The Bowbells tribune., 1900-02-16

Ter Has Withdrawn All Hi,
Forces to Frere Camp-Most San
guine Beginning to See That 1t Il,
quite Hopeless to Expect the Re
lief of Ladysmith-Lord Robert
Is Mt Modder River Terrible
State of Affairs ut Kimberley.
Durham, Feb. 13.-It is rumOred here
that Gen. Joubert is marching with q
column of 5000 men to outfiank Gen
Butler.
London, Feb. 13. The latest dis
patches from the front, showing the
reasons for Gen. Buffers retirement
and his intention to try again, quite
destroy the comforting and ingenious
theory that the movement was an
elaborate feint to facilitate the main
advance of Lord Roberts, Il theory
which found acceptance largely be-
cause of Mr. Balfours misleading
statement to parliament. These SEEM
ingly useless reticences and prevarica-
tions on the part Of the government
and the war Office are being criticised
severely. No word has yet issued
from the war office regarding Gen.
Buffers latest attempt. although the
correspondents are allowed to tele-
graph with q fair amount of freedom.
and thus only partial list Of the cas-
ualties has been published. The dat
ing of messages from Frere Camp
may indicate that Gen. Butler has
Withdrawn all his forces there. The
London newspapers having become
accustomed to checks, maintain Il
hopeful tone, but the situation is much
More Threatening
than it seemed to be week ago Ev-
licences of the terrible strength and
mobility Of the Boer army. together
with the rumor that Gen. Joubert is
of cutting Gen. Buffers communica-
tions are in way reassuring. Even the
most Sanguine persons begin to see
that it Is quite hopeless to expect the
relief of Ladysmith. as it is claimed if
it is impossible for Butler to reach
Ladysmith, it is impossible for gar
rison exhausted with sickness and
hard fighting to cut it's way out. Re
ports from Zululand are disquieting.
II the Beers should succeed in reach
ing Greytown Gen. Butler would be
compelled to look to the defense Of
the eastern side of Greytown. The
fact that Lord Roberts was at Modder
River onFriday seems to show that he
has been on a round of inspection Of
the chief commands, and that the main
advance Is not so near as has been
suspected.
Startling News
comes from Kimberley in the Cape
newspapers just received by mail in
London. It appears that since Jan. 8
the rations in Kimberley have been for
the most part horsefesh, so repugnant
to women and children that many re-
fuse to eat. It 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 cabled. Possibly such
conditions explain the presence Of
Lord Roberts at Modder River and the
apparent preparations for an advance
dispatch Of Lord Roberts to the war
oAASO SCSlC1uOy VI Ncu. CltU1cuIS Us
commanding at Rensberg is interpret
ed to show that Gen. French, with his
army, has gone to join Lord Roberts
and that considerable changes in the
Of troops in that district
has occurred. The unexplained
strength and activity of the Beers at
Rensberg, where they are reported
rather pressing the British than be-
ing pressed by them, is looked upon
with apprehension. There is no con-
firmation Of the reported sortie from
Ladysmith. The latest dispatch from
there on Wednesday reported all was
quiet and that instructions had been
issued to look out for the Beers in a
guise Of British relief force.
Beers Were Beaten on.
London, Feb. 13.-The war office has
just issued the following dispatch
from the general commanding at Cape
Town:
elements reports from Rensberg
that on Friday, Feb. 9, the Beers tried
to turn his right flank, but We're beaten
off. Position maintained Casualties
small. Kimberley reports that the
Boer fighting force was apparently in
on Wednesday, Feb. Z. Next
day the Beers commenced the con-
struction of trenches to the east, near
" parallel to the Glacis and 1900
yards from the Premier mine. A ma
tive reported that he accompanied
some Beers who left NIafeking for
Kimberley, carrying with them six
inch gun and quick-firing field gun.
The former opened fire on Kimberley.
Otherwise the British situation is un-
changed.
Moving Guns Against Kimberley.
Modder River, Feb. 13.-Apparently
The Beers have brought all their big
guns from Mafeking to shell Kimber-
ley. Our naval guns shelled Magers-
fontein Saturday. but the Boer guns
were silent. 1t is supposed that the
enemy have withdrawn their artillery.
They are blowing up the perr2anent
way beyond Morgan Siding. The Boer
still man their trenches, but their
numbers are apparently reduced. The
bulk Of their force has gone to Kim
berley or toward the flank.
Australians Are Anxious.
London, Feb. 13. - The Daily Mail
publishes the following dispatch from
Sydney, N. s. W.: "The news of Cen
Rullprs9 rpvorSo has oouoo,1 -..L