The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-02-05
BULLER'S THIRD EFFORT
Another March on Ladysmith Said
to Have Been Started.
THE WAR OFFICE RET1oENT.

Though General Buffers Army Haa
Been Considerably Reinforced Since
the spiOn Kop Disaster, the British
Public Awaits News With Fear.
London, Feb. 5.-There is no official
eral Butler has recrossed the Tugela
on third desperate attempt to re-
lieve Ladysmith. 1t Is known that
the war Office has received several
South African dispatches which have
not yet been published, and if the ad-
vance is an actual fact the secret is
being well kept.
There are newspaper dispatches in
plenty from Spearmans Camp up to
Sunday, but there is no hint that an
advance had been begun, and it is as
sumed in some quarters here that
Lord Dundonald's reconnaissance in
the district Of Hongor's Poort may be
the only foundation for the statement
that General Butler has started.
On the other hand dispatches from
Ladysmith rather indicate that the ad-
vance Is in operation by reporting
heavy firing, on Friday and Saturday.
from the directions of Potgieters Drift
and Colenso.
A dispatch to The Daily Chronicle
from Ladysmith, dated yesterday.
says.
"A report has reached us that one
brigade has crossed the Tugela."
The reports that the Beers are re-
concentrating around Ladysmith are
also an indication that preparations
are being made to resist General Bull
Ter, or for an attempt at re-attack
upon the garrison in anticipation of his
advance. The fact, however, that no
firing has been reported under yes
terday's date, either from Ladysmith
or Spearmans Camp. might be inter-
preted to mean either that the at
tempt had failed or that General Bull
Ter had merely made a demonstration
on Friday or Saturday.
Various rumors are current. One
says that General Butler is again at
lacking Spion Kop from the side Of
General Lyttletons camp. Another is
that he received information from the
owner of Spion Kop farm and crossed
by fords further west than richards
Drift. The military authorities in
London think it more likely that the
crossing would be made east of Zwart's
Kop. Speculation, however. is useless.
The public can only wait in patience
and, it may be said also, in trepdation.
Nor is the feeling Of anxiety much
relieved by the possibility that Gem
eral Butler has been considerably re-
inforced since the disaster at Spion
Kop.
A special dispatch from Durham re-
ferring to General Buffers recrossing
the Tugela river in an advance upon
Ladysmith says: 1t is probable that
General Butler crossed at spot above
richards Drift. and that, leaving the
enemy to the right, he is marching to
Acton Homes, whence the road to
Ladysmith runs almost due east,
through fairly open country. 1t is
expected here that he will reach Lady
smith tonight.
The Pietermaritzburg correspondent
of The Daily Mail telegraphs: Gen
eral Butler has undoubtedly secured
the road to Ladysmith, and should
reach his objective this week. 1t is
believed here that the object of the
Beers in occupying Ngutu, Zululand,
is to secure the road from Dundee to
Vryheid in case of retreat.
II learn from reliable source that
General Joubert was seriously injured
by shell In the fight at Willow
Grange. and that he will reyer he able
to command again on horseback. My
informant says that he has, in fact,
retired from the field. The Beers admit
that the attack upon Ladysmith was
serious blunder, and would not have
occurred IL General Joubert had been
in command"