The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-01-30
is BUTLER R~ETREATlNG?
& LONDON on DIT SAYS THAT
HE IS.
HIS ONLY HOPE IS IN SWIFT RETREAT
So Declares a Pretoria Dispatch Which the War
Office Oi.credi's. Another Dispatch Says
Maieking has Been Relieved.
Leyds at Berlin.

Office during the night Is a dispatch
from Lord Roberts dated yesterday
Saturday stating that the situation is
unchanged and that General French re-
ports a reconnaissance Of the eneny's
position on Thursday when he found the
Beers strongly posted at pietfontein.
The maps do not show any such place
n The region Of General French's opera
mons and it is probable that Keitfontein,
Ten miles north of Colcsburg. is the place
alluded 10.
y special dispatch from Colenso. dated
"Wednesday, January 9th, says that
tommandant Lucas Meyers commando
surprised and surrounded a strong body
of General Methuen's infantry, killing
and wouudins % and capturing Is.
POLICY OF CONCEAIMENT.
London, Jan. 27.-The Defense Com
Office this afternoon. Lord Salisbury pre-
siding. There are reiterated JUNIORS
that the gravest kind OF news from Ma
tai is being concealed by the War Office.
1t is even said that General Buffers fore
es are in full retreat.
Sir Michael Hicks-Beach. the Chan
cellor Of the ENcheQuer, came to Lon
Ion %purposely to ATTEND, and Joseph
Chamberlain the Secretary of State for
the Colonies. gave up other engagements
fST the same reason.
1t is impossible to confirm or deny these
reports OF disaster to Buller's forces, rs
the officials maintain silence. They say
they have nothing for publication. 1t is
evident, however, from the o~tfices's an
nouncement thar the casualties report
ed by General Butler occurred i'll Gen
elal Lyttieton's brigade. which appl-
recently was not engaged at Spion hop,
that there has been severe lighting not
vet reported.
Lord Wolseley. the Commandments
Of the forces, WAS also present at the
meeting OF the committee. There is no
mention here OF the reports circulated
in the United States that General Cherry
has been defeated by the Beers. The
last heard of General Glory was TINT he
was participating liz General Warren's
movements.
WARREN WAS ENT1lAPPFD.
Berlin, Jar. 21.-Some Of the papers
here claim to have q telegram from Pre-
toria saying that General Warren was
enticed into Spion kop, where the Beers
fell upon him: that II Of his annon We're
captured. and that Buffers hasty re-
treat over the Tugela River alone can
save him.
The alleged Pretoria telegram adds that
the British losses We're 500 men killed
and 1900 wounded. The dispatch comes
through Brussels and does not receive
much credit in this city.
4 ONESIDED BATTLE.
Boer Camp. Moiderspruit. Upper
Tugeia River. Tuesday, Jan. &.-The
British are now endeavOring Ia force
with 10000 troops the Spion kop route
to Ladysnith. The firing on General
Botha's position yesterday WIS terrific.
The grass was fired, rocks disloiend
and trenches pierced. hut the battle MAS
practically one-sided. the Federals only
firing thirty shots. \ ball from q shfl!
landed in General Botha's pocket. Inc
only Bocr casualties were some hnrsc~
wounded. The firing ceased at dark, but
was resumed this morning in the vicinity
of Ladysmith and here. but up to neon |
it lacked vigOr.
IMPORTANT MOVEMENTS.
London. Jan. 2T.-There are signs of
important movements developing in the
North Of Cape Colony. General French
has succeeded in getting j touch with
General Gataere, po>siblt ~prcsaging 4
combination Of the two columns and the
commencement Of 4 concentration Of the
forces which is believed to be the ground |
work OF Lord Roberts plan of campaign.
ANGER AGAINST BUTLER.
London. Jan. 27.-The War Office has
no news Of the catastrophe to Gencrai
Buffers forces reported from Berlin, and
diScredits the story. Neither has the |
War Office any explanation at least for
publication OF the abandonment Of Splon
Nop, and there are 10 adyices in this
connection from independent sources.
The disposition today IS to regard the
evacuation as not SO serious rs at hrSt
thought. and comnent0rS are abusing
the military authorities, both at the front
and at home. for publishing hasty &C
cunts Of an incomplete, ha~lf-understood
operation. thus alternately thrilling and
the nation.
The afternoon PAPERS describe the Gen
erals dispatches as unpleasant reading
for the British people, Intensely mortl-
to the national pride and damaging
70 the conntry's prestige and scathingly
the GazettinS. AT the present
time Of reports which. the ST. James Ga
zttte says display academic ~frivolity
not r~ncommonly found in combination
with considerable practical i~ncapaclty.
alrSing into slleering when they ought 70
and filed with the slang and
lumOr OF Kipling'S s1thalterns."
The st. James Gazette sums up Its
rs follows:
These dispatches show the folly which
las prevailed throughout the period the
-ampaign has covered md which has eX-
ictod its usual 1.-THE OF lives and men,
The War Office announces that the
casualties reported by eneral Butler
yesterday occurred in the battalions Of
General Lyttleton's brigade which, SO