The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-19
BATTLE IS ON.
Heavy Fighting Long Looked
For Has Begun.
Final Effort For the Relief of
Ladysmith.
SAME OLD TACTICS
Are Being Pursued by Forces
Of the Beers
or Waiting to Get the British
Where They Want Them.

llOnQOnt JAN l5.--NTGll AouAlUA A4cA7 -
egraphed the war Office from Spear
mans camp, under date of last even
ing as follows:
Lord Dundonald with a body of
mounted troops came into action this
afternoon with a force of Beers west
of Acton Homes. After a fight he oc-
cupied several kopjes which he is still
holding. Field Cornet Heilbrun was
killed, 20 burghers were killed or wound
ed and Is prisoners taken. Two British
soldiers were killed and two wounded
HEAVY FIGHTING TO COME.
New York, Jan. ia dispatch to the
World from London says:
Gen. Buffers force is both able and
willing the Leaders war expert thinks
to threaten the DrakenS5erg mountain
passes to the Orange Free State thus
cutting off the retreat of the burghers
of that republic and at the same time
to command the roads to Ladysmith.
The same military writer also de-
clares that the Ladysmith relief column
is now in a position to flank the Boer
intrenchment on the pOnt (ferry) and
west of Potgieters drift (fOrd).
He expects Gen. White and Sir Red
vers Butler to join in a day or two
without great difficulty. The war Of
flee chiefs, however look for some very
heavy fighting before the siege OF
Ladysmith is raised
SAME OLD RUMOR.
London, Jan. LIT was rumored on
the stock exchange this morning that
after is hours fighting, Ladysmith had
been relieved and that Gen. Warren
had been killed.
Nothing was obtainable however.
tending to verify the rumOr, and it had
no appreciable effect on stocks.
LYTTLETON'S ADVANCE.
a. m.-General Lyttleton's brigade with
4 howitZer battery crossed the Tugela
river at Potgieter's drift on Tuesday,
January 16 The water rose above the
waists of the men, The Beers fired two
shots and then recalled their forces to
the trenches, the passage being unin-
terruDted.
The British advanced in skirmishing
order, and the small kopjeS on the sum-
mits where occupied by $50 p. m. Dur
ing the night it rained heavily.
Wednesday the Boer trenches were
vigorously shelled in front of Mount
Alice. while the British remained in
possession of the kOpjeS and plain.
Heavy mistS envelOped the hills, but
the naval guns and the Howitzers bat
terry made good practice thoroughly
searching the trenches. On the Boer
right breach was made in sand bag
emplacement, where it is supposed BOer
guns had been placed.
The cannonade was heavy and con-
IlnuOuS ana Lne BOefS were observed
leaving the trenches in small parties.
The hill facing the British position was
shelled next.
Gen. Warren has forced a passage of
the Tugela seven miles to the left.
BOERS OCCUPY A VILLAGE.
Graddock, Cape Colony, Jan. 1S.-On
Saturday, January 13 the Beers with
a commando of colonial repels, occupied
Prieska, a village of the Orange river.
II MILES FROM LADYSMITH.
London, Jan. ia special dispatch
from Durham, dated Wednesday, says:
Avices from POgeiters Drift, dated
yesterday CTuesday), say that Sir
Charles Warren has arrived within II
miles of Ladysmith and that British
wounded are arriving at Mooi river
field hospital by every train from the
front, indicating that there has already
been severe fighting.
Neither report has yet been confirm
ed
THE FORWARD MOVEMENT.
Mount Alice near Potgieter's Drift,
Natal Monday, Jan. 15.-The forward
movement of the relief of Ladysmith
began on Wednesday, January TO- from
mounted brigade with the Fifth brigade
under General Hart. comprising the
Dublins, the Connaughts, the Inniskill-
ings and the border regiment. proceed
ed northwesterly to Springfield The
position had previously been thorough
" recOnnoitered. A few miles outside of
Frere. Lord Dundonald passed targets
erected by the Beers to represent a force
advancing in skirmishing order. Evil
IDENTIFY the Beers had been firing at
these from the adjacent hills Lord
Dundonald pushed on. and as the main
column advanced it was notified that
Springfield was not occupied by Beers
and that the Fifth brigade had taken
position. The British transport extend
ed for several miles and comprised some
5000 vehicles.
The mounted brigade advanced rap
Idly. not meeting with any opposition
The British scouts had minutely search
ed all the suspicious country, but there
was no sign Of the enemy.
The column advanced to Mount Alice
facing the enemy's mountain fortress.
The Beers had been at POtgieter's
Drift the previous day but a body of
South African horse swan the stream
under fire and brought over the pont
from the Beers side.
The Beers were evidently surprised al
the appearance of the British A camp
could be seen on the Tugela heights
facing Mount Alice, but the enemy
quickly struck camp and cleared off in
to the mountains. A buggy was seer
leaving or the hills on the right, pre-
sumably with General JOubert or some
other commander.
General Butler took up his quarters
in a pleasantly situated farm house.
On Friday a loud explosion was heard
Subsequently it was round that the
Beers had DESTROYED a bridge under
construction seven miles above Potgie-
fer's Drift. General Butler has issued
q snirited appeal and instructions TO tbs
forces beginning;
I'VE are going to the relief of oul
comrades in Ladysmith. There will bS
no turning back"
The order proceeds to advise the mer
Ehen they charge regarding the condi-