The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-01

GEN. WHITES FORCE SAID TO BE
AT ITS LAST GASP.

Condition of Surroundings and the
poisonous Water of Kip River
Have Reduced the Health of the
troops to Low Standard-Gen.
BulIer's Tidings Weighted With
Long List of CasuaIties-His Losses
in Attempts to Relieve Gen. White
Are 1000.
London. March l, Ais a. m.-Gen. Bull
hill brings the rescue of Ladysmith near,
but the war office intimated late last
evening that an immediate announcement
of relief need not be expected. The 60
ing 10 and fro at midnight of officials and
messengers suggested that important
news has been received.
AS his message reveals, Gen. Buffers
successful attack came after the hard
fighting of Friday and it was improvised
and its execution begun during the arm
istice of Sunday. In proposing the arm
istice the British commander stipulated
that both sides should be free to move,
but that neither should do any shooting
lie was, therefore, within his privileges
in Immediately beginning to transfer his
troops.
Cen Buffers tidngs come weighted
with his long list of casualties. His
losses in the four attempts to get Gen.
White out aggregate 4,0O0.
Ladysmth is in desperate straits.
Charles Williams. the military expert,
says he learns on very high authority,
presumably that of Lord Wolseley, that
Gen Whites force is almost at its last
gasp"
This is not so much" says Mr.. Will
Nams, ION account of any lack of provis-
ions or of ammunition, neither of which
is yet exhausted, as because of the pois-
onous nature of the Kip river water and
the evil effects of the heat. Even those
who have escaped fever, dysentery and
diarrhoea are in a state of low vitality
They can still man trenches and would
probably hold their own against a hast
desperate assault, but they can initiate
nothing. Gen. Butler now knows that, as
units, the regiments will be of no use to
him for months.
THE water of Kip river is not available
for drinking, and to boil it is impossible,
because of the scarcity of fuel. 1t is thick
with putrid animal matter Tea made of
ii has a suspended fiber, something like
beef tea. It rs caused by the sewage from
the Boer camps"
Mr.. 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 as
Yet of what Lord Roberts will do next
1t seems likely that a branch railway will
be built across the veldt to lessen the dif-
fcuties of transport. Col Girouard, who
built the Soudan Railway, is with Lord
Roberts The strain on the western rail
way is seen from the fact that the popu-
lation of Kimberley, Two weeks after che
relief, continues on reduced rations. Lord
Roberts troops thus far have been only
partially fed
1t is quite clear to technical heads that
those who talk of an immediate and rapid
advance far into the Free State do not
realize the transport conditions The
Beers, as it now appears, have built a
railway from Harrismith to Kroomstadt
10 facilitate the movement of their troops
between Natal and the Free State.
Mafeking was holding out on Feb. 16
At that time the Beers were showing un-
usual activity and firing inflammable
she Is.
The Beers who hold positions south Of
the Orange river have been weakened.
Lieut., BaTentzen. writing on behalf of
himself and other Scandinavian prisoners
attirms that there are no mercenaries in
the Beer army.and no volunteers who re-
ceiYe penny for their services.