Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-01-18
Buffers Forces Occupy the
Hills Near the Drift.
A DASHING MOVEMENT
By Men Under Lord Dundonald Clears
the Way For the Advance of the
Entire Army-Confidence in Gen.
Butler is Restored.

the IOllOWlNS UlSpdlCu 1IOHl SPSta1 iA0 .
farm, dated January II, 9:20 p. m:
'.The force marched westward on jan
nary 10. Lord Dundonald, by a dashing
movement, occupied the hill above Pot
gieter's drift, Is miles west Of Colenso,
taking the Beers perfectly by surprise.
1.-THE same evening the infantry fol-
lowed. General L~yttington's brigade
crossed the river yesterday and today
shelled the Beers beyond with how
itzers.
General Warren's force is now cross
ing Trichardte drift. five miles above.
He is not opposed, although the Beers
are holding a position five miles from the
river"
London, Jan. $3.50 a. m.-General
Butler completely surprised the Beers
and occupied the hills beyond Pctgieter's
drift. Is miles west of Colenso. on
Wednesday, January 10. This intelli-
gence is contained in an exclusive dis
patch to the Times. dated yesterday.
He followed up the movement by she'll
ing the Boer trenches.
This news completely disposes of the
statement that Sir Charles Warren's
forces went in the direction Of Weenen,
and it tends greatly to restore confidence
in General Buffers tactics. The SUPPOSE
ton that he had divided his forces into
three columns had given cause for anx-
iety. It is now seen that such a view
was erroneous, as General Buffers forces
are concentrated.
In Cape Colony General Methuen has
made q demonstration in force, shelling
the Boer works. General Gatacre is Skin
mishing around Molteno and General
French has reen throwing a few shells
at the Beers at Rensburg. Colonel
Pluner is moving to the relief OF Mafe-
king from Bechuanaland. He is now IN
command of less tina 1000 men. MAIZE
king is in a bad way, the siege is being
pressed with determination and the
kaifirs are deserving because OF plnched
rations and the necessity OF eating horse
meat.
The Standards vivid account of the
assault Upon Ladysnith shows that the
garrison was surprised and that several
times the situation was critical. Out of
a detachment of 80 Gordon Highlanders
who surrendered, every man was wound
ed, says the correspondent. Curiously
enough, this is the first mention of the
capture of the IEighlanders. The Boer
repalse at Ladysmith was the heaviest
counterstrolle Of the war.
The government is relaXing it's efforts
to send out reinforcements. 1t is quite
undecided as to when the Eighth divi7ion
will be shipped. The war office declines
the offer of q third battalion Of North
a~mptonshire militia, saying that no more
militia will be sent abroad. 1t seems
probable that only 5000 instead of 10000
will be modified.
The war office sent for Lord Strath-
coma yesterday and he had a long inter-
view with the officials, particularly Gen.
Sir Evelyn Wood. h details of his
force have been arranged and cabled to
Canada. .
j. J. Van Aliens offer to give q field
hospital section, to consist of three
wagons, 25 cots and 20 transport animals,
with all the appliances. has been accept
ed by the war Office. The section will be
called the American section of the hos
pital, to which it is attached.
The ministers are gathering for a cab
inet council. which will probably be held
tomorrow (Friday).
Modder River. Jan. 17.-There was a
demonstration in force Under General
Methuen yesterday, a division being en-
gagged with the object of aScertaining
the strength and disposition Of the Boe1
force and also in order to try to draw
the Beers from Kimberley, where lately
they ave been active.
The British discovered the Beers in
great force, having been reinforced from
the direction of Ja~cobsdahl. At 4:30 the
artillery opened fire, the shells dropping
in the Boer entertainments with great
precision. The movement was directed
against the Beers left. The firing con
tinued until sunset with mostly artillery.
The Beers reserved their fire until the
British We're returning to camp in the
darkness. when six shells followed them.
There were no casualties among the
British troops.
London, a ia dispatch to the
Daily News from Spearman's farm de-
scribing Lord Dundonald's advance to
Swartzkop hill, commanding Potgieter's
drift, says:
Gen. Lyttleson's brigade was sent to
hold a position on Swartzkop hill. Leav-
ing a strong body to hold Colenso and
General Hilyard's brigade at Springfield
our whole force advanced without delay,
After four days halt on the south side
OF the Tugela. our dvanc northward
began on Tuesday. January 16. General
Lyttleton's brigade crossed the drift tina,
evening and held the kopjes on our right
Sir Charles Warren's division has made
an attack upon the enemy's flank. This
column is now crossing the river"
officers 0f Senate