Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-01-09
Desperate Fighting at LadySmith,
the British Entertainments
Thrice Lost and Retaken.
BOERS DRIVEN At POINT OF BAYONET.
The News Spread With Rapidity in
London and Caused Smiling
Faces Everywhere.
The Beers Pushed the Attack with
Great Energy and Courage
The Hattie Continued Jn-
til After Midnight.

of Gen. Buffers reverse has such a
crowd g inquirers visited the war
office. As the afternoon progressed
rumor obtained currency that Lady
smith had surrendered and the de-
preston in the lobbies had become
extreme when an official appeared and
ia loud voice shouted: Good
news!" and posted the dispatch chron-
icling brilliant victory for the Brit
announcement sent by Gen. White
seems to entitle his success to the
adjective brilliant" so often mis-
used during the present war. Read
ing between the lines of Gen. Whites
dispatch it is evident that there was
desperate fight, the British en-
trenchments being thrice taken and
retaken, and at dusk the Devonshire
regimen at the point of the bayonet
drove out the Beers from another
position which they had occupied all
day long The news spread with as
tonishing rapidity all over London
and caused an instantaneous change
in the aspect of the metropolis. Smil-
ing faces were seen everywhere and
even at The sedate foreign office and
other departments of the government
great eiaUion was shown.
The newspapers were all iubilant.
The conservative Standard in big
headlines announced GLORIOUS vic
tory at Iadysmith."
1t was not until the middle of the
afternoon that there was an official
confirmation forthcoming of Frere
Camp rumors of Gen. Whites success
at Ladysmith. But at 3:40 p. IN. the
war Office relieved the extreme ten
sion of the waiting crowds by posting
the following dispatch from the front:
"Frere Camp, Natal, Jan. 9.-The
following is from White, dated ? p. M.
Sunday:
An attack was commenced on my
position. but was chiefly against
Caesars camp and Wagon hill The
enemy wss in great strength and has
pushed the attack with the greatest
courage and energy. Some of the en-
trenchments on Wagon hill were three
y NV tdNNh ny anu
by us. The attack continued until
7:3O at night. One point in our posi-
ton was occupied by the enemy the
whole d"y. BAIT at dusk, in heavy
they were turned out OF
this position at the point of the bay
onet, in most gallant manner by the
Devons, led by Col. Park. Col. Ian
Hamilton commanded on Wagon hill
and rendered valuable service. The
troops have had very trying time,
and behaved excellently.
1.-THE enemy were repulssd every
where with very heavy loss, greatly
exceeding that on my side, which will
Oe reported as soon as the lists are
Telegrams from Rensburg say sev.
N officers and 30 men OF the Suffolks |
we're killed and about so captured |
len. Frrnch's announcement that the |
essex regiment has been sent to re-
Lace the SuffollSs Is more bitter TO |
he latter's friends than the list OF |
az the only inference de.
Iucible from this fact is that the Suf- |
olks disgraced themselves and their |
lag by boiling and leaving a few OF
heir more stanch comrades to fill the
'retoria iails.
Lord DE la War;, In a graphic de.
cription of the battle of Magersfon.
Elm says; 1T is useless to disguise
hat large percentage of the troops
ire losing heart for campaign com.
Irised Of succession of frontal at
.Gcks on an invisible foe, securely en-
renCheu and rnreachable. Our men
ought admirably, but they were
asked to perform miracles. Don't
blame them, and don't blame the gal
ant general who was the first vic
m of The terrible disaster which ov-
'rcame the Highland brigade. They
parched in quarter column TO their
loom Gen. Wauchope's last words:
For Gods sake, men, do not blame me
or this" will gladden. the hearts Of
l's numberless friends. There was no
'ccord rNtween Gen. Methuen and
len. Wauchope in regard To the best
Method Of attack. Gen. Mmthuen's
ian prevailed, and the mistake lost
80 men "
LoHdCr. Jan. 0 "A rumor was cur.
ent in this ciey Monday evening that
zen, Butler has crossed the Tugela
iyer. captured IL guns and is nov
larchins on Ladysmith.
London, Jan. 9.-Nothing has been
eceived corroborative of the rumof
hat Gen. Butler has crossed the Tu-
ella river, SO The report must be TAX.
= with all reserve.