Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-02-10

London, Feb. S-When a u1Spatcn an
nouncing the fighting on the Upper Tu-
gela was published there was the usual
scene of excitement on the streets. The
big placards attracted newspaper buy
ers and the news was eagerly discussed
in all quarters. There was notable ex-
citement in the house Of commons.
where, in addition to the war office an
nouncement that General Butler had
crossed the Tugela Monday, and was
advancing upon Ladysmith, q news
agency telegram was posted saying that
100 additional ambulance stretchers had
been sent to the front from Durham.
The war office message, as given out,
furnishes no clue as to where the Tu-
gela was crossed, nor the numbers sup
porting General Buffers movement.
But, it Is presumed, this third attempt
will be supreme effort on the part of
the general to cut his way through. an
other that he will employ every avail
able man. The expression in the olti-
cial dispatch. "Is now advancing upon
ladysmith," it is pointed out. must not
be taken to mean that General Butler
has cut down all opposition. but merely
that he Is headed in the direction of the
besieged town. and the public are there
fore naturally on tenter-hooks in re-
gard to the next news.
The British columns are putting them
selves in motion in all parts of the South
African war field. A combined attack
upon the Beers appears to be in prog
ress. General Butler has gained foot
ing on the plateau north of the Tugela,
after two days fighting.
On the far western border Lord Me-
thuen has begun turning movement
against the Boer right, while General
Macdonald threatens the Boer flank
thus relieving the pressure on Lord
Methuen's front.
Lord Roberts, who. according to an in
formant in close touch with the war
office, is in the middle of the theater of
war, has begun the march to Bloemfon-
tein.
1t really looks as though the general
forward movement so long talked of,
were in progress. General Buffers third
attempt at relieving Ladysmith absorIs
attention. kilograms of from 100 to 200
words, from a dozen correspondents.
IiuNG uScl pooSSu Ny thS SShooiB "hO hdS
apparently redated messages written
| Monday or Tuesday to Wednesday at 6
| p. m. From these it is clear that General
Butler up to Tuesday evening, had taken
| one hill, had repulsed Boer counter
attack, and was holding the position
| against an enfilading fire from Spion kop
and Eoorm Kloof. His losses. as men-
toned by one correspondent. are $50.
| The Standard has the following from
| Spearman's Camp, dated FEB. s: The
force under General Butler is again ad-
| vancing to the relief of Ladysmith, and
after two days of severe fighting, it may
J fairly be said to have made good first
step on the road to the besieged town.
The movement was begun at an early
hour on Monday morning by way of
Potgieter's Drift. The Eleventh bri-
gade, forming a part of the Fifth di-
vision, under General Warren, made a
feint attack upon the kopjes imme-
diately on our front. The assault was
delivered at the outset under cover of
naval guns on Mount Alice, and sub
sequently under that of field batteries.
The infantry advanced steadily to-
ward the Boer entrenched position at
Brakfontein, and kept the enemy busily
| employed. While this diversion was
being made, the remainder Of the in
fantry told off for the attack, who had
| bivouacked Sunday night under Mount
Alice, moved along at the foot of
Zwarts' kop, in the direction of our
right.
| A pontoon bridge was thrown across
the Tugela river by the engineers. under
the fire Of the enemy. The first bat
talon to move across In the forenoon
was the Durham light infantry. of Gen
eral Lyttleton's brigade. They ad-
vanced against Vaal Krantz, which lies
on the most direct road to Ladysmith
and, after two hours splendid work
they got within charging distance of the
Beers.
The first of the kopjes was carried by
them at the point of the bayonet. will,
the utmost gallantry. Almost stimuli
taneously, the first battalion rife bri
gade cleared the second kopJe. and, af.
ter moving across the long ridge. they
bivouacked on the spot.
The work accomplished so far has
been magnificcntly done. The shell
and Maxim fire poured in by the Beers
has been extremely severe, but our
losses are, comparatively speaking
small. The Durham light infantry took
few prisoners In the course of their
charge.
The enemy. as usual, fought with the
utmost stubbornness. The British
maneuvering and the accurate aim or
the part of the British artillery during
the fighting Monday. were beyont
praise. There is not the slightest likeli.
hood that the Beers will succeed in dis
lodging us from the positions we have
gained. and the prospects of the relief
of Ladysmith are decidedly hopeful.
EsterhaZy Wants to BE PrOsecut cd
Paris, Feb. S.-Major Esterhazy, the
reputed author of the bordereau which
brought about the conviction of Captain
Dreyfus. has recently shown signs o
life by sending to the amnesty com