The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-01-19
BATTLE is EXPECTED TODAY
RoERs ARE IN THEIR TRENCHES
AWAITING BRITISH ADVANCE,
Same Tactics That Defeated Methueu
Are Being Employed In the
Natal Gountry.


London, january 10, a. m,~Miiitary
circles in utilization with the war office
consider that the exnected battle, along
the wide arch south and west of Lady
smith, can hardly be delayed beyond to-
day. From Durham II is reported that
fighting has already begun. General
Buffers forces. engaged lnt the Ranking
1900 or $4,000 bayonets, 1900 horses and
forty guns. The disposition Of his other
$1,000 or 10000 men is not known, al
though the assumption is that the whole
army will be in action when the hour for
combined movement arrives Three weeks
ago General Butler had 10000 men Con-
siderable achievements have since
reached him, giving him probably $4,000
men and eighty guns all told.
Estimates of how many men and guns
the Beers have to oppose him are mere
Lyttleton's shells they are using the tao
tics that proved so successful in the bat
ties of Magersfontein and Colenso-lying
low in their trenches and thus hoping to
conceal their precise position untr the
infantry advance The Daily Chronicles
military expert sees curious analogy be-
tween General Buffers situation now and
the eve of Magersfontein Now, as then,
the Beers are making stand with thelr
backs to investing lines within Il few
miles. AS Lord Methuen. after crossing
Modder River. had to attack the Spytfon-
tein and Magersfonteln hills, so General
Butler, after passing the Tugela, faces IN
visible entertainments in a rough country.
One correspondent mentions General
Buffers wheeled transport Of 5000 vehicles,
which connect him with the rail head,
about thirty miles to the rear. Among
these vehicles are the thirty traction en-
gines which draw from ten TO fifteen
wagons each.
General Buffers warning as to the mis-
use Of the white flag by the Beers In bis
pI announcement TO the troops Is considered
rather broad hint to give no quarter
His phrase There will be no turning
back" is passed upon editorially by the
morning papers as presaging cheerful an
nouncements. The absorbing interest felt
in the situation IN Natal makes other
points In the theater OF war seem micro
scopic Lord Methuen lies behind his
works at xodder river. 1t Is estimated
that his forces win have TO be nearly or
quite doubled before he can relieve Kim
berley.
British reinforcements are moving
toward General French at Rensoerg. With
these he is expected 10 advance. Cen
eral Gatacre's men occupy Lopezburg. a
slight advance,
The war office announces that next week
will be embarked seventy-two guns $40
men and 22i0 horses This is the largest
consignment of artillery ever sent abroad,
The war office invites 500 volunteers for
n sharpstooter's battalion of yeomanry.
Sir William Mccormick. in the Lancet,
says that Of the 300 wounded In the hos
pitfalls visited by him only eight had been
hit by shells.
Mr.. Kipling has written the following
characteristic letter to the British Guiana
branch OF the Navy league contribution N
the war fund:
BRAVO British Guiana. Please accept
my greatest thanks. first as vice president
OF the league; second. as perpetuator OF
the Absented Beggar. and third az a
we are buoying up on Thomas behalf.
Have YOU seen Brazil and Trinidad come
into the eame?''
The Capetown correspondent OF IN.
Times discussing Atriksnder dssloya,t5