Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-02-21
THE FIGHTING CONTINUES
There's Hardly a Word Allowed
to Be Sent Out--Battle With
Beers Expected at
Any Time.

London, Feb 21.-The war office de-
clares it is unable 10 substantiate the
reports Of the relief Of Ladysinrth. But
this does not prevent the public from
believing the queen has again forestalled
the authorities at Pail Mall and preferred
to communicate the glad news direct to
the public through the mayor Of Wind
sor, just as yesterday she dramatically
announced through Lord William Cecil,
commander Of a militia corps. the It'd
ings of General Buffers success hours
before the war office was able to relieve
the impatient anxiety Of the United
Kingdom. Nevertheless as the queens
words are not actually quoted in to-day 8
announcement official confirmation ID
eagerly awaited and especially as Buffers
dispatch Of yesterday is very generally
regarded as foreshadowing juncture OF
his and General Whites forces some time
to-day.
Public interest, expectation and anxi-
ETY. therefore sway uneasy and impa-
tiently between Ladysmith and Bloem-
6ontein Practical relief Of the former
place is regarded as due more to Lord
Roberts brilliant strategy in drawing
OFF the Boers than to Buffers numerous
assaults. and news Of the result Of the
battle between Kitchener and Cronje
reinforced by the force thus drawn off
from Ladysmith is expected to almost
synchronize with the announcement that
General Butler abs reached his object.
i've accomplishment of the latter.
The event, however. is regarded with
greater confidence :, an is the ability OF
Kitchener to thoroughly cripple Cronje
A. hos oN hiYoC
SO clever and daring in slipping through
the British lines that even IL Roberts
quickly occupied Bloemfontein, there
are many fears expressed that Cronje
might still preserve the effectiveness Of
his mobile force.
The war Office this evening announced
that it had no news from other sources.
There is vet nothing to throw light on
the main issue Regarding military con-
ditions, the military critics in the after.
noon newspapers express the keenest
satisfaction at the phase OF the COM
paign as revealed ~ the latest news,
drawing attention to the fact that wheth-
er or not Roberts succeeds In erecting
a decisive defeat, he has forced the
Beers to release their grip on Ladysmith,
Kimberley, Zulu!and, and Lower Natal
though admitting that the siege of Mafe-
king may be made more severe by the
arrival of the portion of the Boer force
driven off from Kimberley, endeavor-
ing to avengc itself on Colonel Baden
Powell.
Arundel dispatches dated Tuesday.
show that the Beers In force made de-
termined attempt to invest Arundel but
were baffled by the smart maneuvering
of the British mounted troops
: Cecil Rhodes is expected to arrive IN
Capetown, Feb. "a.
Further details of the attack made by
Colonel Plumer's force on the Boer posi-
tions defended by 12-pounder near Cro-
codile pools not far from Gaberones,
show that as the British were struggling
up the hill in the dark through a net OF
barbed wire they alarmed the Boer
watchdvgs, who gave the alarm. The
Beers opened fire and the British charg-
ed, but the Beers exploded dynamite
mines, doing much aamage, and the Britt
ish retreated.