New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-05
BULLER'S THIRD ADVANCE.
SAID TO HAVE CROSSED THE TUGEL "A
AGAIN on FRIDAY NIGHT.

Durham, Feb. General Butler crossed the
Tugela River Friday night and is marching on
Ladysmith. No definite news will be permitted
to go out until Ladysmith is relieved.
General Butler personally supervised the re-
cent retirement of the army the TugeIa.
He then returned to his ola headquarters at
spearman's Camp, looking much tagged, but i'm
passive.
London, Feb. 5.-A special dispatch from Dur
ban, dated Sunday and referring to General
Buffers recrossing the Tugela in his advance
upon Ladysmith, says:
It is probable that General Butler crossed at
spot above Trichardt's Drift, and that, leaving
the enemy to the right, he is marching to Acton
Homes, whence the road to Ladysmith runs al
most due east, through fairly open country.
1t is expected here that he will reach Lady
smith tomorrow (Monday) night.
The Pietermaritzburg correspondent Of THE
Daily Mall telegraphing yesterday, says
General Butler has undoubtedly secured the
road to Ladysmith and should reach his OBJ
jective this week. 1t is believed here that the
object of the Beers in occupying Ngutu. Zulu
land, is to secure the road from Dundee TO
Vryheid in case of retreat.
1 learn from a reliable source that General
Joubert seriously injured by shell in the
fight at Willow Grange. and that he will never
be able to command again on horseback. My
informant says that he has, in fact, retired from
the field.
The Beers admit that the attack on Lady
smith serious blunder, and would not
have occurred If General Joubert had been in
command. General Lucas Meyer played the
coward at Talana- and sheltered himself in a
Red Cross wagon shamming sickness He has
been unable to face the Beers since, and they
threaten TO shoot him.
The Beers cay Great Britain made mistake
in not sending General Sir Evelyn Wood.
understand that they still have thousands OF
bags OF -four stored in reserve at Delagoa Bay.
Winston Churchill, in dispatch from Spear
mans Camp dated Saturday. February 8. says:
The belief is general that all will be staked on
the issue Of the coming battle 1t is probable
that press kilograms will be permitted to
leave pending the operations.
The fighting power. II" ~ and material, of the
army never higher than it is now.
1.-The Daily Telegraph" has the following dis
patch from Spearman's Camp, dated Sunday
evening:
Messages are freely exchanged between
the camps OF General Butler and General White
by night with calcium light, by day with
heliograph. The men here enthusiastic at
the prospect of speedy advance under General
Buffers instructions. very large convoy with
stores for the besieged garrison will accompany
the relieving force. The Beers have repaired the
road bridge the Tulega at Colenso suffl-
ciently for the passage OF cavalry.
Although there is no actual confirmation of
the report that General Butler has recrossed the
Tugela a third desperate attempt to relieve
Ladysmith, it is known that the War Office has
received several South African dispatches which
have not yet been published, and if the advance
is actual fact the secret is being well kept.
There are newspaper dispatches in plenty from
Spearman's Camp up to Sunday, but there is no
hint that advance had been begun and 1t is
assumed in some quarters here that Lord Dun
donald's reconnaissance In the district of Hon
gers Poort may be the only foundation for the
statement that General Butler has started
On the other hand, dispatches from Lady
smith rather indicate that the advance is in
operation, by reporting heavy firing on Friday
and Saturday from the directions Of Potgieters
Drift and Colenso.
Various rumors are current. One says that
General Butler is again attacking Spion Kop
from the side Of General Lyttletons camp. An
other is that he received information from the
owner of Spion Kop farm, and crossed by fords
further west than Trichardt's Drift. The mill
tary authorities In London think it more likely
that the crossing would be made east of Zwart's
Kop Speculation. however, is useless The
public can only wait In patience and, 1t may be
said also. in trepidation.