The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-11

LONDON Feb. ia special dispatch
from Springfield bridge. under date of FRI
day, February 2. gives new explanation
of Gen. Buffers retirement.
According to this dispatch, oalloonist
ON Wednesday discovered the fact that the
Beers had developed extraordinary and un-
expected artillery strength on Doom kloof
to the British right, where they had
managed to draw up a dozen heavy guns.
some fitted with disappearing mountings,
and all cunningiy masked. These, but for
the balloonist. would never have been dis
covered In time to save the British from
falling into the deadly trap, they COM
manded the road the British would have
had to take In order to reach L.adysmith
These guns rendered the actual positions
OF the British untenable and a further al
vance impossible except at the cost OF a
terrible and useless loss of life.
silence stiIi Maintained.
Ane war office still maintains silence re-
sarding the situation at the seat Of war;
announcing at 1880 last evening that no
further news had been received, and none
has come from other sources which would
give clew to Gen. Buffers movements
since he recrossed the Tugela or to the
present positions of the forces
No Acute Feeling.
Butler Is once more south of the Tugela.
Gen. Macdonald is back at Modder river.
and apparently tho Beers have lost mono
OF the ascendency they have held SO long.
Yet todays news by no means causes acute
disappointment attendant upon other fall
ures to relieve Ladysmith. This can be
attributed to three causes: First. there is
a strong belief that Buffers last attempt
was only demonstration on large scale;
second, the wiser citizens had warned the
public not to expect the immediate relief
OF Gen White: third, the nation has settled
down TO realization hat the war will
last long time. and they are not swayed
as at first by minor reverses and victories.
Elaborate Explanation.
The second and third reasons are self
explaining The first requires consider
able eiucidation in favor OF the opinion
held by Spencer Wilkinson, the military
critic OF the Morning Post, that Butler
did not intend Immediately rushing on
to Iadysmith, There Is overwhelming
evidence to show that Lord Roberts or
dered systematic activity on the part of
all the forces. On this basis Buffers
may be only repetition of MacDonald's
and F'yench's Reconnaissance
Mr.. Balfour's ambiguous statement
about waiting completion of plans Is an
other strong reason for believing Butler
never intended making the main advance
via the Vaal krantx. but was under the
orders of Roberts.
The unusual appeal OF Bennett Beer
leigh, war correspondent OF the London
Daily Telegraph. asking the public to
suspend Judgment and rely on Butler.
also has considerable significance,
The other side of It.
on the other hand. Buffers speech 20
hts troops IN which he said he hoped to
be in Iadysmtth within a week, tends,
some claim, 20 throw doubt upon the be-
lief that he has only been demonstrating
In force.
waeDonaId's Retirement.
The latest news from the Modder river
shows MacDonald's retirement from Koo-
doosberg was effected IN complete order.
The most reasonable explanation Of his
movement IL that Il was undertaken more
20 restore confidence Of the Highland
brigade. still nervous from sheir terrible
experience at Magersfeatein. than TO
gain any important objective.
why the Retreat Wa. Made.
dispatch to the London Times from
Springfield Bridge. dated February .,
says:
'eOur force AZ NaaIkrantz tutrenched st.
self as well as possible, but nevertheless
we continued 20 lose men. No advance
was made The Boer artillery fired inces-
sanity. and as Wednesday proceeded q
was Increasingly apparent that though
tstg. safz a FnfsvFsfr,as4
assault and force their way through the
center OF the BOer position, 1t would Do
impossible. during the subsequent opera
tons, 70 maintain the security OF the
tines, and evacuation was decided upon.
Retirement commenced at o'clock at
nlght. the pontoon bridge being removed
after Gen. HTidyaras force had crossed
this morning The whole force retired
beyond the range % the Beer guns. which
centinued shelling
Was Merely Temporary.
A dispatch from sPeavmans Camp
Wednesday SAYS Buffers retirefnen; was
merely temporary, owing 60 a GstsrmfnA-
ton 70 change the tactics, The force, the
dispatch adds, wln soon resume opera
tons Casualties were mostly slight
wounds
Beers Report of Losses.
BOER HEAD I.AAGER. I.ADYSAlITH.
Feb. Sit is rumored from the upper
Continued en- Page Six.