Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-01-15
NetherIand Ministers Ask Cessa-
ton Of the War.
SILENCE NOT REAsSURlNG'
London Fears Regarding 6en' n""'
er's Advance-Rumors OF '"'e'
battles Canada 10 Give AID

clergymen Of all denomlhaVoHs III ~
Netherlands. has just been delivered 10
the ministers Of all Christian churehes
in Great Britain. It closed;
1--WE beseech you, brethren, TO use
your influence that all such In Eng1ahu
as on Christian principles disapproye
this war may try whatever lawfuly
may be done for It's speedy cessation
A dispatch to the Herald from Lon
don says
Although there is every reason 10 sup
pose that fighting is proceeding upon
the line OF the Tugela river, no report
has been allowed to come through since
Gen. Buffers statement Of his arriVai
at Potgieter's Drift.
In connection with this general move
ment. Gen. Sir Chas. Warren, eilnet
on Thursday or Friday. moved Win
about 1000 men In the direction o.
Weenen, which would give color to the
view that both tanks Of the Boer army
are being threatened as q preliminary
TO a determined advance on Mount nm
lave, to the east. /,
Colenso. upon the southern bank or
the Tugela, must be cleared OF the Boer
force which has been holding II, since
otherwise this force might be able 10
threaten the British line OF communica-
lions.
II is quite possible thatWarren VIII CO.
operate In the attack on this mountain.
Now that the Tugela Is running at nood
the time Is favorable, as II VIII De
difficult for the Beers 10 reinforce their
position south Of the river except by
pontoon bridge, which Is believed 10
have been constructed.
Ia the absence Of any official news
the war office Is remaining obdurately
silent.
London was full OF rumors Sunday.
II was freely reported that engagements
had taken place at three different points
along the extended B0er lines. As a
matter Of conjecture this may be cor
rect, for there is reason TO suppose that
some movement was made against COL
enso simultaneously with the seizure OF
Potgleters Drift.
II Is quite possible also that an at
tempt TO flank the Beers may be at
tempted on both the east and the west,
but the ground on the east is more
difficult than that toward Springfield.
and 10 make a wide detour In the direc-
ton Of Weenen would necessarily re-
qulre large amount Of transport.
II fighting really occurred at three
points yesterday or Saturday they
would most likely be Mount Ilangwana,
Colenso and some spot north OF Pot
gIeteTs Drift, marking a step In that
process OF enveloping the Beers TO
which Gen. Butler is obviously COM
mItted
In this connection the dispatch TO
the Daily Telegraph from Frere, dated
Wednesday. in which Mr.. Bennett Bur-
leigh looks forward to some decisive
event. and is making preparations to
take up a wagOnload OF Injuries for
the troops at Ladysmith, clearly indi-
Gates that al Frere II was understood
that the British attempt TO relieve
Ladysmith was about 10 be made.
The whole position Of affairs on the
Tugela is enveloped In mystery, which
can only be understood as implying
that operations Of critical Importance
are going on. The mystery Is further
deepened by dispatch from the Boer
headquarters, which although Issued on
Thursday last makes no mention Of
Gen. Buffers thanking movement In the
direction of Potgieter's Drift.
II is impossible that this movement
could not have been known to the
Beers because II must have been in
progress for two or three days, and
Gen. Butler himself states that the
Beers were intrenched four and a half
miles north Of his advanced positions.
The Beers are also probably playing
possum." There is a delightfully."- naive
affectatlon OF perplexity In the conclud-
ing statement Of the dispatch that the
object OF the British Is conjectured, but
Is by no means clear.
A dispatch to the Tribune from Lon
don says.
Although Lord Roberts telegraphed
Capetown last night that there was no
change In the situation, the continued
absence Of news as 10 Gen. Buffers
movements Is not considered re-assur-
ing. The silence Of the correspondents
is doubtless due 10 censorship, and the
messages which Gen. Butler has sent
for the information Of the war Office IL
has probably been considered inexpedi-
cnt TO make public.
The Standards correspondent in
Ladysmith is the first TO yet through
from the beleagured town an unofficial
account Of the battle on January 9Th.
but unfortunately, the most important
portion OF the message, describing the
earlier stages Of the engagement. has
not vet been received. The assault ON
the western end Of Gen. Whites south
ern position was, IL seems, continued
with the utmost stubbofnness until
darkness came on. and the Devonshire
regiment In the final charge cleared the
Beers from Wagon Hill at the point OF
the bayonet. The British positions are
being strengthened all around but up
to the present the Beers have made no
fresh movement against them.
Belated dispatches describing the
warmth OF the welcome extended To
Lord Roberts and Gen. Kitchener al
Capetown are In print, with another
large budget OF mail correspondence
from South Africa. This special cor
resrondence Is less significant than the
private letters from officers and prl-
Yates which are appearing day after day
In the London and provincial press.
These letters, not being subject 10 CEN
s0rship, blurt out many Unpleasant
truths about the recent reverses Of tho
British armies. The clubs are also
filled with stories relating to Col
Coughs refusal 10 carry out Lord
Methuen's orders at Modder river. and
the probability that when tried by court
martial he will plead that Il was impos-
sible TO carry out his instructions. He
comes OF well seasoned fighting stock
The morale Of Gen. Methuen's army IL
Is rnmored, may he seriously impaired
and anew commander be Independently
There are also countless club stories
about Lord Wolseleys relations with
Sir William Butler, whose advice ala
not coincide with the headquarters o.
Inmates VI the force required for The
conquest OF the Dutch republic ana
there are rumors without end OF i'm
pending cabinet changes and reyoIn.
ticns In the war Office and treasury A
great victory by General Butler is sore-
ly needed In order TO clear the air in
London, and TO put an end 10 the in
trisues Of political marpiots.
Toronto. Jan. l5.-"With men ara
money We Will assist the mother conn
try" was what Sir wllfrid Laurier