The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-02
Beyond Comparison. the Largest
Force Country Ever Raised.
Figures Furnished TO the Commons
VIII Astonish the Country-An
Unconnrmed Report From News
paper Sources That Butler Has
Again Crossed the TugeIa and
Resumed His Attempt TO Relieve
Ii In Progress-The Boers Con-
tinue to Bombard the Town.

LONDON. Feb. q 40 a. m.-Mr. wynd-
hams remarkable declaration in the house
of commons that Great Britain win have
In a fortnight 10000 regulars in South
Africa. 1900 Canadians and Australians
and 25.000 South African volunteers. is
received with wonderment OF this total
OF 2l3.ooo troops. with 452 guns. all are
now there. with the exception OF $500
that are afioat. Beyond comparison this
is the largest force Great Britain has ever
put into the field. At the end of the Cri-
mean war she had scraped together 5000.
Wellington at Waterloo had 3.0oo.
strong Defense of the Government.
Mr. wyndham's speech was the strong
est defense the government has yet put
forward az to what has been done and Is
being done The general tone of the
morning papers is that his figures will
astonish the country. Roughly speaking.
only $1,000 men are at the front. Ten
thousand others have been lost and 10000
are shut up at I.adysmith.
Effective Men Not Engaged.
Excluding these. there are 7o.ooo troops
who have not yet been in action. in addi-
ton TO those at sea Why so many ef-
fectives have Yet been engaged is ex-
planned by the lack OF land transport and
the organization of supplies. TO which
Lord Roberts Is devoting his experience
and Lord Kitchener his genius for details.
II seems as though the weight OF these
masses must destroy the equilibrium
which now holds the British forces station
ary wherever they are In contact with the
Boer army.
Hampered by Lack of Transports tion
Lack OF transportation and organization
will not explain adequately why. when
generals at the front request reinforce
ments, they get them in rather small
numbers. knowledge Is slowly penetrat-
ing 10 London that large garrisons must
be kept in Cape Colony to hold down the
Cape Dutch. who. every one knows.
outnumber the British residents there
three to two.
BuIler May He Fighting Again.
Cable scraps received during the last
twelve hours do not further illuminate
the military operations. Various indepen-
dent correspondents CONFIRM the report
that Gen. Butler told his troops on Jan
uary 2s that he hoped TO relieve Lady
smith within week. IL is believed I'm
some trustworthy quarters that he is
again assaiiing the Boer lines.
Furthes List of Casualties.
A further list OF casualties published by
the war office brings the total from the
crossing of the. Tugela TO tho abandon
nent OF spion kop 20 i.ss5 officers and
men. Exceptional activity at the navy
Yards continues. but a correspondent of
the Associated Press learns that this IN
chiefly new construction and rehtting
work. Three ships viii be commissioned
at Devonport this week
Defective Rine sights.
some unpleasant criticism Of the war
ONCE has been caused by the discovery
that the sights OF the Lee-Enneid carhines
are defective. old cRrbines have been
supplied to the outgoing Fourth brigade
Of cavalry.
The only announcement regarding fresh
military preparations is the formation OF
three additional batteries
BulIerss Reported Advance.
The 81. James Gazette says Il II re-
ported cn good authority that Gen Butler
has again crossed the Tugela river at
three places. and that asbsinE has been
proceeding all day Iona.
War once HHs No NeWs.
The war offoe has no news ~ Buffers
alleged movements. as reported by the
St James Gazette. hat that paper says it
has no reason 20 doubt the correctness of
its Information. although & has not ys,
learned the exact positions Butler seized
Beresford starts for Malta
Rear Admiral BeresfoFd started FOR the
continent th!s morning on his way 70 Nal
IA. 10 take charge of tae second British
Mediterranean feet
Many Europeans with the Beers.
A letter appears today from a Hanoveffsn
oslcer formerly Of the Twenty-seeond Ger
man infantry. bat row among the military
advisers % tho Beers. which says thzi
nearly laoo0 trained Egropeaa sSdierH ia-
Guiding quite 30 officers are among The
Beers Referring 70 the military situation
a. Lasysmith the Officer says: owing 10
the strength of our position on a circle OF
heights Ike Sedan we cannot be brsshed
aside except by relief column outnuruber-
ing Us two TO one"
Soldiers sim Confident.
sPEARMANS CAMP. Jan. 30 There is
an optimistic feeling in al ranks. Troops
are confident Of ultimate success Great