The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-12
LONDON DOES NOT LIKE 1T.
War Office Criticised for Not Allow
ing the Truth to BE Known.

LONDON, Feb. 1.-THE latest dispatch
es from the front, showing the reasons
for Gen. Buffers retirement and his in
tention to try again, quite destroy the
comforting and ingenious theory that the
movement was an elaborate feint to IA
cfitate the main advance of Lord Rob-
erts, theory which found acceptance
largely because of Mr.. Balfour's mislead-
ing statement to parliament.
These seemingly useless reticences and
prevarications on the part of the gov
eminent and the war Office are Begin
ming to be criticised severely.
No word has yet issued from the war
office regarding Gen. Buffers latest at
tempt, although the correspondents are
allowed to telegraph with fair amount
of freedom, and thus only partial list
of casualties has been published. The
dating of messages from Frere Camp
may indicate that Gen. Butler has with>
drawn all his forces there.
The London newspapers, having become
accustomed to checks maintain hope
full tone, but the situation Is much more
threatening than it seemed to be-a week
ago. Evidences of the terrible strength
and mobility of the Boer army, together
with the rumor that Gen. Joubert is TAX
ing the initiative with the object of cut
ting Gen. Buffers communications, are
sanguine persons begin to see that it Is
quite hopeless to expect the relief of
Ladysmith, as it is Claimed If it is inn
possible for Butler to reach Ladysmith,
1t is impossible for a garrison exhausted
with sickness and hard fighting to cut its
way out.
Reports from Zululand are disquieting.
If the Beers should succeed In reaching
Greytown, Gen. Butler would be COM
1ad 70 10 he Of
ern side of Greytown.
The fact that Lord Roberts was at
Modder River on Friday seems to show
that he has been on round of inspee-
ton 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. 1t appears that since
Jan. the rations in Kimberley have been
for the most part horsefesh, so repug-
nant to women and children that many
refuse to eat. 1t also appears that the
death rate has been heavy and that the
pr1vations Of the garrison have been in
cfeasing steadily. This news is startling
because the censor has not allowed it to
be cabled. Possibly such conditions ex-
plain the presence of Lord Roberts at
Modder River, and the apparent prepare,
tioIiS LOT an advance from that point.
The mention in the dispatch of Lord
Roberts to the war Office yesterday Of
Gen. Clements as commanding at Rens-
berg is interpreted to show that Gen
French with his army has gone to join
Lord Roberts, and that considerable
changes In the distribution of troops in
that direction have occurred. The unex-
planned strength and activity of the Beers
at Rensberg, where they are reported
rather pressing the British than being
pressed by them, is looked upon with APP
prehension.
There is no confirmation Of the report
ed sortie from Ladysmith. The latest dis
dispatch from there on Wednesday re-
ported all was quiet there and that in
structions had been issued to look out
for Beers in a guise of a British Keller
force.
Today sees the beginning of another
month of the war. Charles Williams, the
military expert, says:
ut appears that our fine big army. In
stead Of being able to maneuver in the
field. is tied by the left leg to Kimber-
ley in order to please Cecil Rhodes, and
by the right to Ladysmith in order to
please Joseph Chamberlain Yet neither
town has the very smallest military value
In the general operations.
Shipments of gold from Cape Colony
last month were 921,50O, as against e..
$4,000 in January of last year.