The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1900-01-13
Fall OF Lddvsmitb
bourlQ Expected

London, Jan. s, 1850 a. m.-Great
Britain has to face the terrible possi-
bility that the next news viii be the
fall Of Ladysmith. The disquieting
feature is that the Beers seem to have
sufficient forces to deter General Bull
Ter from attacking while themselves
making strenuous efforts to reduce the
town. In the presence of this OminOus
situation. even General French's dis
aster Of which apparently the worst
has not yet been heard, assumes quite
minor Importance in the eyes of the
public
The British public is at last face to
face with a critical moment in the cam
paign- it may safely be said that at
no previous time have there been such
anxious hours of suspense as viii be
passed. through until the arrival of fur
Their news regarding the fate Of Lady
smith.
The week opens with. only fresh ad-
ditions to the disasters; that have be-
fallen British arms. and there is no
longer any sustaining confidence to
buoy up public opinion. The editorials
this morning reflect the extreme gray
ity Of the situation. with a painful I'M
dercurrent of OminOuS fOrebodinS,
mainly caused by the fact that while
the Beers have now changed their tao
tics and assumed the offensive, General
Butler is apparently unable to do more
to assist General White than in making
a demonstration. The Morning Post
says:
He might as wen have ordered a
display Of fireworks
AS the Telegraph ceased working
yesterday Sunday, it is presumed
that General Whites last message was
sent BY a pigeon or runner. Its purpOTt
is serious enough.
Two Movements.
The Times. publishes a dispatch from
Ladysmith. dated Jan. 1, recording two
night movements on the part Of the
Beers to assault the town These had
to be abandoned when the British de-
fences were reached, but the CORE |
spondent says it was apparent that the |
great attack would not be long de- |
layed. He adds:
Loyalty supported by the civilians, /
the garrison can hold out for a consid- |
cradle period. We are not reduced to !
half ratiOns. The greatest difficulty is |
hospital accommodation for the wound !
ed and sick"
Little doubt remains as TO the mean
ing of the BOer attack. A dispatch
from the Roer camp at COlenso, dated
Thursday last and sent by way of Lou
reno MARQUEE. mentions that thun-
derstorm had turned the dry ravines
into torrents ana hooded Inc 1uSeld- |
Doubtless General Joubert felt sure he
had secured a couple of days in which
he could attack Ladysmirh without
fear of interference from General Bull
Ter, who even if he decided TO attempt
to relieve the town. would probably
occupy three days in reaching it by
even a victorious advance.
Apparently on Saturday General Bull
Ter was not ready to attack Possibly
General Joubert anticipated that Gen
eral Butler would shortly deliver an
attack, and in that case General Bull
Ter may have actually opened battle
yesterday.
The war office has already decided
upon immediate steps for sending an I
eighth infantry division to South At
RIGA. Some Of the regiments for this i
division Will be taken from Gibraltar {
and Malta. They viii be replaced by {
militia !
1t is asserted that the customs au- /
shorities on the River Thames have de- {
aimed two outgoing steamers and /
seized two large guns and six MaXims '
packed in piano cases. intended for the i
1t is also said that guam i
-ity Of foodstuffs on another vessel s
las been seized.