Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-02-08

tOria and Rl0emfontein are not cen
tiers Of national life. like Paris ant
London. To occupy them. therefore
would have little effect, unless after
the defeat of the B0er army. Tn,
Boer power is the body of citizen.
constituting the army. II is. there
fore. our first business TO crush thu
biggest army. namely. that in the Vi
entity of Ladysmith. Though there
have been apparently troops enongh IN
South Africa. Gen. Butler has never
had sufficient number for this pur.
pose, Accordingly the outlines of the
war reveal no bold and clear concep-
ton. Until the strategical idea emer-
gcs and controls the whole operation
there can be no decided turn in the
tide"
President steyns Address
London, Feb. 3.-The correspondent
of the Times at Lorenzo Marques.
telegraphlng Yesterday, says: Presi-
dent Steyn, addressing the burghers
in Natal, accused Great Britain of CO.
ercng the Beers into war. He said
that England had already drunk deep
~ of I'oer blood, but was still unsatis-
fled. Had not Sir Alfred Miner, he
asked, said that the Afrikanders must
oe annihilated? "rhis is the grand,
final object of the war;" he exclaimed
"but God will never permit the sub
lection of the Afrikandcrs. Let not
the burghers initiate the barbarian
like looting Of which the enemy itre
guilty, but let them struggle as Chris
tans. If we do so unitedly our con
test for life and the destiny Of our
race must end in victory"
Provisions Getting Scarce at Kimbsrley
Mafeking. Feb. 3.-Siege rations of
bread and meat have only now been
enforced. Oats intended for horses are
now saved to supply the troopers if
needed. Timed milk and matches are
Communicated. Liquor is scarce.
Lady Sarah Wilson is pluckily attend
ing to hospital work and constantly
passing to and fro under shell fire.
London, Feb. 5.-AIthough there Is
no actual confirmation of the report
that Gen. Butler has ,recr0ssed the
Tugela on a third desperate attempt to
relieve Ladysmith. it is known that
he war Office has received several
South African dispatches which have
not yet been published, and, II the
advance is an actual fact, the secret
Is being well kept.
There are newspaper dispatches in
plenty from Spearman's camp up to
Sunday, but there is no hint that an
advance had been begun and it is
assumed ip some quarters here that
Lord Dundonalds reconnaissance in
The district of Hongers pOort may
De the only foundation for the state
nent that Gen. Butler had started.
On the other hand dispatches from
|.adysmith rather Indicate that the
advance is in operation by reported
leavy firing on Friday and Saturday
rom the directions of Potgieter's
lrft and Colenso.
A dispatch to the Daily Chronicle
rom Ladysmith, dated yesterday,
says: "A report has reached us that
me brigade has crossed the Tugela."
The reports that the Beers are re-
concentrating around Ladysmith are
llso an indication that preparations
ire being made to resist Gen. Butler
II for an attempt at reattack upon
he garrison in anticipation of his
ldvance. The fact, however. that no
irng has been reported under yes
erday's date, either from Ladysmith
" Spearman's camp, might be inter-
,reted to mean either that the at
empt had failed or that Gen. Butler
rad merely made demonstration
IN Friday or Saturday.
Various rumors are current. One
ays that Gen. Butler is again attack
ng Spion kop from the side of Gen.
camp. Another is that he
received information from the owner
If Spion kop farm and crossed by |
ords further west than richards |
lrift. The military authorities in
london think it more likely that the
r0ssing would be made east OF
warts kop. Speculation, however, is
lseless. The public can only wait in
PATIENCE and it may be said also, in
Nor is the feeling OF
'nxiety much relieved by the posi-
,ility that Gen. Buller has been con-
iderably reinforced since the disaster |
it Spion kop.
spencer Wiikinson'a Prediction.
London, Feb. 5.-Spencer Wilkinson
n the Morning Post to-day predicts
hat the war will end rightly in spite
If all bungling. He says When
.ord Roberts is ready for the advance
/ new complexion will be put on the
There will be strageticsl
dea, and as this idea gradually re-
'eals itself what seemed an inextric-
'be tangle of difficulties will In time
present itself as comparatively sim
Die problem" Then at great length,
Mr.. Wilkinson proceeds to crticise
the great blunders of policy, strategy |
md tactics to which all the disasters
ire directly attributable" He saws.