The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-02-09

| TccOllectlOn Of BulleTB Two ultd8trouB
failures, after auspicious starts. were
not Keen 10 the minds OF the public,
the list Of casualetits published today
would be sufficient reminder OF the
tremendous difficulties Of his task.
His occupation OF yaalkrantz, the
key 10 the lower ridges, while praise.
worthy and gallant achievement. by
no means signifies that General White
viii inevitably join hands with him.
Pcforc Butler are several days OF hard
hghtlng. and any attempt 70 forecast
the result would be vaiueleas. II based
on precedent. which can hardly be- done
In warfare. II would be bound to be in
favor OF the Beers for apparently the
conditions have not materially altered
since the last frultless attempt.
On the other hand the British troops
are smartIng under defeat and will un-
doubtedly be neryed to more desperate
efforts than ever before. and II furious
gallhntry can carry Butler over the
kopJes that face him. Ladysmith wllll
be relieved within a week. But 10 far
British bravery has been in the mainl
wOefulIy misguided. II IN more thanl
likely that General Barton, at cheveIy, |
may be strong enough 20 advance upon
the Tugela and render valuable assist.
ance from the southeast, while the be-
eaguered garrison itself. according 10
latest dispatches. should be able TO
create potential diversion when Bull
Ter has overcome the initial difficulties
which lie in the kopjes. Immediately
north Of the Tugela.
Turning from the transcendent inter-
cSt IN Ladysmth. the whole war area
represents a scene OF important ac-
tlwity. The Boer attack ON Geenral
Gatacre's forces. reported February 7.
hzzled out, ;he artillery Of the Beers.
after Smelling the camp. retiring up
on the arrival OF British reinforce
ments. The affair scarcely warrants
being called skirmlsh The British
casualties We're one man killed and
four men wounded
Late adyiccs from slerkstrom an
nounce that GHtacre's cavalry is in hot
pursuit OF the Beers While nothing
has resulted from the affair. II indi-
Gates that the burghars are fully alive
20 the Importance OF the concentra-
ton which II on the verge Of occur
ring between the forces Of Gatacre.
Kelley Kinney and French. and they
do not hesitate to take the aegresslve
IN an effort against an established po-
sItion. though Il is believed sufficient
Is large body OF troops viii soon be
massed at Colesburg TO insure the un-
opposed advance Of the invading army
when IL is ready to start.
That Il Is not prepared for this move
at present, and that all this acti ity is
bu; merely preliminary to what is now
known as Lord Roberts main move
ment, is evidenced by dispatches from
Carc Town under date Of February Z,
announcing that the director Of the
transport service was advertising for
ok wagons and drivers. Without these
II will be useless to think Of carrying
ON an invasion. and It must be a month
more before they are ready, Another
preliminary is that Roberts has just
sanctioned the formation Of colonial
yeomlnry, consisting OF troop Of 100
men for the east district of the colony
To protect loyal farmers This force
will be ofhocred from among the local
yeon,anry. opinion is divided as to
whether Roberts and Kitchner have
gone to Modder river or to Sterkstrom.
General MacDonald's activity in for
mer localities, combined with the
belief that the Colesburg movement is
to draw off a portion OF the Free Stat
ers, has given rise to the hope that
viii shortly be enabled to
make a successful attack to relieve |
while the gradually thin
ming forces surrounding Mafeking will
melt away. s