New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-10
THE WAR OFFICE SILENT.
REPORT OF BULLER's DEFEAT NOT
CONFIRMED.
Copyright: 1900: by The New-York Tribune.l
TBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNEl

Copyright. 1900: by The New-York Trtbunel
TBT CABLE TO THE TRIBuNE.l
rondon. Feb. 10 / a. m.-The most startling
announcement last evening was Reuters dis
patch from Lourenco Marques with the brief
statement from the Boer camp outside of Lady-
Enith that the British forces had retired on
Thursday across the Tugela River after aban-
donlng their positions The War Office at mid
night neither confirmed contradicted this
report but left il an open question whether Sir
Redvers Buffers third attempt to break through
the Dutch line Of defence had failed and the
coils around Ladysrnith had been tightened.
The newspaper offices until midnight were with
ont special dispatches from Natal, but were ex-
peeting them before going TO press There were
no tidings in Parliament, where the debate on
the address in reply to the speech from the
Throne was going on at a late hour
The silence from Spearman's Camp since
Wednesday seemed to corroborate this Boer
telegram. yet it hardly credible that the
War Office would hold back the news Of re-
treat after Pretoria had announced 1t. One ex-
plsnation. based on semi-o6ciaI information
vas that the Boer report might refer to the
withdrawal Of a portion Of the force at Pot
geters Drift. or TO changes in the brigades oc-
eulylng kopjes between Spion Kop and Doorn-
berg This vas not satisfactory to those who had
4eafned TO place confidence in Reuters dis
patches from Lourenco Marques. These have
usually been remarkably accurate
OMNIBUS LACK OF NEWS.
There an ominous lack Of news from
Natal. and the War Office failed either TO ex-
pain what was going on or TO relieve the public
uneasiness
119Io hoberts's campaign remains inscruta-
u'e mystery. He has gone 10 the front with
Noro Kitchener. and the foreign military at
uoehes nave started from Cape Town TO join him
1Leie Out nobody outside Of the innermost
eicles OF the War Office knows where the front
- extraordinary pains have been taken by the
censor TO conceal Lord Roberts's destination
sAa me only message given out from him for
ee'efsi days onits any mention of the place
non which ii was sent for that would supply
aeW 70 the direction of his main movement
INC distribution Of the reinforcements. amount
e 10 over twenty thousand men. has been art
-"F concealed. that the new concentrations
are unknown
Ns theories of the military writer's for the
respecting Lord Roberts's campaign are
go upon the slenderest possible differences
eDe4si kelly-Kenny reported fortnight
70 De al Rosmead. and from that rumor IT
- Deen generally assumed that the Sixth
''s'on would cooperate with Generals Cat
a., NAo French IN clearing the Orange River
A'el and opening the way for the in
s'Oh Of the Free State the lines
General Buffers original plan. General
AT has also been reported at Modder
ef' and that has been the basis for
sNViher theory that the Seventh Division
O'io follow him: that Kimberley would be re-
'eo' and that the army would march across
&c country to Bloenfontein with mule and OK
HAsport from Aodder River
ANOTHER THEORY OF CAMPAIGN.
g.. lhlro theory has assumed that the Free
- would be invaded from the Orange River
.liose Belmont. Fauresmith and sprinefon-
a. Deang the immediate objective points. and
uhs OF the communications Of the Dutch
no" south Of the river being the strategic
This, like numerous other theories.
continued second page,