The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-17
Public Anxiety to Hear From
General Butler
Is Still in an dissatisfied Con-
ditiOn.
HEAVY FIRING HEARD
1t Is Believed That a Big Battle
Is in Progress.
Beers Make a Fierce Attack on
Fxench's Position.

London, Jan. 17.-2:O5 p. m.-Public
anxiety regarding the advance on La
dysmith remains unappeased, and the
vague rumors that a general engage
ment is progressing purpOrting to en-
anate from Durham and Pietermaritz-
burg are based solely on the belief that
Gen Buffers arrangements to advance
would be completed Monday or Tues
day at the latest.
The war office this afternoon posted
this notice.
''The following telegram is the only
news which has been received in regard
to Gen. Buffers operations near Spring
field" The telegram then proceeds to
report the death Of a private from dys-
entery at Springfield bridge camp, Jan
uary 49, and the wounding of another
private in a reconnaissance towards the
Tugela river January Is.
The Times publishes the following
from Pietermaritzburg, dated Tues
day:
Very heavy artillery firing was
heard yesterday in the direction of
Springfield"
The Exchange and Telegraph COM
pany has received the following dis
patch dated Tuesday, January 10, from
Pietermaritzburg:
There is no news from the front, buA
heavy firing was heard today in the di-
rection of Frere. 1t is probable that
Gen Butler is engaging the enemy.
"A rumor is current here that a por-
ton of the British force is near Lady
smith"
A dispatch to the Daily Mail from
PieteEna ritzburg, dated Tuesday. saws:
There was very heavy firing to the
north yesterday. I believe the Beers
G0nTaETInU frTII IIars Sc r
the Tugela. HOwitzers are evidently
busy, as the firing is described as the
heaviest yet heard in Natal"
The war office has received the fol-
lowing dispatch from Lord Roberts da-
feft Cape Town. January 16. evening"
on the 18th the Beers made a de-
termined attack on Freneh's advanced
post held by the New Zealand mounted
rifles and detachment of the First
Horkshires. The Beers were repulsed
having 20 killed. Their wounded are es-
tlmated at not less than so. The attack
was preceded by long range fire from
one gun.
otherwise the situation is unchang-
ed"
MAY BE NEAR LADYSNIITH
New York Jan. IA Herald dis
patch from London says The Morning
Posts military critic says assuming
that Gen. Butler has gone to the left
with two divisions, leaving one before
ChieVeley. he probably moved with the
first to Frere and Springfield and
thence to POtgieters drift For the sec
ond he would choose another passage
as 10000 men would take the best part
Of a day to make the passage at one
point.
A division from Estcourt moving off
when Gen. Butler moved from F'rere
would be screened from the enemy's OBJ
serVatiOn. The movement continued
would take it to point west of Pot
gleterS drift, as the next passage to
the westward according to the maps is
that on the road to Bethany It is pos
sible that Gen. Warren's division fol-
lowed that road. In that case after
crossing the river it would have a very
long march. 1t is about thirty miles or
two days to DewdrOp from EstcOurt
BY way of Bethany to DewdroD if is
not less than eighty miles. or about
weeks march, 50 that if Gen. Warren
left Estcourt on Tuesday ar. Wednes-
day last he may to-day be with a days
march of DeWdroD.
Dewdrop is about ten miles from Pot
gieters drift, and the operation which
fronts Gen. Butler is about half wav be-
tween the drift and Dewdrop If there
fore while Gen. Butler was attacking
the Beers Gen. Warren came along the
road from Bethany he would strike
from point beyond the Beers flank
behind the center of their position.
Thus two forces would be delivering on
the battlefield cOncentric attack a
most effective form of attack, and the
direction of Gen. Warren's advance
would if he were successful carry his
troops into Ladysmith.
USE CAPTURED GUN.
Bensberg. Cape Colony, Tuesday. Jan.
16.-The Beers opened an artillery duel
this morning, using a captured British
fifteen FOUNDER, which the British gun
ners ultimately silenced. The British
kept up a searching fire all day long
on the Boer kopjes and also dragged up
another gun to the summit OF Coles
kopf.
London. Jan. 17.-Gen. French's sue
cess, though cOnsoling to the British. is
recognized as being only a side issue.
The country is grateful to learn that
the British losses in this enga cement
were only six men killed and five
wounded. The news that two trans
ports with troops have been ordered
from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth in
dicates that substantial reinforcements
are on their way to Gen. French.
STOCKS ADVANCED.
London Jan. 17.-Prices on the stock
exchange to-day advanced on the ru-
NOR that Ladysnith had been relieved.
There is nothing elsewhere to corrobo-
rate the report
METHUEN MAKES A PLAY
Modder River, Cape Colony, Jan. IL
There was a demonstration in force un-
der Gen Methuen yesterday, a division
being engaged with the object OF aScer-
tanning the strength and disposition of
the BOer force and also in order to try
TO draw the Beers from Kimberley
where lately they have been active. The
British discovered the Beers in great
force and being reinforced from the di-
rectlon of Jacobsdal
At 4:S0 the artillery opened fire, the
shells dropping in the Boer entrench-
rnents with great precision. The attack
was directed against the Beers left.
The firing continued until sunset, most
~ with artillery although the guards on