Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-02-07
(By Telegraph to virginlan-Pllot.)

(By Telegraph to Virginian-Pilot.)
London, Feb. 7.+:2O a. m.-Lord
Roberts has caused to be distributed
in the towns bordering upon the in
vaded colonial territory an invitation
to Free Staters and Transvualers to so
into the desert. Offering them good
treatment and a restoration to their
farms OH tic British occupation OF re
publican territory.
The manifesto guarantees that those
bringing houses can sell them. For
egners Will have their passage paid
70 Europe Colonial rebels are advised
to surrender in preference to being
taken prisoners.
Not a word has been received from
The correspondents with General Bull
Ter for three days. II is as though
Natal was wiped off the map. except
the heliogram from Ladysmith saying
that the Beers are cannonadng and
that fighting Is going on
General Macdonald, with four thou
(. sand infantry. cavalry ana artillery.
threatens the Boer right ut Mayors
fontein. This IS the first sign OF ac-
tlvity on the part OF Lord AIethuen for
some weeks and doubtless has relation
to the movements of the British fur
ther east
WAITING FOR NEWS.
London. Feb. 6,-This hoping. fear
Ing doubling nation remains at the
mercy or every wild rumor. The Inn
preston that General Buffers forces
are lighting will not die out, in spite
of tho continuous dissertations of the
War Office that 1t has no news to CON
firm that belief.
From Cape Town. finder to-day's
date, comes the statement that up to
this morning nothing has been heard
there regarding General Buffers re-
crossing the Tugela river while field
Marshal Lord Roberts. in Il dispatch
dated Monday. February .. reports no
chnnge i'll the situation. In view |of
the iattcr's dispatches, it seems hard
10 credit the circumstantial renprts of
the engagement of General Buffers
troops. The common sense now almost
incllnes towards the decision that these
are due to the wish being the father of
the thought Supposition upon such a
basis Is utterly futile. The complete
silence from the front and at home may
be significant as the wiseacres aver.
but it more probably represents that
period of preparation which precedes
an important movement.
GENERAL FRENCH'S MOVEMENTS
In other parts than the Tugela the
conditions of information are scarcely
more satisfactory. There is an incon-
elusive vagueness regarding General
FrenchS reported intention to march
on Norvars Point with an overwhelm-
ing force of infantry. While the news,
OF sharp fighting in the neighborhooo
of Colcsberg can be fairly expected
within few days, it is not likely that
III Will assume greater proportions than
"Reminiscences for the purpose of
holding the advanced position of the
Forthcoming main advance by way of
Bloemfontein General French Is STRAIT
egically prohibited from running any
serious risk.
Lord Roberts reply TO Presidents
Kruger and Steyn creates an excellent
impression here.
From Kimberley and Mafcking there
is nothing new, so it can be presumed
that the intermittent bombardmcnt of
these places continues.
Modder Squirt, Monday. Feb 5-On
Saturday the Pretoria corps discovered
party of British from Ladysmith en-
trenching at n railroad bridge. protect
ing number OF coolies who were cut
ting grass. ~ party of Beers. dis
patched TO the scene, was attacked
from the trenches and all retreated ex.
cept -FOUR. who. hiding, permitted the
Hr1tish TO advance to within fifty wards
"hen they fired a volley, killing three
men. This was seen from the British
lort, which fired shell and sent cav.
airy to assist the British. The Boer,
peat these back. killing two mon
ARTILLERY TO THE FRONT
Cape Town, Feb. 6-The Arpus an.
nounces that ninety guns have beer
dispatched from Pretoria TO the front
and that the Pretoria forts have bcer
practically denuded OF artillery.
UNITED STATES CONSUL uAy
Pretoria. Monday, Feb. 5.-Adelhar
s. Hay the new United States Consn
here. was received by the Transvao
Government to-day and presented hi,
credentials. He created an cxcellen
impression.
AN IMPORTANT MOVE.
London. Feb. THE Standard has
received the following dispatch, dated
February 3, from Koppies Dam:
General Mcdonald, with brigade
of infantry, regiment of Lancers anf
one battery, has reached here from
Niodder River Camp, in what is regard.
ed rs an important move to the righi
Nf the ROor OoSiti0D n No rorcfo,+