The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-02-14
Will the British Ever
Get to Ladysmith !?
Boers are Taking the Az.
gresaive.--British Growing
Uneasy.

London. Feb IL 420 q. m The
lstest dispatches from the front show.
iog the real reasons for Gen Builer's
retirement and his intention to try
sgsin quite destroy the comforting
end ingenious theory that the move.
mont was 90 elaborate feiut to facili
tsss the main advance of Lord
Roberts. . theory which obtained
scceptance largely because of Mr.
Balfour's mislesding statement to
parliament
These seemingly useless reticences
sud prevsraossions on the part Of the
government and the war Office ere
bsgiouiUg to bs criticised severely
No word has yet issued from :he
wsr Office regsrding Gen Buller's
laAsst attempt, although the CORES
pondents Gro allowed 10 telegraph
vith fair amount Of freedom. and
thss partial list Of casualties hes
bsse published The dating of
assssgss from Frere Camp may
isdiosle thst Geo Butler hes with.
dsswn sll bic forces there
The Loodon newspapers. having
become accustomed to checks,
osintsiu . hopeful tone. but The
sitsslioa II ouch more threatening
thsa 10 seemed TO be . week ego
Psools Of The terrible strength and
nobility Of che Boer artillery,
Together With the runor that Gen
Josbsss b tskisg the initiative with
che object Of cutting Gen Buller's
eooousiossieus are in no way ress
ssripg
Evss The moss ssDguise persons
begin 10 go that IL 10 quite hopeless
- expect the relief Of Lady smith.
While Il 10 clear that. II IL be impos
sibls 10 rssch Ladysmith, IL 10 equal
y impossible for the garrison. ex
haussed BY sickness and privations.
20 ont Q wsy out.
Reports Of Bosr advance through
ZsluIsud ere disgusting If they
should be able 10 strike ct Greytown.
Gen Baller would be compelled to
turn his attention to the eastern side
Of Natal.
The fsct that Lord Roberts Or.
rived q Modder river Friday seems
% show that he bee bcen on Q round
of inspecsioa 10 the chief oommands
ssd tkss the main sdvsuce 10 not 90
asss - bee been supposed
Startling intelligsuos comes from
Kimberly in the Ospe newspapers
jsst received By neil 10 London Il
appeared that since Jan 8 the rstioos
q Kimberly have been for the most
psss horse 6ssh, % repugnsnt 20
women and children that many refuse
% sat IL alec sppssss that the
death rste bee been heavy and that
che privasious Of the garrison have
been Increasing steadily.
The news 10 sssrtling becsuse the
censor bee not allowed u to. be
esbled Possibly such conditions
explain the pressnoe Of Lord Roberts
q Aodder river aud the apparent
psspssations for On advance from
shse point
The mention iu the dispatch Of
1esd Roberts 70 the war Office yester
6ay Of Gen clements % commanding
- Rspsbssg 10 Interpreted 10 show
thss Gen French. With bic cavalry,
bee gone 10 Lord Roberts, and that
considerable changes In the distribu.
tiea Of troops IN the district have
Sessusd.
The unexpected strspg,h and
sosivity Of the Bosrs ct Rsnsburg,
who're they ere rsshsr pressiog the
bsisish then bsisg pssssed By them.
osuses anxiety.
There 10 no confirmation of tho
report Of sertis from. Lsdysmi,h
The lstsss dispatch from there, dated
wednesday last. reports thst oil wee
Qsies then snd that Instructions had
been Issued TO beware o. the possible
spprosch Of Boers 10 the guiss Of Q
Bsisish relief force
Todsy secs the beginning Of the
-1fth month of the war Charles
Williams. the military expert. says {:
"Ater sll this interval. our hus, big
army. instead Of being free to ma.
souvre in the field. 10 tied by the left
leg to Kimberley 10 order to please
Cecil Rhodes. and by the right leg
20 Lsdysmlth in order to please JOS
Chamberlain. Yat neither town hss
even the smallest military value"
Although the British will soon
have 100000 men in South Africa,
che Daily Mail and other papers are
si'li sskiog for more troops
The stoppsge Of shipments of gold
end diamonds reduces the value OF
exports from Cape Colony last month