The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-13
Butler Reported to Have Submitted
His Plan to Lord Roberts Before
Beginning the March.
DEATH OF THE EARL OF AVA
MARQUIS OF DUFFERIN'S HEIR
sUCCUMBs TO WOUNDS.
Lieut.. Col. Cunningham Also Dead at
Ladyxmith-BOer Army Growing
-Patri0tism i'm London.

LONDON. Jan. 12.-The War Office this
morning received the following dispatch
from General Butler. dated Springfield.
Thursday. Jan. IL. at 9:20 p. m:
"I occupied the south bank Of the Tugela
river at Pottgieters drift this morning and
seized the pont Cbridge). The river is in
flood. The enemy is strongly entrenched
about four and half miles to the north"
LONDON, Jan. 13, q. m.-General Bull
ler's few words announcing his forward
movement of Thursday is interpreted as
meaning that he has passed around the
western end of the Boer lines at Colenso
and Is now se-sral miles behind them and
within fourteen miles OF General Whites
outposts at Ladysrnith. The Beers a few
days ago. had forces with guns at Spring
field, where General Butler dates his dis
patch. These commandos has been obvious
Iy dislodged, either by lighting or by ma
neuvers, the Beers retiring across the
Tugela as General Butler advanced.
From General Buffers dispatch, coupled
with the fact that unofficial intelligence
from the seat of war has virtually ceased
since Monday. the deduction is drawn that
cannot move far without coming against
the Boer entrenchments. While General
Buller's movement is obviously of flank
ing character. whether 1t is intended to
push the advance home. or whether his
operations are only a feint to cover an
attack In force on the Boer positions at
HIangwana mountains. remains to be seen.
Springfield, from whence General Buffers
dispatch was sent, is sixteen miles west Of
Frere. The last news from Springfield was
that 1t was held by the johannesburg corps
under General Bilvjoen. and that the Beers
had big guns in position at Pottgieter's
drift. apparently six or eight miles north
of Springfield. and across the Big Tugela.
The possession of the drift and the pont
Is regarded of great Importance. 1t is re-
ported here that General Butler submitted
his plan of campaign to Lord Roberts i'm
mediately after the latter landed. and that
General Roberts sanctioned 1t.
The death lists from enteric fever and
dysentery at Ladysmith. averaging from
eight to ten daily. are considered more Sc
rious than the 40 casualties of Saturdays
fight, as they Indicate the frightfully un-
sanitary condition of the beleaguered town.
A letter from Ladysmith. dated Dec. Z.
says that even then ninety out OF $40 men
q member were sick with dysentery or
cnteric zever. and according to a dispatch
to the Daily Chronicle. dated Jan. s, the
patients and attendants in Tomb camp
where the hospital is. then numbered $500.
The Daily Telegraph had the following
dispatch. dated jan ., from Frere Camp:
"a heavy storm has been raging all night.
and there is every prospect that it will con-
tinue. The roads are impossible. and the
rivers ana Spirits are 1uli. Inere mas been
no firing at Ladysmith or coienso. The
trenches must be filled with water. The
Beers are holding Mount Hiangwano. but
they are certainly quite isolated. as their
bridge over the Tugela must have been car
Tied away"
There is a belief in some quarters that
Gen. Hector Macdonald viii succeed Lord
Methuen In command OF the British force
at Modder river. Lady Methuen has issued
an absolute contradiction OF the rumors
that Lord Methuen is III. or that he was
injured by the falling of his horse at the
battle or Magersfontein.
The War Once announces that the Brit
fish casualties at Ladysmith. Jan. g. among
the rank and nIs were iss killed and ac
youndsd.
neppsr4htiy weIl-informed correspond
Morning Post says: ''The Boer