The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-01-13
Al MILES FROM WHITE
WILL HE NOW PUSH THE AD-
VANCE HOME?
MANY ARE DYING DAILY AT LADYSMlTH
Enteric Fever and DYsentery Are Proving
More Deady to the British Than the
Bullets of the Beers. A
Battle Picture


General Buffers twenty eight words an
nouncing 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
several miles behind them, and within
fourteen miles of General Whites out
posts at Ladysmith. The Beers, a few
days ago. had forces with guns at>Spring-
field, where General BUTLER dates his
dispatch. These commands have been
obviously dislodged either by lighting or
by manoeuyereS, the Beers retiring
across the Tugela as General Butler ad-
yanced. From General Buffers dispatch,
coupled with the fact that unofficial in
teliigence from the seat of war has viI>
tually ceased since Monday the deduction
is drawn that important operations are
in progress, as he cannot move far With
out going against the Boer entrench-
ments.
The death lists from enteric fever and
dysenery at Iadysmith, averaging from
eight To ten daily are considered more
serious than the 420 casualties of Sat
urday's fight, as they indicate the fright
fully insanitary condition of the beleag-
uered town. A letter from I4adysmi1h.
dated December 18th, says that even then
ninety out of $40 men in the battalion
of which the writer was a member, were
sick with dysCntery on enteric fever, and.
according to a dispatch to the Daily
Chronicle dated January Sth, the pa
tientS and attendants in Tonbi Camp,
where the hospital is. then numbered
$500.
1t is officially announced that the Earl
of Ava has died Of his wounds
GEN. BULLER'S DISPATCH.
London Jan. 12.-The War Office this
morning received the following dispatch
from General Butler dated Springfield
Thursday, January 11th, at 9:20 evening:
II occupied the south bank of the
Tugela River at POtgieter's Drift this
morning and seized Pont. The river is
in flood. The enemy is strongly en.rench-
cd about four and half miles to the
north"
The War Office announces that the
British casualties at Ladysmith Janua-
ry 9th, among the rank and file We're
135 killed and 242 wounded Among the
officers there were Is killed and y
wounded.
Among the latter was Lieutenant Colo
mel VIM Henry Dick Cunningham, Y. c.,
commander Of the Second battalion Of the
Gordon Highanders since 1897 who has
since succumbed to his wounds. He
was immensely popular everywhere.
General Buffers second attempt to
cross the Tugela River obviously is OF
n fianking character, but whether it is
intended to push the advance home or
whether his operations are only a feint
to cover an attack in force ON the Boer
position at Hangwana Mountain re-
mains to be seen.
Springfield, from whence General Bull
lers dispatch was sent, is is miles west
! of Frere.
The last news from Springfield was
that it was held by the Johannesburg
corps under General Ben Vilioen and that
the Beers had big guns in position at
Potgieter'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 as of great ina
pOrtance.
1t is reported here that General Bull
Ter submitted his plan Of campaign TO
Lord Roberts Immediately after the lat
ter landed and that General Roberts
sanctioned 1T.
There rs q belief in some quarters that
General Hector Mcdonald will succeed
Lord Methuen in command of the British
force at Modder River.
The Gazette today proclaims the pro
hibition of the expectation from the Uni
ted Kingdom or the carrying of rs mer-
chandise of a variety of acids capable of
being converted into military stores.
Lady Methuen has issued an absolute
contradiction of the rumOrs that Lord
Methuen is i'll or that he was injured by
the falling of his horse at the battle of
Magersfontein.