Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-01-22

London, Jan. 19-Military critics in
utilization with the war Office consider
that the expected battle, along the
wide arc south and west of Ladysmith,
can hardly be delayed beyond today
From Durham it is reported that fight
ing has already begun. Gen. Buffers
forces, engaged in f1anking opera
ton across Tugela, are some $4,000
bayonets, 1900 horse and forty guns.
The disposition of his other $4,000 to
10000 men is not known, although the
assumption is that the whole army
will be in action when the hour for a
combined movement arrives. Three
weeks ago, Gen. Butler had 10000
men. Considerable reinforcements
probably $4,000 men and 80 guns, all
told. Estimates as to how many men
and how many guns the beers have
with which to oppose him is mere
gUess-work. In not replying to Gen.
Lyttletons shells, they are using
Tactics that proved so sue
cessful in the battles of Mayors
fontein and Colenso-lying low in
trenches and hoping to conceal their
precise position until the making of an
infantry advance. The Daily ChrOn-
icle's military expert sees a curious
analogy between Gen. Buffers situa-
ton now and on the eve of MagerfOn-
TEN. Now, as then, the DOers are MAX
ing a stand with their backs to the in
vesting lines within a few miles. AS
Lord Methuen, after crossing the Mod
der river, had to attack SpytfOnteln
and the Magersfontein hills, so Gen.
Butler, after passing the Tugela, faces
invisible entertainments in the rough
country. One correspondent mentions
Gen. Buffers wheeled transport OF
5000 vehicles, which connect him with
the rail head, about 80 miles to the
rear. Among these vehicles are thirty
traction engines, which draw from 10
to Is wagons each. Gen. Buffers
warning as to the misuse of the white
flag by the beers in his proclamation
to the troops is considered rather d
broad hint to give no quarter. His
back" is played upon editorially by the
morning papers as presaging cheerful
announcements. Absorbing interest
felt in the situation in Natal makes
other points in the theater of war seem
microscopic. Lord Methuen lies behind
his works at the Modder river. It is
estimated that his forces will
have to be nearly or quite doubled be-
fore he can relieve Kimberley. Brit
ish reinforcements are moving toward
Gen. French at Rensburg. With these,
he is expected to advance. Gen. Cat
acres men occupy Lopesburg, a slight
advance. The war office announces
that next week there will be en-
parked Y guns, $40 men and 2,21O
horses. This is the largest consign-
ment Of artillery ever sent abroad.
The war Office invites 500 volunteers
for a sharpshooters battalion of yeo-
many. Sir William Mccormack, in
the Lancet, says that of the 300
wounded in the hospitals visited by
him, only eight had been hit by shells.
The Capetown correspondent of the
Times, discussing Afrikander disloy-
atty, says: 81 believe the sympathy
of every Dutchman in south Africa is
with the two republics and that
general rising is still quite possible.
However, there is nothing to implicate
the bond party as a whole in an Of
ficially organized conspiracy against
the imperial government, although
the bond leaders have winked at
or pandered to sedition in
order to preserve their popularity.
British failures and the appearance of
the beers on British territory have
fomented rebellion, but even now de-
cisive victory would prevent its farther
spread" This correspondent testlfies
to the value of the services rendered by
Schreiner the Cape premier, in an en-
barrassing position. He speaks less
highly of Hofmeyer, the real leader Of
the bond party, and severely condemns
the Dutch press of the colony, which,
he says, lis doing it's utmost, while
keeping on the windy side of the law
to promote rebellion and envenom ra-