The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1900-01-19
DOES NOT REAssuRE,
Gen. Roberts Dispatch OF No Change
in the Situation Fails to Allay
Public Anxiety.

Public Anxiety.
London, Jan. 15.-The war office is
sued at, midnight dispatch from Field
Marshal Roberts, dated Cape Town, Sun
day, January IA, $3.50 p. M, saying:
''There is no change in the situation to.
day." The war Office simultaneously is
sued the following from Lord Roberts,
dated Cape Town, January 10, $3.50
p. M:
The British made no attempt to hold
the first line Of breastworks, but made an
exceedingly stubborn resistance at the next
tested and conspicuous bravery was dis
played on both sides. After ten O'Clock
the British artillery fire slackened
and y terrible individual contest
ensued among the riflemen for the
neavy thunder storm interrupted the bat.
tie, lasting for two hours. Although the
burghers succeeded in ultimately gaining
possession of most of the British positions
on the western side Of the Plat-Rand, they
were finally obliged to retire from most OF
the ground they occupied. The British
were most strongly entrenched, their re-
DOUBTS being still fully loopholed, and the
quently fired at arms length. 1t was a
hand-to-hand encounter. The men on both
sldes fought like demons, and The horror
and beWilderment If the scene could scarce
ly be paralleled. The operations we4 con.
t1nued the next day Sunday on a smaller
scale, but 1t Is reported that as a result OF
one of the forlorn hopes, one gun and two
ammunition wagons were captured"
London, Jan. Is. Lord Roberts
enigmatical announcement, mo change
in the situation" does nothing to allay
public anxiety or to explain the mys-
terry surrounding Gen. Buffers move
ments on the Tugela, and although
there is disposition to regard the dis
patch as disposing of Saturdays ad-
verse rumors, the week has opened in
state of suspense almost equal to
that of last week, because it is recog-
nized that failure in Gen. Buffers pres
emit attempt would seal the fate of
Ladysmith. Presumably mo change
in the situation" refers to previous dis
patches sent to the war office, which
have not yet been revealed to the pub
lie. Except the announcement of the
seizure of Potgieters drift, and of the
advance of Gen. Warren, there has
been no news from the Tugela for a
week. A ray of hope is in the fact that
the same silence prevails from the
Boer side. Thus it may, perhaps, be
fairly inferred that Gen. Butler has not
yet met a serious check.
If the announcement of Gen. War
ren's movement be correct, it is evil
dent that Gen. Buffers forces are
spread over wide perhaps
rs miles-and in the event of sudden
fall of the river, his operations might
be full of danger. 1t is believed that
Gen. Butler has no good survey maps
of the district. This will add to his diff
ficulties.. Sir Charles Warren's adj
vance probably means an attempt to
seize Hlangwane Hill, the main post
of the Beers south of the Tugela. Upon
the success or failure of these opera
tions depends the whole future of the
campaign. Until the result is known
Lord Roberts will be unable to decide
how to dispose the two divisions and
the requirements now arriving.
Boer Headquarters at Colenso, Thurs.
day, Jan. IL, via Pretoria, via Lourenzc
Marques, Friday, Jan. 12.-Everything
points to great battle within the next
few days. Ladysmith for the last two
nights has been firing rockets. The OBJ
ject is not known here.
Durham, Friday, January 12.-The
entire absence of news from Chieveley
or Frere camp continues, but there is
Il persistent rumor here that Lady.
smith has been relieved.
Ladysmith, Friday, Jan. IL (by hello.
graph) 1.-THE besiegers have been quiet
for two days, but can be seen in active
movement on the distant hills. We
have perceived two small bodies gallop-
ing with two machine guns. The Boe1
heavy piece on Bulwana hill has not
been fired for two days. More Boer
dead have been found at the base of
Caesars camp. All is we'll here.
Pretoria, Thursday, Jan. II, via Lou.
renzo Marques.-President Kruger, in
the course of stirring address Just is.
sued to the burghers, affirms that Prov
idence is on their side, that their cause
is just, and that they must succeed.
Reports from Colesburg represent
the position there as favorable to the
republicans, but that the British are
concentrating for operations on large
scale. The official list of the Boer casu-
alties in what is called the ''Plat-Rand
fight on Saturday, January (the at
tack upon Ladysmith), shows 26 killed
and ~ wounded. These figures are de-
scribed as the first return
Cronje's loss at Magersfontein is re.
ported to be 473 killed and zoe
wounded.
The embargo at Delagoa bay upon
Transvaal imports is the question of the
hour with the burghers. If this is not
removed it is asserted that steps will
be taken prejudicial to prisoners and
aliens.
London, Jan. ia dispatch to the
Daily Mail, dated January IL, from Piet.
ermaritburg says: Sir Charles Warren
marched with 1900 men eastward
from Frere, by way of Weenen. His
scouts found no sign of the enemy al
Gobbler's Kloof, and Colenso was as.
certained to be deserted. There are ri.
mors that the Beers are preparing tc
leave Natal, discouraged by their fail
ure to reduce LadJsmith. All the
colonials and irregulars have been
placed under Gen. Warren's command
Sharp Fight in Cebu.
Manila, Jan. 15.-Advices from Cebt
report sharp fight on January 8 be-
tween battalion of the Nineteenth
infantry and body of insurgents oc
cupying a strong position in the Sud
leon mountains. The enemy was