The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1900-01-22
Tt Nd blTH Is nov on
SATURDAY WITNESSED SHARP
sKlRMlsnEs iN FORCE.
Beth Sides a-e Rushiaa Forward Rein.
fercemenes and a. Bloody Battle
wiz Surely Follow Buffers For
ward Movement-Anxiety Felt.

London, Jan. 21.-The great
battle which will decide the fate of
Ladysmith and practically the
whole campaign in Natal began
yesterday morning and lasted all
day. Itwas only preliminary fight
ing. for the decisive fighting is yet
to come.
Both the British and the Beers
undoubtedly rushed, up reinforce
ments last night and today's battle
will be laore bloody,
Gen. Butler fails to give the loca
cation of yesterdays battle. but it
was probably near Acton Holmes.
an the main road leading to Lady
smith.
From the west Gen. Warren's
division is making a swing around
the left on the outer circle, while
Butler with the main army, has
been creeping across the Tugela on
parallel inner circle.
Warren's greater sweep has ena-
bled him to advance further north
ward, and as he closed gradually in
toward Ladysmith his advance
under Gen. Clery came first in con-
tact with the Beers.
1t is mere conjecture how many
troops were engaged or what their
exact positions are since Bnller's
dispatch is SO meager, but it is easy
to deduce from the general plan of
campaign that Clery, after proceed
ing north from the Tugela until he
struck the main road near Acton
Holmes, turned eastward and
marched toward hadysmith, while
Butler is coming up from the direct
south ready to concentrate at any
point.
The British found yesterdays
fighting similar to previous pre-
liminary engagements, the Beers
falling back from ridge to ridge on
their main position, which is always
their greatest strength, leading the
British on to final assault.
This time the Beers seem to have
been farther out than usual as the
British have driven them in three
miles.
The fighting has evidently been
more in the nature of skirmishing
i'm strong force than a pitched bat
tie.
The decisive fight will be the at
tack on the Boer intrenchments.
1t remains to be seen whether Bull
ler will attempt another bloody as
sault or try a fianking game.
He has a good opportunity for
the latter, as Warren's whole divi-
sion undoubtedly joined Clery
last night in front of the Beers
while Butler can move up his own
troops ON the enemy's flank.
IL Butler wins, Ladysmith is
saved; if he is checked again the
town must fall.
All the indications point to the
next few days being full of desper-
ate and bloody struggling. The
first days fight is clearly in favor
of the British. The earliest dawn
will see the battle renewed.
The war Office contained so many
anxious officials last night that
Lord Lansdowne ordered the of
fee to be kept open all Sunday fol
the accommodation of the host oi
callers of all degrees, who are GER
tain to 60 there for the --latest
news of the great fight.
No correspondent with Butler
has as yet reported his entire force
across the river and nothing has
been telegraphed about the guns
having been taken across since thu
first howitzer battery and some
naval guns were planted on th'
north shores of the river.
The talk of the camp" on,
correspondent telegraphed yester
day, is that the seemingly mex
plicable surrender of the river t.
the British portends some cunning
ruse."
RIVER REPORTED RISING.
| D.~l.a T. 01 TLo n-ok.nI 4,