The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-02-07
AT THE MERCY OF RUMoRs.
Nothing Heard From Butler. Cannc.
nading Reported at Ladysmith.

London, FEB. t.-4:ZU "A. .M.b--lnF0
Roberts has caused to be distributed IN
the towns bordering upon the invaded
colonial and invitation to Free Staters
and Transvallers to go into the desert,
Offering them good treatment and
restoration to their farms on the Brit
ish occupation of British territory.
The manifesto guaantees that those
that bring in horses can sell them. for
eigners will have their passage pail to
Europe.
Colonial rebels are advised TO surren-
der in preference to being taken prison
ers.
Not a word has been received from
the correspondents with General Butler
for three days. 1t is as though Natal
had been wiped off the map except the
heliogram from Ladysmith saying that
the Beers are cannonadlng ana that
fighting is going on"
General Macdonald, with fonI iicus-
and infantry, cavalry and artillery,
threatens the Boer right at Magersf ,n-
tein This is the first sign of activity
on the part of the Lord Methuen for some
weeks and doubtless has relation 10 the
movements of the British further east.
WAR OFFICE SILENT.
London, Feb. 6-This hoping, fearing,
doubling nation remains at the mercy
of every wild rumor The impression
that General Buffers forces are aght-
ing will not die out. in spite of the con-
tinuous asseveratons of the War Officel
that it has no news to confirm that be-
lief.
From Cape Town under todlr's date.
comes the statement that up 10 this
morning nothing has been heard there
regarding General Buffers recrossing the
Tugela River, while Field Marshal Lord
Roberts in a dispatch dated Monday
February 9th reports no change in the
situation. In view of the letters dis
patches, it seems hard to credit the Cir
cumstantial reports of the engagements
Of General Buffers troops. The soni-
mon sense now almost inclines towards
the decision that these are due TO the
wish being the father of the thought.
Supposition upon such a basis IS utter
ly futile The complete silence from
the front and at home may be signiti-
can't, as the wiseacres aver, but it more
probably represents that period Of prepa-
ration which precedes an important
movement.
CONTINUOUS CANNONADING.
Modderspr,lit. Feb 6.-Messages from
Ladysmith dated yesterday, February
9th, say continuous cannonading has
been proceeding since 5 o'clock in the
morning. with the occasional roar OF
''long TOM"
4 BRUSH WITH THE BRITISH.
| Modderspruit Monday, Feb. 5.-On
| Saturday the Pretoria corps discovered
a party of British from L4ldysmith en-.
trenched at a railroad bridge, protecting
| a number of coolies who were cutting
grass. A party of Beers dispatched to
the scene was attacked from the trenches
and all retreated except four, who, hid
ing, permitted the British to advance TO
within so yards, when they fired vol
ley killing three men. This was seen
from the British fort, which fired u
shell and sent cavalry to assist the Brit
ish The Beers beat these back, killing
two men.
80 GUNS LEAVE PRETORIA
| Cape Town, Feb. 6-The Argus an
nounces that ninety guns have been dis
patched from Pretoria to the front and
that the Pretoria forts have been prac-
tically denuded of artillery.