, 1900-02-07
IS STILL A MYSTERY
THE SOUTH AFRICAN NEWS CEN
sOR IS STRICTLY ON TO
HIS JOB.
Wal Office in London Claims to Be Abb
solutely Without News From the
Front-What Of Butler, What Of
the War. Is What England Wants
to Know.

London, Feb. 7.-Lord Roberts cas-
tomary phrase. mo change in situation
today" which alternates with the GEN.
sor's 1.-THE situation is unchanged was
posted earlier than usual at the war Of
fee yesterday.
When 1 entered the lobby at about S
o'clock last evening the only occupants
were two brawny constables, who had
removed their helmets and were stand
ing surveying with a contented gaze
the black bulletin board and the empty
room. At IL O'Clock the conditions
were the same. Absolutely no news
Of importance from the seat of wal was
allowed to reach London yesterday.
What General Butler is doing is a
sealed mystery, but a hint is given in
a telegram from Ladysmith of Saturday
date. via Estcourt, which states that
the Beers were evidently in a state Of
alarm to the east of the besieged city,
and evidently expecting an attack.
In the north of Cape Colony, while
there is no fresh intelligence, there is
no doubt that General Gatacre is about
to begin some hard fighting and will
make a movement simultaneously with
Generals French, Kelly-Kenny and
Brabant.
AS to home affairs, the decisive vote
on an amendment to reply to the
queens speech in favor Of the govern
ment in the house of commons last
night. n result Of the York parlia-
mentary election. where a Unionist was
elected by an overwhelming majority
to succeed Lord Charles Beresford, are
taken to indicate that the country is
standing behind Lord Salisbury's cabi-
net and will continue to do so until the
wal is brought to a successful conclu-
sion.
London, Feb. Lord Roberts has
caused to be distributed in the towns
bordering Upon the invaded colonial
territory an invitation to Free Staters
and Transvaalers to 90 into the desert,
offering them good treatment and a
restoration to their farms on the Brit
ish occupation of republican territory.
The manifesto guarantees that those
bringing horses can sell them. For
| eigpers will have their passage paid
to Europe. Colonial rebels are advised
to surrender in preference to being tax
en- prisoners.
Not a word has been received from
the correspondents with General Butler
for three days. It is as though Natal
had been wiped of the map, excepting
the h~eliogram from Ladysmith, saying
that the Beers are cannonading the
lighting is goin on"
General Mcdonald with 1000 infantry,
cavalry and artillery. threatens the Bo-
er right at Magersfontein. This Il the
fist sign Of activity ON the part of Lord
Methuen for some weeks and doubt
less his relation to the movements OF
the British further east.
1t appears that General French's Wis
it to Cape Town was to ask Lord Rob-
berts for 1000 more men. Whether he
got them is not disclosed.
Troops are no longer detained At
Cape Town. They proceed Immediate
" to some point ct the front. Three
thousand dissmbarked Monday and
were quickly sent elsewhere. No pub
lie reception was given to the arriving
volunteers at Cape Town, because they
| had to leave Immediately.
A. Lord Roberts, since the battle Of
spion kop. has had 1o.eoo fresh troops
10 dis1osss Il II probable that some
have 0oae To- 0eoseal Butler.