The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-01-11
.BU[[ER ATTACKS C0LENSO.
British Again Attempt to Cross
the TugeIa River.
FIERCE BATTLE AT LADYsmlTH.

tne tugela river.
FIERCE BATTLE AT LADYSMlTH,
Eocr Forces Under Gen. Joubert Makes
q Determined Attack on the Position
seventy Men of Gen. French's Com
mand Taken Prisoners
London, Jan. "a special from
Frere Camp, dated Saturday, Jan. 6,
says:
cat 2 o'clock this afternoon the
whole of Gen. Cleary's division
marched out of camp to attack Colen-
SO. Gen. Hildyard's brigade was on the
left and Gen. Barton's on the right,
with cavalry on the extreme right.
The attack was slowly developed,
and at 4:30 the British field guns adj
vanced on the center and commenced
Smelling the Boer positions on the fiat
land between Illiwane hill and Fort
.Wylie.
about this time a heavy thunder
storm ragged over the enemy's posi-
tions.
"At $3.50 our troops were still adj
vancing and had reached point near
Colenso. The naval At and field guns
were busily dropping shells into the
enemy's trenches along the river, and
the forts of the enemy had made no
reply"
Ladysmith Hard Pressed.
London, Jan. 9.-As far as the public
or the newspapers are advised, the
Beers continued the attack on Lady
smith which was begun on Saturday,
and over Sunday were pressing Gen.
White severely, but the British posi-
ton was not yet taken. This informa-
ton was photographed by White at 8
o'clock on Saturday afternoon and for
warded by Gen. Butler to London last
night.
Gen. Whites messag, is brief, and
says: Attack removed. Hard
pressed"
To this Gen. Butler adds the expla.
nation, he could get no further news
on account of the absence of the sun,
which is necessary for heliographing,
and adding that camp rumor said
Gen. White had defeated the Beers at
S o'clock Saturday evening and had
taken 400 prisoners. Gen. Butler added
further that he had sent all his avail
able troops on Saturday to make a
demonstration at Colenso, and that his
men had discovered all the trenches
occupied by the Beers.
While this is the extent of the Lady
smith news given out by the war office
up to midnight, there is suspicion
that later advices had been received
but had been withheld.
The nature of the last official mes
sages Is unknown, and since the war
office alone is able to get fresh advices
from Ladysmith, the public will prob
ably not know before late today wheth-
er Ladysmith has fallen or whether
Gen. Butler has succeeded in forcing
his way across the Tugela and rescued
Gen. Whites force.
British Taken Captive.
London, Jan. 9.-The war office pub
fishes the following dispatch from Gen.
Forestier-Walker, commanding at Cape
Town:
Gen. French reports, under date OF
Jan. 6: The situation is much the
same as yesterday, but regret to re-
port that a serious accident has hap
pened to the first battalion of the Suf-
folk regiment.
From news just come to hand
from them l gather that, with the au-
thority and with the knowledge of
Gen. French, four companies of the
first battalion advanced by night
against low hill one mile from their
camp. They attacked at dawn. Lieut.
Col. Watson, commanding, gave orders
to charge. He was at once wounded.
Orders for retirement were given.
Three-quarters of the force re-
treated to camp. The remainder held
their ground until they were overpow-
cred by greater numbers, when they
surrendered. Seventy were taken pris-
oners, including seven officers
Gen. French reports that the Boer
commando which made the attack on
Jan. lost fifty killed, besides wounded
and prisoners. The commando was
| dispersed.
There is no change in the situation
as regards Lord Methuen and Gen.
Gatacre.
Referring to my earlier dispatch to.
day, have to report that Gen. French
reports, under date of JAM 6, that a
medical officer has been sent out to
collect all the wounded to the north
east of Colesberg. The exact list of
persons missing French has not yet
ascertained. Probably about seventy.
The first battalion of the Essex regi-
ment has been sent to replace the first
battalion of the Suffolk
"The position OF affairs, tactical and
strategic, is without alteration. A
Boer medical officer admits it was in
tended to leave Colesberg. The enc
my's loss day by day from our fire
has been heavy"
Uprising Feared In Cape Town.
The Daily Telegraph publishes this
81 ~