The Portland daily press., 1900-01-08

London, Jauuavy s. 4.5o q. m.-The
British publie II n. last fa,s to fa's win
a critica! moment In the camEaign. ~
may safely be fa'd ttat as No previous
time havs'thsre been such anxious hours
Of suspense as will be raaei through un-
til the arrival Of further news regarding
the fate Of Ladysmith.
The week opens with ouly fresh add
ttons to the disasters that have bsfalien
British arms and there IL NO longer any
sustaining confidence TO buoy up public
opinion. The editorials this morning
fully reflect the extreme gravity OF the
situation. with painful undsr-ourrent
Of ominous forebodins mainly oAussd oy
the facs thai, while the Beers have now
changed thsir tactics and assumed the
offensive, General Butler Is apparently
unable to do more t, assist 6ensrai
White than In making characterization.
Thsl Morning Post says: "as mishe a.
we'll have ordered display Of fireworks"
AZ the hsiiogrsph ceased working yes
tArdsy (Susdayh II II presumed that
General Whites last message Was ssnt by
: pigeon or runner. Its purpoft 10 ssri-
ous enough.
The Times publishes a despatch from
LAD dxsnish. dated January I, recording
two night movements nm the part Of the
Beers to assault the town. Ipese had
to be abandoned when the British de-
fsnsss were rsach.d but the correspondent
says 1t was apparent that the great attack
would not be long delayed, He adds;
"LoyalIy supported by the civilians, the
garrison can hold out for . considerable
period. We are not yet reduced to half
rations. The greatest difficulty Is proper
acoommc cdAtion of the wounded and
sick."
Little doubt remains as to the meaning
Of the Boer attack. A despatch from
the Boer camp at Colenso. dated Thurs
day last, and sent BY way OF Lorenzo
Marques. mentions that thunder storm
had turned the dry ravines iuto torrents
and flooded the Tugela. Doubtless zen.
Joubsrt felt surs he had secured couple
of days in which he conld attack Lady
smith without fear OF Interference from
Gen, Butler, who even II he decided TO
attempt to relieve the town, would prob
ably OCCUPY thfss days In reaening IL pS
even q victorious advance.
Apparently ON Saturday Gen. Butler
was not ready to attack. Possibly dsn.
Joubert anticipated that Gen. Butler
would shortly deliver an attack; and in
that case, Gen. Butler may have actual
ly opened battle yesterday.
Great Britain has to face the terrible
possibility that the next news will be
the fall of Ladysmith. The disquietiug
feature is that the Beers seem to have
had Sufficient forces to deter Gen. Bulie-
from attacking while themselves making
strenuous efforts to reduce the town. In
the presence OF this ominous situation,
eyen Gen. French's disaster OF which
apparently the worst has not yet been
heard, assumes quite minor Importance
In the eyes of the public.
The war office has already decided up
ON immediate steps for sending an eighth
infantry division to South AfricA. Some
of the regiments for this division will
b, taken from Gibraltar and Malta.
They will bs replaced by militia.
1t is asserted that the customs au.hori-
ties on the river Thames have detained
two outgoing steamers and seized two
large guns and six Aaxims. packing IN
piapo oases, intsnded for the Transvaal.
1t is also aid that a quantity OF tocd
A..as.l