Iron County register., 1900-02-15
ALL IS SPECULATION.
The Real Reason for Gen. Buller's
Latest Retirement.
COMFORTING THEORIES DISPELLED.
Chances of Relieving Ladysmith
Growing Constantly Smaller-On
a Diet of Horsehesh-A With
ering Criticism.

London, Feb. II, 4:4O a. m.-The
latest dispatches from the front show
ing the real reasons for Gen. Buffers
again, quite destroy the comforting
and ingenious theories that the move
ment was an elaborate effort to facilii-
tate the main advance of Lord Roberts,
q theory which obtained acceptance
largely because of Mr.. Balfour's mis-
leading statement to parliament.
Reticences and PrevaricatiOns.
These seemingly useless reticences
and prevarications on the part of the
government and the war Office are be-
ginning to be criticized severely.
No word has yet issued from the war
office regarding Gen. Buffers latest at
tempt, although the correspondents
are allowed to telegraph with a fair
amount of freedom, and thus far only
partial list of casualties has been
published. The dating of messages
from Frere Camp may indicate that
Gen. Butler has withdrawn all his
forces there.
The Situation More Threatening.
The London newspapers, having be-
come accustomed to checks, maintain
a hopeful tone, but the situation is
much more threatening than it seemed
to be a week ago. Proofs of the terri
BILE strength and mobility of the Boer
artillery, together with the rumor that
Gen. Joubert is taking the initiative
with the object of cutting Gen. Bull
lear's communications, are in no way
resassuring.
Can Not Reach Lady smith.
Even the most sanguine persons be-
gin to see that it lis quite hopeless to
expect the relief of Ladysmith, while it
is clear that, if it be impossible for
Butler to reach Ladysmith, it is equal
ly impossible for the garrison, exhaust
ed by sickness and privations, to cut
way out.
Disquieting Reports.
Reports of the Boer advance through
Zululand are disquieting. If they
should be able to strike at Greytown.
Gen. Butler would be compelled TO
turn his attention to the eastern side
of Natal.
The fact that Lord Roberts has ar
rived at Modder River, Friday, seems
to show that he has been on a round of
inspection of the chief commands and
that the main advance is not so near
as has been supposed.
Eating Horsefiesh at Kimberly.
Startling intelligence comes from
Kimberly in the Cape newspapers just
received by mail in London. 1t ap-
hot vir
at Kimberly have been of the most
part horse flesh, so repugnant to
womer and children that many refuse
to eat 1t also appears that the death
rate has been heavy, and that the
privations of the garrison have been
increasing steadily.
This news is startling because the
ceDsor has not allowed it to be cabled.
Possibly such conditions exist, and ex-
plain the presence of Lord Roberts ut
Modder River, and the apparent prep
arations for an advance from that
point.
Turning the Tables at RensBurg.
The mention, in the dispatch of Lord
Roberts to the war Office yesterday, of
Cen Clements as commanding at Rens-
burg is interpreted to show that Gen.
French, with his cavalry, has gone to
join Lord Roberts, and that consider
able changes in the distribution of
troops in that direction have occurred.
The unexpected strength and activity
OF the Beers at Rensburg, where they
are rather pressing the British than
being pressed by them, causes anxiety.
Alert for a Boer Disguise.
There is no confirmation of the re-
port of a sortie from Ladysmith. The
latest dispatch from there, dated
Wednesday last, reports that all was
quiet then, and that instructions had |
been issued to beware of the possible |
approach of the Beers in the guise of |
q British relief force.
A whitening Criticism.
To-day sees the beginning of the fifth |
month of the war. Charles Williams,
the military expert, says:
after all this interval our fine big |
army, instead of being free to maneuv-
er in the field, is tied by the left leg
to Kimberly in order to please Cecil |
Rhodes, and by the right leg to Lady
smith, in order to please Joseph Cham
be1 lain. Yet neither town has the very
smallest military value"
More Troops Asked For.
Although the British will soon have
2OO, 900 men in South Africa, the Daily
Mail and other papers are still asking
for more troops
The stoppage of shipments of gold
and diamonds resulted in exports from
Cape Colony last month valued at
G251, ,1S2, as against G e2,3I2,114 in JAM
uary last year.
Beers at Kimberley,
London, Feb. II, Midnight.-The war
Office has just issued the following dis
patch. dated to-day, from the general
commanding at Cape Town:
Clements reports from Rensberg
that on Friday, February 9, the Beers
tried to turn his right flank, but were
beaten off. Position maintained. Cas-
ualties small.
kimberly reports that the Boer
fgt ting force was apparently increased
on Wednesday, February z. Next day
the Beers commenced the construction
of trenches to the east
Death of Benton Boone.
Clinton, No., Feb. 13.-Benton g,
Boone, attorney general of the state in
1884, and formerly a member of the
l. legislature, died at his home here, Sun
day, of heart disease. He was born in
1888, in Galloway county. Missouri.