Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-01-11
FEARS FOR WHITE
ENGLAND CONCERNED LEST HIS
AMMUNITION BE GONE.
BULLER'S TASK UNCHANGED
Tremendous Difficulties Facing the
Commander in Chief-White's
Successful Defense Gives Nation
New Heart but Situation is Worse
Than Ever-More Troops to Go.

London, Jan. 9.-Gen. White still
holds out, or did so so hours ago when
the beers, ousted from their foothold
inside the works, suspended their as
sault at nightfall. England has taken
heart. The situation, however, is
worse. The beleaguered force must
have expended large amounts of am
munition which cannot be replenished
and must have lost a number of Of
ficers and men but which is counter
balanced, as far as the garrison is con-
cerned, by the greater loss Of the
beers. General White still needs re-
lief and the difficulties confronting
Gen. Butler are as great as before. The
formers unadorned sentences, as read
and re-read, suggest elOquently the
peril in which the town was for four
teen hours and how barely able his
5000 men were kept from being over
come. The chief concern for
Gen. White is in respect
to ammunition. In all siXty-eight
days ago, at the beginning of the
siege, his small-arm ammunition was
vaguely described as plenty His
artillery then had 300 rounds per gun.
Some batteries have been in action
frequently since then and all we're
probably engaged last Saturday. His
stock of shells, consequently, must be
low and this will make it difficult for
Gen. White to cooperate in the move
ment by Gen. Butler The entrench-
ments at Ladysmith, as described in
the message that left a day or two be-
fore the fight, are fortified hills, well
covered with rifle pits and trenches,
down which the infantry move in single
Full rations are still served but no
whisky or tobacco. Spencer Wilkin-
son in the Post, points out that there
is one division only at Chieveley, an
other at Frere, and third at EstcOurt.
AS Chieveley is seven miles from Co.
lenso the second division would have
had to march twelve miles to get into
action, the third division % miles.
Gen. Buffers 10000 men and seventy
guns have been almost inactive since
Saturday. When photographed Butler
could really make no movement but an
ineffective demonstration. England is
preparing ornaments and % trans
ports will be on the way to south
Africa during the present month. Ac-
cording to the program $4,000 addi-
tional troops and ~ guns will soon be
afioat. The government has ordered
the Vickers Sons and Maxim company
to manufacture as many Al inch and
6-inch quick frers as can be turned out
until otherwise informed.
Choate Does Not Get Reply.
London, Jan. 9.-Ambassador Joseph
H. Choate did not receive the answer
regarding the seizure of American
-four by British cruisers in south
African waters. Lord Salisbury has
the note in preparation, but a few days
may elapse before it is delivered. The
Associated Press has good reason to
believe that the -four will be released
and possibly a ruling made differenti
domestic purposes.
Steyn Predicts Victory
Lourenzo Marques, Jan. 9.-Presi-
dent Steyn's new years address to the
burghers of the Free State concludes
as follows: Next year the Afrikan-
der nation will enjoy peace and rest
and that peace will be established on
the basis that the enemy who has op-
pressed and prosecuted us during the !
whole past century shall no longer be |
in a position to spill innocent blood. |
May God in his infinite mercy grant |
this"