The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-02-12
War Omce Stlll eIlont

War Office Still silent
LONDON FEB n--ilo a. m-The war
orice still maintains silence regard ng the
situation at the seat Of war, announcing
at u.S0 last evening that no further news
had been received, and iJro has come
from other sources which would give
ew to General BuEer's movements since
he re-crossel the i 5gela or TO the present
position OF the forces.
ESCAPE DEADLY TRAP.
LONDON. FEB. ia special Dispatch
frmo Springfield Bridge under date OF
February 9. gives new explanation OF
General Buffers retirement According to
this dispatch a. baloonist ON Wednesday
discovered the fact that che Beers had
developed extraordinary and unexpected
artillery strength on Doom Is oof. TO the
British right, where they had managed
20 draw up a dozen heavy guns. some fit-
ted with disappearing moununes. aud
all cunningly masked. These. but for the
halloouist would never have been disc
covered On time 10 save the Brit sh forces
from falling into the deadly trap, as they
commanded the road the British would
have 60 take in order 60 reach Iadysmlth.
These guns rendered the actual positions
OF she British untenable and "a further
advance lmposs ble except al the cost of a
terrible and useless loss Of life.
PART OF PROGRAM
LONDON. FEB u-Spencer WIKI uson
the military expert, reviewing the South
African situation for the Associated Press
at midnight. says:
Roberts has now taken hod of the
campaign. His strategy evidently Is to act
in the western theatre of war with en-
ergy enough to move the center Of grav-
ity thither
General Buffers move must therefore
be considered in its place IN a general
scheme. The idea seems 20 be that II
General Butler cannot ska the bear m
self he can hold lts leg while some one
e.se does. Accordingly General Butler is
not TO risk his army, but, short of that
Natal as he can.
His attack of the past week. was hard
/ ly carried out with the push that marks
man resolved TO win or be broken In
any case. il is no easy task TO cross a
river In order to pierce the front Of the
army posted beyond II. Modern weap-
ons favor an attack which euvolops a
/ flank but not an attack which tries to
break the center OF an army.
The new plan involves prompt and
successful offensive operations against
the free STAKE forces In the west-a series
Of crushing blows.
! 'tAny failure I'm their execution would
| leave the campaign In perilous state for
/ the Beers would then hold onto Lady
smith while nothing but disasters in the
west and the certainty or more 10 follow
will make them let go. But Lord Rof ,r''
is strong man with a bg heart, RES.
olute will and a clear head. His presenc,
with British army has a magnetic ef.
feet; ana when he moves he viii probab y
make the Beers move. He has reinforced
Methuen with a cava ry brigade and H'rst
artillery and here is probab an infantry
division TO follow
Looking at General Buffers action by
/ itself the impression Il makes recalls Gen
eral Mace elan who. though cautious and
knowing how TO preserve his army. hard
ly ever displays the initiative power 20 ru-
risks or the self-reb ance OF great com
mander To all appearances General Bul.
ler has gwen up h g third attempt bef0r,
his attack was fully deve oped.
"A telegram received this evening fror
Lorenzo MARQUES speaks OF sore from
I.adysmith in the night of Thursday, FIR.
day Such an attempt Of General White
10 cut his way through was probable an
may succeed, though the nature OF moderr
weapons Is against him and there woul(
be heavy loss and many stragglers woul(
Zoe cut OF
The likelihood Of General Whites tryinJ
TO fight his way out wou d explain the ret
lcence OF the war office II would also ex
plain the demonstration from Chfeyeley
Of which we have only heard through
Boer telegram.
WASHINGTON, FEB i0.--A resolu
tlon expressing sympathy with tn,
Beers Ia their struggie against Grea
Britain and urging mediation on tn
part Of the United States between tn