Connecticut western news., 1900-01-18
NOISE OF BATTLE HEARD
Heavy Artillery Firing In Direc-
 ton of Springfield.
OHBERFULNEss IN THE WARoFFIOE
Generally Believed That News of Successes by Butler Has Been Re ceived. but Is Kept Dark For Strategic Reasons.

Successes by Butler Has Been Re
 ceived. but Is Kept Dark For
 Strategic Reasons.
 London, Jan. 1.-The silence in Natal is broken this morning by the single item of news from Pietermaritzburg that very heavy firing was heard on Monday in the direction of the Tugela.
 From this it is possible that hard fight ing has begun and that the British are not beng allowed to cross the Tugels without fierce opposition.
 On the other hand, it may be only the bombardment preliminary to the assault on Colenso, or merely heavy artillery fire meant to cover the flank operations which are now generally believed to be going on in force on the British left and to the eastward at Potgieter's drift.
 The reports emanating from Durban and Frere that General Warren has nov ed toward Weenen are now regarded as officially inspired to distract attention from General Buffers move.
 No information is allowed to pass as to the position of the various columns which are now forcing the passage of the Iu- gela
 One version places General Warren at Colenso. According to another he is with General Butler north of Springfield.
 The Natal telegrams which have ar rived during the last few days are not to be trusted. for the censors are not likely to let anything pass which would disclose General Buffers real intentions.
 But, while the public is in the dark, there is every reason for saying that the war office has not only received news from General Butler which it is keeping secret, but that the news has been of a most satisfactory nature.
 War Oftice Has Good News.
 It is said on good authority that since Sunday morning the war office has been in possession of news which it cannot give out until the aim of the combined movement of Generals Butler and War ren has been accomplished.
 What is patent to all is the change in the demeanor of high officials of the war office ill the last few days.
 An air of suppressed exultation has re- placed the worried, serious mood. X lit- tie straw which perhaps shows in which way the wind is blowing is found in the extreme gayety of General Wolseley at q dinner party on Monday evening.
 This unusual good humor on the part of Lord Wolselcy. which was described to me as being quite remarkable, might likely be caused by good news from the front.
 To back this supposition up there is the fact of the perfect silence from Boer sources. From them, if not from Gen eral Butler, we would have had some in- dication ere this had there been any re- verse for the British forces. Another straw showing the probability not only that news has been received. but that some of it is leaking out, is the statement made by the military critic in this mornings Leader, who is known to be exceptionally lucky in obtaining in- side news. to the effect that on Monday morning General Warren's division was encamped between Springfield, where General Butler al that time had his head quarters, and Bethany, being five miles north of the former place, and that Gen eral Butler had assuredly one and it was believed two passages of the river in his hands.
 Generals French and Gatacre have both been busy making reconnoissances, the former toward Noryafs pont and the latter in the direction of Molteno and | Stormberg, and they are waiting for re- endorsements before moving on the Boers, who have been shifting their posi- | tions in a manner which indicates pos | sible concentration at Colesberg bridge, | Norvals pont, Bethulie bridge and Ali ! wal North for the defense of the Orange | river on similar lines to those which pre- vailed at Modder river