The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1900-02-10
BRITISH NET THEIR DEFEAT
WERE REpULsED IN DISORDER
CannonadInG Was the Ficrcest Yet
Felt ny the Boe rs-ROberts and
kitchencr TO the Front-United
States Might Take q Hand.

| 50
Kitchencr 10 the Front-United
i states Might Take . Hand.
Boer Head Lager, Ladysmith, Feb. 7.
The British with naval and other gums
have been bombarding our positions on
the Upper Tugela. Troops crossed the
river at that point and at Kolendrift with
the object of storIning our positions.
At the former General Durgher beat
them back and they recrossed in great
confusion. Fighting continues at Kolen-
drift with Standerton and Johannesburg
commandos. There were no casualties ON
our side.
The cannonade was the fiercest yet *
perienced. There was continuous firing
all day long. During the morning it re-
commenced with an increase number cf
guns.
Rushing to the Front.
Cape Town, Feb. Lord Roberts and
General Kitchener have started for the
front.
London, Feb. 1.-The Associated Press
learns that the war Office today received
a telegram saying briefly that Butler had
again recrossed the Tugela river, Febru-
ary 5, and is advancing upon Ladysmith.
A dispatch from Sterkstroom, dated
this morning, announces the Beers arc IT.
lacking General Gatacre from two direc-
tions. Firing was then proceeding by out
posts.
A delayed Sterkstroom dispatch. dated
February s. says that bodies Of troops
left the camp February 3, and that i'm
portant developments were expected. 1t
is quite probable this explains Roberts
departure, and that the commander-in-
chief wishes either to be present or to su-
pervise the long intended movement by
Gatacre to join forces with Kelly. .Kenncy
and thence to strongly reinforce French,
completing the lstter's work at Colesburg
and establishing without fear OF serious
opposition an advance position for the
main movement.
This, Of course, il greatly supposition.
and it can be confidently said that the
departure of Roberts and Kitchener fer
the front does not indicate the main ad-
vance has begun. The commanders admit
that they will probably be back In Cape
Town within a short time. 1t ia pointed
out that their going to the front must
not be interpreted into an idea that a
great movement upon Pretoria by way Of
Bloemfontein has seriously commenced.
1t will be month or perhaps much long
er before this can be brought about. In
the meanwhile preliminary steps are like
ly to enliven the campaign with ,harp
fighting and news from Sterkstroom, The
bus and Colesburg is eagerly awaited.
Intervention Possible.
New York, Feb. S.-A special to the
Times from Washington says:
1t is learned that under the terms of
The Hague treaty which has just been
ratified by the senate an effort will be
made before long to exert such offices as
may properly be extended to the beliger-
ents to bring about a termination Of the
war in South Africa.
Before this treaty was adopted it was
maintained that the United States could
not, without exposing this government to
the suspicion OF unfriendly motives, ven
ture to suggest the use Of its good Of
fees to both parties to the war. Even
now there may be some hesitation about
declaring by advances, made even with
the best intentions, that the Transvaal il
or is not vassal state, but it is begin
ming to be appreciated here that the sym.
pathy for the Beers is widespread and in
creasing and that it may not be wise to
defer too long the offer Of friendly inter-
vention TO save life on both sides.
1t has been discovered here that while
there is no loss of appreciation Of the
attitude of Great Britain toward the Unit
ed States during the war with Spain and
a strong inclination to let the British 60
on and settle their own difficulties in their
own way, there is making for the Beers
a strong feeling of sympathy because they
have at least a nominal republic.
On the republican side the feeling is
not so strong as it is on the democratic
side, where almost every man 10 Boer
sympathizer. The situation undoubtedly
arises from desire on the part Of the re.
publicans to avoid pressing course that
will conflict with Mr.. McKinleys policy.
The democrats may take advantage Of thii
knowledge to press the Boer side in order
, to embarrass the administration.
Losses Of First Days Fight.
, London, Feb GA cable dispatch fron1
Spearman's Camp, under today's date
says:
"Buller holds his position. Relief il
certain"
London, Feb. 0-General Fuller cables
. the war Office that the approximate Brit
ish casualties in the fighting at potgiet
er's Drift up to noon Tuesday were al
: follows:
. Ofiicers-Two killed, Is wounded. Non
: commissioned officers and men--!lG kill
ed and wounded.
The officers killed were Major johnson
Smith and Lieutenant Shaf.cr, both If tn
Durham light infantry.
: The officers wounded include Colone
Fitzgerald Of the Durham light infantry
E Colonel Montgomery Of The Royal artil
: lery and Lieutenant Sir Cunningham Q