The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-01-08

Gen. Buller's words: THE movement
has failed" exactly describes the stu
alton. There was nothing TO relieve the
gloom until an encouraging report was
received from Gen. White this after
noon stating the Beers had been re-
pulsed at Ladysmith.
Crowds of people flocked 10 the war
Office this morning Through the damp
10 be greeted with a curt NO news"
whish only increased the strain. The
eagerness 10 make the most of the lit
tie driblet Of cheering camp rumors at
that time could not Withstand the be-
lief that the publication of Gen.
Whites signal showing the garrison to
be in the throes OF a desperate struggle
was prelude 10 the notification Of the
worst disaster yet chronicled in this
war, so persistently humiliating TO
British arms.
WELCOME SURPRISE RI -
The afternoon report from Gen.
White was therefore a welcome sur
prise
The afternoon newspapers are skep-
tical as TO the value Of a story from
Frere camp. purporting 20 confirm the
report contained in Gen. Buffers dis
patch. The story says all three OF the
Boer assaults were pressed with the
greatest determination. but were sue
cessfully repulsed, many Beers were
killed and that 400 were made prison.
ers while the garrison suffered only
slight losses.
So far as known Gen. Buffers de-
mOnstration against Colenso had little
effect. In spite OF the heavy artillery
fire the Beers did not reply and the on
ly effect OF the shelling reported was
that il caused a hundred BNss aISl
their horses to stampede from the camp
between Colenso and Grobler's Kloof.
HAS JOINED THE OTHERS.
Gen. French has now Joined the other
British commanders with the familiar
formula: II regret to report"
kilograms from Renesburg say seven
officers and thirty men of the Suffolks
were killed and that about fifty were
captured. General Frenchs announce
ment that the Essex Regiment has been
sent to replace the Suffolks is more Bit
ter 10 the latters friends than the list
of casualties, as the only inference de-
ducible from this fact is the Suffolks
degraded themselves and the flag by
bolting and leaving a few Of their COM
rades TO fill the Pretoria jails.
TO OPPOSE BULLER.
Ladysmith Monday. Jan (By run
ner to Frere Camp. Saturday. Jan. 6:
Large conveys with stores are seen
going toward Colenso. The Boers are
actively patrolling the country. and
have massed their forces to the south
ward TO oppose General Buffers ad-
vance. Every hill and kopje between
here and Colenso has been strongly for
titled General Joubert is again I'm the
field. IL is difficult 10 estimate the num-
Der now about us az the Beers keep
we'll under cover and never show them
selves. but a majority Of their forces
are between General Butler and Lady
smith. IL Is impossible to go outside the
town limits without being shot at.
RUMORs OF oUARRELs.
A heavy rife Are was heard on De-
cember 30 In the direction of Sundays
river.
Persistent rumors are I'm circulation
OF quarrels between the Transvaal and
Free state commanders.
The active bombarding has little ef-
feet. Heavy rains washed out the camp
Of the 2ath Hussars. but the men and
their horses escaped without injury.
A big concert was held tonight. Ev-
erybody is apparently cheerful.