French
and they do not hesitate TO take the ag-
gressive against established positions in en-
attempt to thwart it, though it is belieged
that a sufficiently large body of trooqs
will soon be h4ssssuti at 6OIesbrrg 20 assure
the unoppoSed advance of the invading
army when it is ready to start. That it
is not prepared for this move at present
and that all this activity is merely preim-
mary to what is known as Field Marshal
OrH 1ai iG
by dispatch from Cape Town, under
date of Feb. T. announcing that the di-
rector of transportation was advertising
for OK wagons and drivers. Without these
il would be hopeless to think of carrying
on q INVASION and it must be a month
n, before they are ready.
Another preliminary is that Gen. Rob
erts has only just sanctioned the forma-
tion of the new colonial yeomanry, con-
sisting of troop of 100 men for each dis
trict of the colony, to protect the loyal
farmers. This force will be oficered from
among the local yeomen.
Roberts and Kitchener.
opinion is divided as to whether Field
Marshal Lord Roberts and Gen. Kitchener
have gone to the Modder river or to Sterk-
strOem. Gen. MacDonald's activity in the
former locality, combined with the belief
that the Colesberg movement is to draw
off portion of the Free State force has
given rise to the hope that Gen. Methuen
will shortly be enabled to make a success
full attack, resulting in the relief of Kim
berey, while the gradually thinning forces
surrounding Mafeking VIII altogether melt
away.
Sir John Gordon Sprigg, the former pre-
mier of Cape Coony, has cabled to
Mr.. Chamberlain, the Colonial Secretary,
in behalf of the imperiahsts of Cape Col
onv consolidating him on the govern
ments Overwhelming majority in the
House of Commons, and declaring the gov
ernments policy, If steadfastly pursued
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