The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-08
ROBERTS GOES TO INTERIOR.
Preparations Under Way for Adj
vance on BIOcmfontein.

vance on BIOcmfOntein.
London. Feb. while the suspense is
on regarding Gen. Buffers movements and
the opera lions affecting the fate of Lady
smith, there comes from other quarters
interesting news in the announcement that
Field Marshal Lord Roberts, the com
mander-in-chie of the British forces in
South Africa, and his chief of staff, Maj.
Gen. Lord Kitchener, have left for the
front.
AS this information was held up for sew
eral hours by the censor. it seems to in
dictate that an important movement is on
foot.
A dispatch from Sterkstroom dated this
morning, announces that the Beers are
attacking Gen. Gatacre from two direc-
tons Firing was then proceeding between
the outposts. A delayed Sterkstroom dis
patch, dated Monday, Feb. 5, says that a
body of troops left the camp Feb 8, and
that important developments We're expect
ed. 1t is quite probable that this explains
Lord Roberts departure and that the com
mander-in-chief wishes either to be pres
ent a or supervise the long intended move
ment by Gen. Gatacre to join forces with
| Gen Kellyzkenny, and thence strongly
reinforce Gen. French. completing the lat
ter's work at Colesberg and establishing
without fear of serious opposition the ad-
vanced position for the main movement.
Main Advance Not Begun.
This, however, does not indicate that the
main advance has begun. The command
ers will probably be back at Cape Town
| within a short time. 1t is pointed out
| that the term going to the front must not
| be interpreted into the idea that a great
| movement upon Pretoria by way of Boem-
| fontein, has seriously commenced. 1t will
! be a month, or perhaps much longer be-
| fore this can be brought about
In the meantime, the preliminary steps
! are likely to enliven the campaign with
! sharp lighting, and news from Sterk-
| stroom, Thebus and Colesberg is eagerly
awaited.
When the dispatch announcing the fight
| ing on the Upper Tugela was published
| there was the usual scene of excitement
on the streets. The big placards at
| racted newspaper buyers, and the news
| was eagerly discussed in oil quarters
| There was notable excitement in the
| House of Commons, where in addition 10
! the war office announcement that Gen.
| Butler had crossed the Tugela Monday
|
| news agency telegram was posted saying
that 100 additional ambulance stretchers
| had been sent to the front from Durham.
4 Results Are Not known.
The war office at present is only able
| o add, regarding Gen. Buffers advance
| the operations are still in progress, but
We have no information regarding the re-
! suit"
| The available maps do not show the
| irifts mentioned in the Boer dispa tch.
| The rush in the direction of the war Of
| ice when it was learned that confirmation
! 'ad been received there Of the report that
. Sen. Butler was again advancing evidenc-
| I'd the anxiety of the public to obtain
! the latest details
! The war Office message, as given out.
! furnishes no clue 10 where the Tuge,a
| was crossed. nor the numbers supporting
| len. Buffers movements, but it is pre-
! sumed this third attempt will be % SUI
l Dreme effort on the part of the General
/ 10 cut his way through, aud that in it he
' viii employ every available man.
| The expression in the official dispat Itch,
| is now advancing upon Ladysmith, it
| is pointed out. must not be taken to mean
| hat he has cut down all opposition but
| merely that he is headed in the direction
| of the besieged town, and the public,
| therefores is naturally on tenter hooks in
regard to the next news.