The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-02-10
WAR OFFICE NOT INFORMED.

WAR OFFICE NOT INFORMED.
 Have Heard Nothing of Buffers Re
 treat as Described by Boers.
 London, Feb. 9, $40 p. m.-Up to the present the war office has evidently heard nothing of General Buffers re- treat, as described in the despatch from the Boer head laager, Ladysmith, Feb ruary 8.
 When shown the Boer despatch the officials appeared utterly dumfounded Apparently they had not the least sus- plcion of the possibility of such an out come of the operations.
 It is said on reliable authority that General Buffers despatch announcing Mondays and Tuesdays movements was particularly hopeful. He described the position gained as effective, so the news of another retirement is exceed- ingly bitter to the British, and, though it comes from Boer sources, there is lit- tie disposition to discredit it.
 There was no news from British sources of General Buffers doinga$to- day or yesterday. A despatch dated Frere Camp, Thursday, but probably written with the advanced lines Wed- nesday and sent to Frere by runner,. says:
 'The forces of the enemy are on both our Hanks, and continue to render our position extremely difficult to main- tain"
 Beyond the fact that General Butler devoted Wednesday to bringing more artillery and troops across the Tugela, nothing is known of his movements, but that he badly needed endorsements is evident from the foregoing from Frere.
 It is still more patent that it is im- possible for him to advance till the ar- tillery has been enabled to take up for ward positions to subdue the Boer guns on both Hanks. On the time occupied in this operation depends the duration of General Buffers maintenance of the defensive. It is reasonable to suppose that the guns and endorsements were in position yesterday and that another to advance is now progressing, pr, at least, that the bombardment pre- iminary to the actual movemen of the troops is in progress.
 MUST BE DECISIVE.
 Almost all the critics now point out that the mere pushing through to Lady smith without securing a decisive vic- tory on the way there would only add langer to an already critical situation.
 Another Frere Camp despatch says a Boer prisoner asserts that the burghers expected General Butler to cross at Skiots Drift and that thousands of 3oers were being posted at Dornkloof 0 oppose such passage, while on the .aptured hill there were only a few hun fred Johannesburgers. This tends to increase the anxiety of those who be. ieve General Butler has scarcely begun he serious part of his advance, though encouragement is gleaned from the lews that the heavy naval guns after epeated attempts, during which the mules rolled down the hill, have suc- eeded in reaching the summit of 'warts Kop, whence they are doing ex- client practice.
 General Hector Macdonald's retire nent from Koodoosberg has created dis But the operation was, apparently only intended as a sortie | nd its success or failure could scarce | y have resulted in any maerial effect | II the campaign.
 A despatch from Cape Town, dated | thursday says the foreign military att | aches will leave tomorrow. Their des- 1 ination is not given, but, presumably, | hey will join Lord Roberts, whose have not yet been made ublic.
 It was said to-day that one of the rst steps to increase the home army ill be the raising of thirty-seven new orse and field batteries, with barracks n Salisbury Plain, and the addition of 1ird battalions to numerous regiments present without them
 RUMORS OF VICTORY.
 To the daily rumor of the relief of was added last evening the aport that Lord Rothschid had positive formation to that effect, and that he ad communicated 1t to various mem- srs of the house. of lords during yes- erday's session. Lord Rothschild to- ay said he had no news of the kind. nd that he did not go to the house of rds yesterday.
 A rumor that Ladysmith had been lieved is again current to-day, but the ar office authorities say they have no of it. A parliamentary paper issued this af ,rnoon estimates e13000O00 additional ill be required for the war expenses of le year ending March S1, ].