The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1900-02-08
ADVANCE OF BUTLER.
Is Kept a Strict Secret by British
War Office.
speotcy 10 me HsaAf.A

EpecioI to shs HHAAiA
London, Feb. 6.-The war office
statement that it has received no con-
firmation of the report that Gen. Bull
Ter has recrossed the Tugela river has
failed to shake public belief that oper-
atoms of tremendous Importance are
proceeding at the Tugela, and it il
thought that either the denial was
prompted by a desire to keep the mil
itary movements as, secret as possible
until something is accomplished, or
that Gen. Butler is keeping the home
officials in the dark pending results.
1t is obviously extremely difficult to
extract the truth from the conflicting
statements shrouding Gen. Buffers
movement, but most Of the common
tators agree that the aggregate of the
items tends to confirm the belief that
movements of Importance are in prog
ress.
1t is true that the correspondents at
Gen. Buffers headquarters convey the
impression that his main force is still
south of the Tugela, but it is easily
conceivable that the dispatches are SO
censored as to convey false impress
sion. Possibly, though dated Satur-
day and Sunday, the dispatches were
in reality written prior to the move
ments reported to have commenced
Friday. This has already happened
on various occasions, dispatches being
detained by the censor and related
when actually released.
Whatever may be the actual situa-
ton, there seems no doubt that Gen.
Buffers preparations for fresh at
tempt to relieve Ladysmith were com
pleted Thursday or Friday, and though
the start was possibly deferred from
the date first selected, it will not be
long before it is definitely known that
Gen. Buffers forces are again fighting
their way towards Ladysmith. Those,
however, who expected Gen. Butler to
reach the beleaguered town Monday
night, seem to have forgotten the pres
ence of the Beers, g.
Gen. French's Movements.
1t is from the western field that
more definite statements come. Large
operations are apparently about to
begin. Gen. French, who has now re-
turned to Rensberg from his confer
ence with Lord Roberts, has sent what
is described as an overwhelming force
of infantry to seize Norval's Point.
This is where the railway, before it
was destroyed, crossed the Orange
~ x.,sfh ha
State trunk line to Bloemfontein.
Norval's Point is 10 miles north of
Colesburg and 25 miles from Gen.
Frepch's headquarters at Rensburg.
The Beers at Colesburg have been in
danger of being surrounded by the
largely reinforced and extending lines
of the British. An occupation of Nor
val's Point in force would presumably
render Colesburg untenable.
More Troops.
The war Office announces that Is
transports will be dispatched between
now and Monday with $4,000 troops,
including the Fourth cavalry brigade,
militia battalions and 5000 yeomanry.
with 253 horses and six guns. These
$4,000 are not included in the 100000
due to be in South Africa on February
IS. The Eighth division of 10000 men
is still available to send.
Heavy Fighting Occurs.
London, Feb. GA special dispatch
from Durham, Natal, dated Monday,
says: ...-s ...,. "a 80
There Is no definite news from Gen.
Butler, but 1t is reported that there was
heavy fighting yesterday" -.
Macrum still silent. "A a.
Washington, Feb. 6.-Mr. Maerum
called at the state department Monday
at $3.50 o'clock and spent about half
an hour in consultation with DIR. Hill.
assistant secretary of state, Secretary
Hay having left his Office for the day.
He still refuses to make any statement
explaining his reasons for leaving Pre-
toria. ''- Ia
Enter n Protest. .tt
Cape Town, Feb. 6.-President Steyn
and President Kruger have commune
Gated with Field Marshal Lord Roberts,
the British commander in chief, pro-
testing against the destruction of farm
houses and the devastation of property.
Lord Roberts, in replying, declared the
charges were not sustained, adding that
wanton destruction of property was
contrary to British practices.
At n Critical Stage.
London, Feb. Elm the house of COM
mons Mr.. Chamberlain admitted that
a critical stage of the war had been
reached, and that the situation was un-
doubtedly serious, though, he added, he
did not believe the country was in dan
ger. Mr.. Chamberlain further declared
that the war was just, necessary and
righteous. He regretted the proposed
to the address, becaus~, he
said, it would throw doubt upon the
unitedness of the kingdom. 1t would
be premature, continued the colonial
secretary, to talk of terms of settle
ment. Mr.. Chamberlain asked the op-
position whether they believed in the
proposition that the war was necessary,
and said the opposition proposed to
vote for the war as unjust and unnec-
essary" and then vote for its vigorous
prosecution. The war, the secretary
claimed, could not be avoided except
by the absolute surrender on the part
of Great Britain of all to which she at
tached Importance. Believing the war
how could they vote for an
that said the war was
avoidable. A policy of that sort was
said to unite the party, but in the eyes
of Europe it threw doubt upon the union
OF the United Kingdom.