Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-01-05
Is the Real Pivot OF the
BOer Campaign.
BY CAVALRY
Show That the Work on the Trenches
Continues Without InterniSSiOn-,
Flank Attack Can Only be Made
With Greatest Difficulty.

London, Jan. 5, 5 a. m.-This mornings
news throws no further light upon the
war situation. The exact position at
Moiento and Cyphergat is not yet clear.
but in any case these little engagements
are of small Importance beyond proving
that the British forces are beginning to
attack in a greater degree of mobility.
1t is fully expected that next week will
see a heavy battle on the Tugela river,
which is now the real pivot of the CAM
paign. This Beers appear to be working
incessantiy with shovel and pick.
Lord Methuen's cavalry scouting has
developed the fact that the Boer en-
trenchments extend some 40 miles. far
overlapping the British positions. making
thanking attacks exceedingly difficult.
Military analysis affirm that the Beers
works confronting General Butler stretch
away some II miles, and that Worl; upon
them is pushed unremittingly. While
the advance is delayed, flank movements
are rendered most difficult because long
marches are not done with celebrity, and it
is hard to time an attack with certainty.
The extent of tine Dutch risings may
now be measured by taking a line from
Prieska, on the west, to Herschel or
Barley on the >ast. Along the whole
of this line, except at points actually. oc-
cupied by the British, the population
seems for the most part hostile.
New redoubts are bsing built at KIM
berley and II miles of works now encOnl-
, pass the town.
The admiralty programme embraces
the stationing Of small squadrons at Dur
ban, Simons bay, Port Elizabeth. Lor-
ego Marques. st. Vincent, in the Cape
Verde Islands and Cape Town. and send
ing an additional ship or two to Alden.
1t is announced nat Great Britain's
agents and detectives are secretly watch
ing all Italian ports.
1t now appears that it is John Church.
hill, second son of Lady Randolph
Churchill, who has been given command
horse.
Lord Rosslyn has thrown w his en-
gage1nent at the court theater in order
to join the yeomanry.
The offer OF Lord Iveagh to provide at
his w expense a completely equipped
hospital for use in South Africa has been
accepted.
The war office has invited Sir William
Thompson to. accept the post of chief sur
| geon to the forces in South Africa, in
stead of consulting urgeon.
Rensberg, Jan. 4.-The casualties of Cen
eral French's force up to- the afternoon of
Jan 8 We're five men killed and "a
wounded.
A detachment of IS New Zealanders had
Colesberg they were directed to occupy
a kopje, but met with a hot reception
from a concealed force of the Beers. An
other body of British troops, seeing their
danger, doubled to the rescue of the New
Zealanders and their retreat was sue
cessfully accomplished under the cover
of the guns on the hills westward.
Colsop is now the principal scene of
the fighting.
The destruction of the wrecked train
includes %, 900 rations and a supply of
rum.
Cape Town. Jan 3.-Intelligence has
been received here from the Free State
to the effect that President Steyn has Is
sued a proclamation declaring that every
whit. man. irrespective of nationality. is
to be considered a burgher. and is liable
to be compelled to fight for the defense
of the country.