Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1900-01-30
ANXIETY FELT FOR BULLER.
Fears Entertained That His Supplies
May Be Cut of BY The Willy
Huruhers Before He Can
Get Back.
MUST Cross LIrrLE ruoELA.

says the ueSCrucllOn OF tne boer smell
factory at that place on January Goth,
was accomplished. The loss, it is
added, is irreparable.
BULLER IN GREAT DANGER.
New York, Jan. BOA London dis
patch to the Evening World" today
says: Buffers danger is now fore
ing itself on military exZ1rts. The
committee on national defense is
gravely considering it, Lord Roberts,
1t is reported, has cabled the commit
tee that unless Butler and his forces
arrive safely from their present posi-
tion to the south of the Little Tugela
river, they will be in imminent dan
ger of having their communications
cut. Roberts pointed out that Butler
has with him
AN IMMENSE TRANSPORT TRAIN
carrying ammunition and supplies
This interferes with the mobility of
his army. Buffers main force is
about twenty-five miles from its base
at Frere and Chieveley. 1t is between
the Big Tugela river, over which it
retreated and the Little Tugela river
over which it has to retreat in order
to begin its march to its base. Lyt-
tleton's brigade may still be ON the
north side of the Tugela at Potgieters
Drift. though it is generally believed
1t, too, retreated over the river. It
will take days for Buffers army to get
back to its base. In the meantime
the Beers are in force at Colenso.
only a few miles away from that base.
Last Tuesday, they crossed the river
and made a reconnaissance near the
British camp, apparently with a view
to ascertaining the strength of the
force Butler left behind him to guard
his base and communications. The
party that crossed came into contact
with Buffers rear guard and killed
several British. That reconnois-
sance showed purpose on the part
of the
BOERS TO CUT OFF BUTLER.
s'Aouiu eney lurl an overwhelming
force over the Tugeia river ana tcsTi'uihssfh1
the British at Chieveley, they would
have Butler in trap.
SCRIMMAGE AT COLESBERG.
Pretoria, Jan. 27-A dispatch from
Colesburg, Cape Colony, says: Com
mandant Delarey reports a large
body of British advanced on January
25th and he attacked them, causing
the British to retire after suffering a
severe loss.
Boer casualties were two men
slightly wounded. General GrobleI
reports heavy fighting since day
break and the British, in great force
are endeavoring to surround the Boel
positions. General Schoeman hasten
ed to the assistance of General Grob'
Ter. Schoeman returned tbs evening
and reports the RSscrsh repulsed the
Beers and teId their position. BoeI
loss w-s four men slightly, and one
severely wounded. British loss is not
known, but must be seyore. The bonn
bardment of KipSerley continues.
Other Boer forces are reported quiet.
London, Jan. 30-2:52 p. m.-There
is al-dost a complete absence of news
rom British sources in South Africa
up to this hour. The only reliable
dispatch of any Importance is the
ccnfrmation of report that General
Kelly-Kennedy, commanding the
sixth division has occupied the Bust
about midway between General
French, at Rensberg, and General
Gatacre at Sterkstroom. From this
1t is deduced a juncture of the three
forces is being made preparatory to
beginning the plan of advance on
Bloemfontein. The Associated Press
learns that Lyttleton's brigade is
still in its original position at Pot.
gieters Drift, showing that part of
Buffers forces are still north of the
Tugela river.
KIMBERLEY BOMBARDED.
Kimberley, Jan. SO-The wholesale
bombardment which lasted all day
yesterday, was resumed this morning.
The Beers sent $50 shells into all
parts of Kimberley. There were sew
eral casualties, including a woman
and a child. The favorite target an
pears to have been the hospital. A
shrapnel shell exploded close to a
hearse proceeding to the cemetery
and shell burst in the cemetery dur
ing funeral
BRITISH CASUALTIES.
London, Jan. S0-4:55 p. m.-Gen-
eral Butler reports the casualties of
non-commissioned officers and men in
action, January goth and 21st, were
seventeen killed. 2Ss wounded and
six missing.