The age-herald., 1900-03-01
The Boer Generals Face Was ,...,,4 Perfectly Placid.
FIERCE FIGHTING NEAR coLENso
The Condition of the British Wounded lp Was So Painful That Both Sides
 - Agreed to Few Hours "'ti74e Armistice.

London March 1, 4:15 a. m.-General Bull ler's distinct success in storming Pieter's hill brings the rescue of Ladysmth near, but the war office intimated late last even- ing that an immediate announcement of re- lief need not be expected. The going to and fro at midnight of officials and mes sengers suggested that important news had been received. If this was the case, Lord Lansdowne obviously desired to sleep on it before taking the public into his confi- dence. As his message reveals General Buller's successful attack came after the hard fighting of Friday and it was impro- vised and its execution begun during the armistrice of Sunday. It proposing the armis trice, the British commander stipu dated that both sides should be free to move but that neither side do no shooting. He was therefore within his privileges in immediately beginning to transfer his troops.
 General Buffers tidings come weighted with his list of casualties. His losses in the four attempts to get General White out ag- gregate 40O0. Ladysmith is in desperate straits Charles Williams the military ex- pert, says he learns on high authority, pre- srmably that of Lord Wolsely, that 'Col-
 
 gasp"
 This is not so much,' says MT. Will Hams, Ion account of any lack of provis- ions, or ammunition, neither of which is yet exhausted, as because of the poisonous waters of the Kip river and the evil effects of the heat on the Terrain, in which the garrison may reside Even those who have escaped fever, dysentery and minor dis ease claim as victims.
 fr Regiment No Use Unit
 General Butler now knows that, as units the regiment will be of no use to him for months
 "The water of Kip river is not available for drinking, and to boil 1t is impossible because of the scarcity of fuel. It is thick with putrid animal matter. Tea made of it has a suspended fibre, something like beef tea It is caused by the sewage from the Boer camps
 MT. Williams adds that when news like this passes under the thumb of the censor it more than offsets whatever jolly news may be photographed from Ladysmith There is no authoritative indication yet of what Lord Roberts will do next. It seems likely that a branch railway will be built across the vedt to lessen the difficulties of transport. Colonel Girouard, who built the
 
 sirainr on the western railway is seen from the fact that the population of Kimberley two weeks after the relief lived on reduced ra!tfons.
 Lord Roberts troops thus far have been only partly fed
 It is quite clear to technical minds that those who talk of an immediate and rapid advance far into the Free State don't re, alize the transportation conditions. The Boers, as 1t now appears have built a rail- way from Harrismith to Kromstadt to ia. cilitate the movement of their troops be. tween Natal and the Free State
 Mafeking was holding out on February 16. At that time the Boers were showing unusual activity and firing infamable shells NThe Boers who hold positions south of the Orange river have been weakened. Lord Barnetzen, writing on behalf of him. self and of other Scandinavian prisoners aftiFms that there are no mercenaries in the Boer army and no volunteers who receive a penny for their services.