The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-09
HASHARD TASK
BULLER BEsET WITH DIFFICUL-
TIES IN RELIEVING LADYsMITH.
Positions Held by the Beers Are All
strong and Defended with Cour-
age, Skill and GaIIantry.
HEAVY FIGHTING ON TUESDAY
NOTHING RECEIVED FROM NATAL
As TO LATER OPERATIONS.
British, When Last Heard from, Were
Exposed To the Enemy's ArtiI-
Iery Fire ON Three Sides.
LOSSES PROBABLY HEAVY
233 CASUALTIES REPORTED BEFORE
NOON ON TUESDAY.
Gen. Barton Expected to Advance
from Cbievely and General White
TO sortie from Ladysmith.
Gen. Barton Expected to Advance
from Cbievely and General White
to Sortfe from Ladysmith.
FIGHTING IN CAPE COLONY
ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN GENERAL
MACDONALD AND THE ENEMY.
Lord Roberts's Movements Vefled<
Gatacre, French and Kelley-kenny
Trying to Effect a Junction.

LONDON. Feb. 9. a. m.-An the mes
sages from the observers with General Bull
Ter throw in phrase or two about ''the
strength of the Boer position" and the
"difcuIties of General Buffers work. but
they do not carry events beyond Tuesday
evening Their last slender narratives leave
the British advance on vaalkrantz in the
center Of semi-clrcle. where the troops
are exposed to the Boer artillery on both
sides and in the center. The lighting con-
sinued until o'clock Tuesday evening and
almost without doubt continued Wednes-
day, as the Beers would certainly not
leave this wedge into their lines unmo-
Tested. 1t is also inferred that General Bull
Ter must either continue his advance or
retire. Tr
The heaviest fighting appears to have
been on Tuesday. General Buffers 2S3 cas-
ualties are mentioned as having occurred
before noon Tuesday. Large lists are con-
sequently expected for the rest of the day.
The casualties already reported bring the
total British losses during the war to 1924
killed. wounded and captured.
General Buffers occupation Of Wall
krantz. the key TO the lower ridges, while
n praiseworthy and gallant achievement,
by no means signifies that he and General
White will inevitably join hands. Before
CaparaI T2r1ler fbara ore savaraI davs of
hard fighting. and any attempt to forecast
the result would be valueless. If based on
precedent. which can hardly be done in
warfare. 1t would be bound to be In favor
of the Beers, for, apparently. the condi-
tons have not materiany altered since the
last fruitless attempt. On the other hand,
the British troops are smarting under de-
feat and undoubtedly are nerved to more
desperate efforts than ever before, and IL
furious gallantry can carry General Butler
over. the kopjes that face him, Ladysmith
will be relieved within a week. But, SO
far. British bravery has been, in the main,
woefully misguided. 1t is more than likely
that General Barton, at Chievely, may be
strong enough to advance on the Tugela
and render valuable assistance from the
southeast, while the beleagured garrison
itself, according to the latest dispatches,
should be able to create a potential diver
sion when General Butler has overcome
the initial difficulties which lie in. the
kopjes Immediately north Of the Tugela.
IN CAPE COLONY.
The disposition here is rather to minimize
the Importance of the fighting in Natal,
and to suggest that this is only an incident
anyway, putting hope on expected decisive
engagements In northern Cape Colony and
on the invasion Of the Free State by Lord
Roberts. At all events, this is the official
view. The public does not like these new
waits. and there is sharp anxiety for fur
ther news In Cape Colony General Mac
Donald has had skirmish with thou
sand Beers at Koodosborg This was on
Monday. The Beers have been taking the
offensive against General French, near
Rensburg.
The Boer attack on General Gatacre's
forces. reported Feb. Z. fizzled out. the
artillery of the burghers. after shelling the
camp. retiring on the arrival of British re-
Inducements. The affair scarcely. war
rants being called skirmish. The British
casualties were only one man killed and
four men wounded. The latest advices
from Sterkstroem announce that General
Gatacre's cavalry Is in pursuit OF the
Beers. While nothing has resulted from
this affair. IL indicates the burghers are
fully alive TO the importance of the concen-
tration which is on the verge OF occurring
between the forces OF Generals Gatacre.
keiley-kenny and French. and they do not
hesitate TO take the aggressive against es-
tablished positions in an attempt TO thwart
10. though II is believed that a sufficiently
large body OF troops will soon be massed
at Colesourg to insure the unopposed ad-
vance OF the invading army when Il Is
ready TO start. That IL is not prepared for
this move at present. and that all this
activity Is merely preliminary TO what is
known as Field Marshal Lord Roberts, 5
main movement. is evidenced by a dis
patch from Cape Town, under date of Feb.
2. announcing that the director of tran
sport was advertising for ox-wagons and
drivers Without these IL would be hope
hess 10 think OF carrying on the invasion.
and IL must be month before they are
ready. Another preliminary is that Gen.