The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-01-19
BULLER'S FORCE
ACROSS 1UGELA
And a Battleis Raging Be-
tween Him and Beers.
AN ARTILLERY DUEL.
British Wounded Arriving by Every
Train From Front.
WARREN CROSSED ON P0NT00NS
And is Now Within Seventeen Miles
OF Ladysmith, Where There Has
Already Been Severe Fight
inS-Thc Crossing at
Pot.ictcIS Drift was
Not Contested.
WARREN CROSSED ON PONTOGNS


From Buller-spearman's Camp. Jan.
lS.-'One field artillery, Howitzer battery
and Lyttletons Brigade are across the
Tugela at Potgieters Drift. The enemys
position is being tbombarled by us
Five miles higher up Warren has
crossed the river by Il pontoon bridge
eighty-tive yards long. He hopes his
forces will, by evening, have advanced
five miles from the river 10 his -iSnt
front. The enemy is bEsily entrenchinS.
From Roberts-Capetown Jan. Is
"Gfttacre reports that 800 men of all ranks
have beer moved from Bushman's Hooecll
20 Hopperbu1g, and that the Seventy
fourth Field Battery and one company OF
mounted infantry from Ste.c>s-rom to
Bushman's Booeck. Otherwise there is
no change.
SEVERE FIGHTING.
LONDON, Jan ia special dispatch
from Durbun, dated "Wednesday. says:
.Advices from Potgicters Drift. dated
yesterday (Tuesday) say that Sir Charles
Warren has arrived within seventeen
miles Of LadySnlith, and that British
wounded are arriving at Mooi RiVer
Field Hospital by every tain from the
front, indicating that there has already
been severe fighting.
Neither report has yet been confirmed
SPEARAT-iN.S FARM NATAL Jan.
1S-1o y. M.-General Lyttleton's brigade
with a howitzer battery. crossed the
Tugela river at Potgieters Drift on Tues
day, January 10th. The water rose above
the waists Of the men, The Beers fired
Two shots and then recalled their forces
to the trenches, the passage being un-
interrupted.
The British advanced i'll sk;rmishinE
order, and the small kopjes on the sum-
mits were occupied by $50 Z. II.
During the night it rained heavily. Yes
terGay (Wednesday1 the Boer trencnes
were vigorously shelled in front of Mount
Alice While the British remained in pos
session of the kopjes and plain. Heavy
mists enveloDed the hills. but the naEal
guns and the howitzer battery made good
practice thoroughly searching the
trenches.
On the Boer right a breach was made
in Il sand bag enlightenment, where it Is
supposed Eoer guns had been placed.
The carnonade was heavy and conttn-
ucus and the Bocrs We're observed leitF-
ing the trenches in small parties. The
Hill facing the British position was sheiied
next.
General Warren has forced a passage of
the Tugela. seven miles to the LETT.
THE TIDE TURNED.
LONDON, Jan. 1S.-The officials of the
Wax Office here are satisfied that the
tide has turned. and that news OF L
more hopeful character from :. British
point OF view will hereafter be the rule
instead OF the exception. That the British
advance in a northcasterly direction will
be tiercely resisted is fully anticipated.
The Boer strength is superior TO the
British and the dispatches show the
burshers occupy strong positions
There is some doubt as to whether the
SproenkOp occupied by General Warren IS
identical with Sponkon. Ii so, the
British are within /, few miles of Acton
Homes, the scene of the early conflicts
between General Whites forces and the
invading Free Staters, from which there
is a good road direct to Ladysmltn.
While General Warrens force was
crossing the Tugela river the Beers oc-
cupied a thiclly-woodcd plantation a mile
north OF the river, and sent several vol
leys into the advance guard. The British
renlied, and the artillery opened on Il
neighborng kopie. AS the British pushed
across the river the Beers found their
position uncomfortable and retired to the
hills. Immediately after the pontoon
bridge was completed the whole British
force crossed.
Meanwhile the naval guns on Swartskop
have been persistently shellinS the Boer
entrenchments facing the kopjes occu-
pied by Lyttleton's Brigade
,,o,->.,s tt,icE, :, NEAR I5uTJut.rl.l;5
noG.> .,,,r <,,r,I 1Ion,l,, Ian 1.-THE
--'-.i-,a',+ .I,o ,.1;af of I,aciy-
~" il.o' 1na,,,I, Ia,,,, 70th
from Frerc and Chieveiey. Lord Dundon-
aids mounted brigade with the ruth
hrigaec ui'oei N'siieitii l' Ia : W. -
me Duolins' me 1oiiil.usnss. 1 s,l..,nt a, no
skiiiins ihu me ,,oi''ei s.n..:,i';nih ~. IN
ceeded hortIsealeils 70 "''l''. ~"
osiioa haa pieFio"sis pee' 'iioi oos my
retonno1tered-
few mlles outside OF ftSre, ho'u IN, VI
dcnaid passed targets erected " l.'e
Beers 10 represent Il force advancing III
skirmishing order. Evidently. the Socrs
he'd Ecen lring at these from the ada