Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1900-01-12
DO GREAT FIGHTING.
Valiant Work of the British Under
Gen. White.
Hattie Before Lndysmith Rngcs for
Many Hours-Fierce .ssnults of
the Boers Are BrnveIy
RepelIed-


London, Jan. 9.-Single-handed, with
out the slightest aid from Gen. Butler,
barely Is miles away, Gen. White, in an
engagement lasting from daylight on
Saturday to 1880 o'clock the same even
ing, and which in point of fierceness has
seldom been equaled in the annals of
warfare, remains in control of Lady
smith. The suspense as to the fate OF
the garrison of 1900 men, which for
6s days has been penned up and nam
mered night and morning almost con-
tinuously the entire time is finally re-
| lieved for n time at least.
Tells of the Battle.
London, Jan. o.--It was not until the
middle of the afternoon that there was
an official confirmation forthcoming
of Frere Camp rumors of Gen. Whites
success at Ladysmith. But at 3:40 p.
m. the war Office relieved the extreme
tension of the waiting crowds by post
ing the following dispatch from the
front:
"Frere Camp, Natal. Jan. S.-The fol-
| lowing is from White, dated two p. m.
| Sunday:
IAN attack was commenced on my po-
sition, but was chiefly against Caesars
| Camp and Wagon Hill. The enemy was
in great strength and has pushed the at
tack with the greatest courage and en-
| ergy Some of the entrenchments on
Wagon Hill were three times taken by
the enemy and retaken by us. The at
tack continued until 1880 p. m. One point
In our position was occupied by the enc
my the whole day. But at dusk, In very
heavy rainstorm, they were turned out of
this position at the point of the bayonet
In most gallant manner by the Devons,
led by Col. Park. Col. Ian Hamilton COM
manded on Wagon Hill and rendered val
liable service. The troops have had a very
trying time and have behaved excellently.
They are elated at the service they have
rendered the queen.
1.-THE enemy were repulsed everywhere
with very heavy loss. greatly exceeding
that on my side, which will be reported
as soon as the lists are completed
London Jubilant.
Not since the day of Gen. Buffers re-
verses has such a crowd of inqrirers
visited the war Office. AS the afternoon
progresses Il rumor obtained currency
that Ladysmith had surrendered, and
the depression in the lobbies had be-
come extreme when an official appeared
and in loud voice shouted: "Good
news" and posted the dispatch chron-
icling n brilliant victory for the Brit
ish troops. Even the brief official an
nouncement sent by Gen. White seems
to entitle his success to the adjective
brilliant" so often misused during the
present war. Reading between the
= lines of Gen. Whites dispatch it is evil
dent that there was a desperate fight,
the British entertainments being thrice
! taken and retaken, and, at dusk, the
l Devonshire regiment, at the point of
4 4 the bayonet, drove out the Beers from
another position which they had oc-
: cupied all day long. The news spread
with astonishing rapidity all over Lon
don and caused an instantaneous
= change in the aspect of the metropolis.
Smiling faces were seen everywhere,
and even at the sedate foreign Office and
= /, other departments of the government
u great elation was shown.
The newspapers were all jubilant.
: still Holds Out.
:, London, Jan. 9.-Gen. White still
; holds out, or did so 60 hours ago, when
a the Beers, ousted from their foothold
. inside the works, suspended their as
a sault at nightfall. England has taker
" heart. The situation, however, is worse
:. The beleagured force must have eX
!. pended large amounts of ammunition
&c which cannot be replenished, and mus
a have lost number of officers ant
:. men, which is counterbalanced, so fal
as the garrison is concerned, by th'
\ greater loss of the Beers.
II Gen. White still needs relief and tn,
- difficulties confronting Gen. Butler ar,
g. ,,.
). adorned sentences, as read and re
read, suggest eloquently the peril il
u which the town was for IA hours, ant
a. how barely able his 5000 men wer
n to keep from being overcome.
"a Remarkable Boer Strength.
lie According to official reports, the bat
N. tie ragged for II hours. 1t began n
1:45 o'clock Saturday morning and di
nos end until seven o'clock in the even
ing. While Gen. White has obtaine
m breathing spell, the seriousness q
his situation is by no means lessenet
In fact, his position is shown to b
more critical than the official report
Is and newspaper dispatches had prev
Oh ously intimated. The mere circun
Is stance that such an attack could u
Is, made and pressed home with the III
~ most determination proves that tn
~ Boer forces in Natal have becom
d something more than groups of arme
Ut men-that they are an army in tn
Oh true sense, ready to assail as well q
le. to defend. To recapture positions frol
II which they had been ousted at tn
IN bayonet point is an achievement thu
us was not expected of these Transya;
er farmers.
er Unless Butler can shortly give hel
Is the Ladysmith garrison must succum
Is in the end. There are no instances
ne recent wars where besieged and su
ea rounded force has succeeded in extr
eating itself by its own efforts.
Asked 20 Intervene.