The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1900-03-08
Interest Now Centers On General
Butler.
THERE ARE TROUBLES AHEAD OF Ui.N
An Immediate Announcement of iheS
Relief of the Beleagu:red City MOTTO
be Looked For.

London, by CaDle.-General Butler
distinct success in storming PteteI's
Hill brings the rescue Of Ladysmith
near, but the War Office intimated
that an immediate announcement OF
relief need not be expected. The going
to and fro at midnight OF officers and
messengers suggested that important
news had been received. AS this mes
sage reveals, General Buffers success
ful attack came after the hard fighting
OF Friday, and it was improviSSd and
Its execution begun during the arnn!s-
tice OF Sunday. In proposing the ar
mistice the British commander stipu-
lated that both sides should be free 20
move, but that neiuher should GO any
shooting. He was therefore within his
his privilege in Immediately beginning
to transfer his troops. General Bul-
lers tiGings come weighted with his
long list O. casualties. His loses in
the four attempts to get General White
out aggregate 4,UVV.
Ladysmfth is in desperate straits
Charles Williams, the military expert,
says he learns on very high authority,
presumably that OF Lord Wolseley, that
General Whites force is almost at its
last gasp"
This is not so much" says Gfr. Will
liams, "on account Of any lack OF pro-
visions or Of ammunition, neither OF
which is yet exhausted, as because OF
the poisonous nature CT the Kip river
water and the evil effects of the heat.
Even those who have escaped from
fever, dysentery and diarrhoea are IN
state Of low vitality. They can still
man trenches, however, and would
probably hold their own against a last
desperate assault, but they can initiate
ncIthing. General Butler now knows
that as units the regiments will he OF
no use to him for months. The water
OF Kip river is not available for drink
ing, and to boil it is impossible, be-
cause Of the scarcity OF fuel. 1t is
thick with putrid animal matter. Tel
made Of it has suspended fibre. seeni-
ing like beef tea. 1t is caused by the
sewage from the Boer camps" NJ.
Williams adds that when news like
lhis passes under the thumb ui tho
censor it more than offsets whatever
jolly news may be heliographat froal
Ladysmith.
There Is no authoritative indication
as yet OF what Lord Roberts will do
next. 1t seems likely that a branch
railroad will be built across the yetft
to lessen the difficulties OF transport.
Colonel Girouar, who built the Soudln
Railroad, Is with Lord Roberts. The
strain on the Western Railroad is seen
from the fact that the population OF
Kimberley, two weeks after the relies.
continues on reduced rationS. Lord
Roberts troops thus far have toeen only
partially fed.
1t IS quite cleart technicn heads
that those VINO talk OF an immediate
and rapid advance far into the Free
s.ate 90 not realize the transport con-
ditions. The Beers, 1t now appears.
have ibuigt a railroad from Harrismith
to Kroonstadt to facilitate the move.
ment Of their troops between Natal
and the Free State.
Mafeking was still holding out on
February 10Th. At that time the Beers
were showing unusual activity ard fir
ing inflamma!ble shells. The Beers
who hold positions south OF she Grange
river have been weakened. Lori
Barentzen, writing on behalf Of himself
and other Scandinavian prisoners,
affirms that there are no mercenaNes
in the Boer army, and that no voluu-
teers receive a penny for their ser
vices.