The Oskaloosa herald., 1900-01-25
NEWS IS HELD BACK.
Nothing Known Of Buffers Opera
tions on Monday.

London, Jan. 23.-Gen. BnIler has re-
ported nothing of his operations on
Monday, and official and press intel
lgence leaves the British bivouacked
Sunday night on the ground they had
won after two days fighting. Mill
tary men assume that fighting must
have taken place, and that it was
probably more severe than on the two
preceding days. Gen. Butler would
not be likely to give the Beers leisure
to add to the elaborate entertainments,
to arrange their artillery and to con-
centrate their forces.
The British military experts all
share the hopes of their leaders and,
as Spencer Wilkinson points out, they
hesitate to say word that might be
interpreted as unfavorable. Mr.. Will
kinson refers to the "cooler judgment
ot German and Austrian critics." which
means that some of the best judges
look upon Gen. Buffers enterprise as
forlorn hope, as merely continual
strain of fighting, which may prove
too much for the physical energy of
tie troops engaged.
Reenforcements aggregating 5000
or more have reached Cape Town dur
ing the last three days. 1t is uncer-
tain how these have been disposed,
but probably most of them have been
sent to Natal, where it is believed Gen.
Butler needs them.
The British in the other districts in
South Africa continue inactive. Lord
Methuen's $4,000 men remain behind
their works. Gen. French's 1000 at
Rensburg were reused on Sunday by
general alarm that the Beers were at
lacking, but it turned out that there
was no basis for this. Gen. Gatacre is
quiescent at Colesberg.
Lacks Confirmation.
Durham, Natal, Jan. 23.-The state
ment comes from an excellent source
in Pietermaritzburg that Lord Dun
donald has entered Ladysmith with
LOCO men. This is not confirmed
from any other quarter, but it is
known that Lord Dundonald's flying
column has been acting we'll to the
left Of the line of advance.
Sundays Casualties.
London, Jan. 23.-Just before mid
night the war office issued the fol-
lowing dispatch from Gen. Butler:
"Spearman's Camp Jan. 22.-The follow
| ing casualties are reported in Gen. Harris
| brigade as the result of yesterdays night
| ing: Killed--Capt Ryall, Yorkshire regi-
ment, and five men. wounded - Second
| Lieut.. Andrews, Border regiment; Capt.
MacLaughlan, Inniskillings; Lieut.. Bar
| 1ovu rLShira rapimpnt and IL MISS
| ing-eight men. Other casualties will be
| forwarded when received"
The foregoing was all the war office
had issued up to midnight. Nothing,
| therefore, is known here as yet re-
garding Mondays operations.
Hot Fighting on Sunday.
London, Jan. 23--The Daily Mail
has the following, dated Sunday night,
| from Spearman's Camp:
''There has been hot fighting all day.
| At dawn our attack was resumed along
the entire line, all the brigadeS taking part.
We soon discovered that the Beers still
| occupied the range of hills in force, their
position being very strong. The range Is
intersected by steep ravines and many APP
proaches very difficult of access. To-day
| the Beers who were driven from theli
trenches yesterday took cover in dongas
and behind the rocks with which the hills
are strewn. The forces, therefore, COM
menced the task of driving them out, and
| set to work with good heart in the early
morning. Much firing took place, and oui
progress was slow, but gradually British
pluck told its tale, and the enemy fell back
to another kopje. We swarmed on and
occupied it, and then the attack recon-
menced with the utmost gallantry.
1.-The country simply abounds in hills
favorable to guerrilla warfare, and our
task is an arduous one. Nevertheless, II
is being gradually accomplished. When
ever any of the enemy were observed
taking up a fresh position our field batter.
les poured in showers of shrapnel, and the
rapid movement of the guns, followed by
| accurate shooting. must have greatly dis
| tressed them. The enemy were on the de-
| fnsive almost the entire day, save once,
when they attempted to outf1ank our left
and were signally checkmated. They re-
| lied almost entirely on rifle fire. few
shells were fired from a heavy piece of
| ordnance, but these fell harmless.
1--WE now occupy the lower crest on the
| left, and are converging slowly but surely
| to the Boer center. The Boer loss is I'M
| known, but must have been heavy. The
killed and wounded are carried away to
| the rear" rapidly. The strong rumors are
in circulation that the Beers, are retiring.
! The battle will be resumed tomorrow"
Making Slow Progress.
London, Jan. 23.-The Daily Chron-
icle has received the following, dated
January %, AIS p. m, from Spear
mans Camp:
| 1.-The Beers admit q casualties during
Gen. Lyttleton's skirmish on Saturday.
| Gen. Warren continues pushing, though
he is necessarily making very slow prog
ress, as the Beers are numerous and strong
| ly entrenched. Our infantry are working
over parallel ridges, with Lord Dundonald's
cavalry lying well out on the left flank and
| awaiting developments. The Beers con-
test every inch of the ground This morn
ing Gen. Warren's artillery reopened fire,
but the Beers did not reply, and our fire
became less hot. The naval guns in front
here have been quiet. A Boer prisoner
who was brought in boosted that it would
take us three months to reach Lady
smith"