The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-09

bulletin from Gen. Butler:
"Freere Camp, Jan. 8.
''The following IL from White. dated
p. m. yesterday:
"'An attack was commenced on my po-
sition, but was chiefly against Caesars
In great strength, and has pushed the at
tack with the greatest courage and energy.
Some OF the intrenchments on Wagon hill
were three times taken by the enemy and
retaken by US. The attack continued until
7:30 p. m.
lone point in our position was occu-
pied by the enemy the whole day. but at
dusk. in a very heavy rain storm, they
were turned out Of this position at the
point Of the bayonet in the most gallant
manner by the Devonshires. led by Col.
Park
"'Col Ian Hamilton commanded on
Wagon hill and rendered valuable service.
The troops have had q very trying time
and have behaved excellently. They are
elated at the service they rendered the
queen.
"The enemy were repulsed everywhere
with heavy loss, greatly exceeding that
on my side, which will be reported as soon
as the lists are completed
News Relieves the Tension.
Not since the day Of Gen. Buffers re-
verse has such crowd OF inQuirers visit
ed the war office. As the afternoon prog
ressed q rumor obtained currency that
Ladysmith had surrendered and the de-
preston in the Hobbies had become ex-
treme when an official appeared and in a
loud voice shouted: Good newsw and
posted the dispatch chronicling brilliant
victory for the British troops. Even the
brief official announcement by Gen. White
se6ms to entitle his success to the adjec-
tive ''brilliant" 80 often misused during
the present war.
Reading between the lines Of Gen.
Whites dispatch, 1t is evident that there
was q desperate fight, the British in
trenchments being thrice taken and re-
taken and at dusk the Devonshire regi-
ment, at the point of the bayonet. drove
out the Beers from another position which
they had occupied all day long. The news
spread with astonishing rapidity all over
London and caused an instantaneous
change in the aspect of the metropolis.
Smiling Faces Everywhere.
Smiling faces were seen everywhere and
even at the sedate foreign office and other
departments Of the government elaticn
was shcwn The newspapers were all
jubilant.
lines, announced Glorious victory at
Ladysmith."
White still Holds Out.
LONDON, Jan. Q, 3:45 a. m.--Gen. White
still holds out, or did so sixty hours ago.
when the Beers. ousted from their foot
hold inside the works. suspended their
assault at nightfall. England has taken
heart. The situation. however. is worse.
The beleaguered force must have expend-
ed large amounts of ammunition, which
cannot be replenished, and must have lost
q number of officers and men, which Is
ccunterbalanced. 50 far as the garrison
is concerned, by the greater loss Of the
Beers.
Gen. White still needs relief, and the
difficulties confronting Gen. Butler are as
great as before. The formers unadorned
sentences as read and reread. suggest elo-
quently the peril in which the town was
for fourteen hours. and how barely able
his 5000 men were to keep from being
overcome.
Fears for Shortage of Ammunition.
The chief concern for Gen. White is In
respect of ammunition. Sixty-eight days
ago, at the beginning of the siege, his
comparatively small ammunition was
vaguely described as plenty" His artil-
lery then had 800 rounds per gum. Some
of the batteries have been in action fire.
quently since then. and all were probably
engaged last Saturday. His stock Of
shells, consequently, must be low, and this
will make 1t difficult for Gen. White to
cooperate in a movement by Gen. Butler
The intrenchments at Iadysmith. as de-
scribed in message that left a day or
two before the fight, and has just come
through, are fortified hills. we'll covered
with rifle pits and trenches, down which
the infantry move in single file to the
tions are stin served, but no whisky or
tobacco.
Buffers Men strung Out.
Spencer Wilkinson, in the Post, points
out that there is one division only at
Chiveiey, another at Freere, and a third
at Estcourt. AS Chiveley is seven miles
from Colenso, the second division would
have had to march twelve miles to get In
to action and the third division twenty
two miles. Gen. Buffers $4,000 men and
seventy guns were therefore almost inac-
tive on Saturday. and when Gen. White
photographed Gen. Butler. Gen. Butler
could really make no move but an inef-
fective demonstration.
Unlimited Order for ARTILLERY.
England is preparing ornaments. and
twenty-five transports will be on the way
to South Africa during the present month.
According to the programme, 25.00o addi-
tionaI troops and seventy-two guns will
soon be aioat. The government has or
dered vickers' Sons & Maxim. Limited,
to manufacture as many 4.7-inch and g.
inch quick-frers as can be turned out un-
til otherwise notified.
bitter PHI for the Suffolks' Friends.
kilograms from Rensberg say seven Of
ficers and thirty men Of the Suffolks were
killed and about fifty captured. French's
announcement that the Essex regiment has
been sent there to replace the Suffolks is
more bitter 10 the latter's friends than the
list of casualties. as the only inference