The sun., 1900-02-06
THE SOUTHAfR|CA WAR NEWS
There is Much Public Interest
Still Cpntered on Move
ments of Butler.
BRITISH WAR OFFICE SILENT
Whatever the Situation, There Seems
No Doubt That Preparations
For Q Fresh Attempt to Re-
lieve Ladysmith Have
Been Completed.
BRITISH WAR OFFICE SILENT

London, Feb. 5.-Although a war office
statement that it has received no con-
firmation of the report that General Bull
Ter has recrossed the Tugela river APP
pears to settle the question, it has failed
to shake public belief that operations Of
tremendous importance are proceeding at
the Tugela, and it is thought that either
the denial was prompted by desire to
keep the military movements as secret as
possible until something is accomplished
or that General Butler is keeping the
home officials in the dark for similar rea-
sons.
1t is obviously extremely difficult to eX
tract the truth from the conflicting state
ments shrouding General Buffers move
ment but most of the commentators
agree that the aggregate of the items
tends to confirm the belief that move.
ments of Importance are transpiring.
1t is true that the correspondents at
General Buffers headquarters convey the
impression that his main force is still
south of the Tugela, but it is easily con
ceivable that the dispatches are so cen
sored as to convey false impression.
Possibly, though dated Saturday and
Sunday, the dispatches We're in reality
written prior to the movements reported
to have commenced Friday. This has al
ready happened on various occasions,
dispatches being detained by the censor
and redated when actually released.
Whatever may be the actual situation
there seems no doubt that General Bull
ler's preparations for a fresh attempt t.
relieve Ladysmith were completed Thurs
day or Friday, and, though the start was
possibly deferred from the date first Sc
lected, it will not be long before it is def
niteiy known that General Buffers forces
are again fighting their way toward
Ladysmith. Those, however, who ex-
pect General Butler to reach the be-
leaguered town at once seem to have for
gotten the presence of the Beers. The
best informed people, while sanguine.
fully realize that British victory can
only be achieved at heavy cost.
what Correspondents Send.
/ The Telegraph's correspondent at
Spearman's camp in a dispatch dated
Feb. says: General Barton has been
cannonading the Colenso lines from
Chieveley, causing the Beers, who ap-
peared, as usual, to retreat. Today is
quiet at Potgieter's drift. Our guns did
no cannonading. The Beers are enjoying
their immunity from attack. They can
be seen strengthening their defensive
works. | have not seen so many of the
enemy along the ridges in front of Pot
gieter's drift for a fortnight"
The same correspondent in, a dispatch
dated Feb. H. y. M, says: "There has
been no cannonading here. The men alf
enthusiastic over the prospect of a speedy
advance"
Other correspondents in dispatches dat
ed Saturday speak of the men as eagerly
waiting for the advance.
A heliogram from Ladysmith on Sun.
day said: I'VE We're greatly chcered by
hearing Buffers guns hard at it again
yesterday. We do not know the result
but the enemy is massing near Lady
smith again. They are also moving an
other gun toward Spion kop. We are
quite ready if they contemplate another
attack. AIS we'll
1t may be worthy of notice that no 9th
er message refers to General Buffers
guns firing on Saturday.
The Chronicles correspondent at Lady
smith photographed on Sunday: "A re-
port has reached us that one brigade has
crossed the Tugela river"
| In the house of commons, replying to Il
question in regard to death notice pub
lished by The Standard Saturday read
ing, "A1cLachlan-on Christmas day
shot in the Market square, Harrismith
| Orange Free State, South Africa, for re
fusing to fight against his own country.
men, John McLachlan, Jr., age 80, eldest
son of John McLachlan Of Wandsworth
| and grandson of the late John McLach.
Ian of Lambeth the secretary of state
| for the colonies, Mr.. Joseph Chamber
lain, said he had received a cable mes
sage from the governor of Natal to the
effect that the report of the shooting OF
McI.achlan had appeared in the press, hut
had subsequently been contradieted. The
governor added that he knew of no foun-
dation for the report, but was trying to
obtain information in regard to the mat.
Tor