The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-21
RELIEF OF
LADYSMITH.
Hopes of London Public Raised
to a High Pitch
BY RumOrs That the Long Siege
Has Been Raised.
NOTHING DEFINITE.
Winston Churchill Describes
Recent Movement.
Further Details of Gen. CrOnie'S
Retreat From Kimberley.

Retreat From kimberley.
London, Feb. 21-At a meeting of the
town council of Windsor this morning
it was announced that news had reach
ed Windsor Castle that Ladysmith had
been relieved.
The announcement was received WITH
immense enthusiasm and shouts Of
Brave Butler"
The runor of the relief of Ladysnith
has again been current on the Berlin
and London bourses. Though it is
quite possible the report is true, there
is no news corroborative of the rumor.
CANADIANS IN A FIGHT
Toronto, Ont. Feb. 21.-A special
cable to the Globe says the First
Canadian contingent was engaged at
Modder river all day Sunday and that
eighteen men of the regiment were kill
ed and sixty wounded.
Among the wounded was Captain
Mason of Toronto The Canadians
forded the Modder after a nights
march.
CRONJE TELLSHOWI HAPPENED
Pretoria, Monday, Feb. ia portion
OF an official report from Gen. CronJe
dated Sunday, Feb. IS, has been given
out as follows:
Yesterday morning about six o'clock
Wnlle removing the ldaSer near ocnOlLZ
Mex, We were attacked by the British.
Fight lasted until 1880 in the evening.
Although, on the whole, the British
We're driven back, they each time re-
newed the attack. The loss to the Brit
ish must have been considerable. Thus
far the BOer loss has been eight killed
and twelve wounded. This morning the
British shelled US with cannon Chief
Commandant Ferreiera's force was too
small to stop the cavalry from entering
Kimberley"
BULLER'S RECENT MOVEMENTS.
New York Feb. 21.-The World this
morning publishes the following dis
patch from Winston Churchill, dated
at Gen. Buffers headquarters, ChieYeiey
camp Monday night:
ITO understand the scope and mean
ing of the recent operations it is neces-
sary to study the map Of the enVironS
of Colenso. The shortest road to Lady
smith lies through Colenso, Pieters,
Nelthorp;
Advancing by this an army secures
railway communication. Moreover the
water question presents little difficulty.
When Gen. Butler determined to
break Off the attack on the Boer posi-
tiOnS beyond POtgieter's drift, he fully
intended to make a fresh attempt and
ne preferred to run the risk and put the
matter to a decisive test as near Lady
smith and as near railway cOmmunica-
tiOns as possible, although this road
runs through a difficult country, begin
ming with the almost impregnable Co
other strong positions in the rear Of
COlenSO.
'eThe position spreads in a wide horse
shoe around ChieVeley. The western
half lies on steep. often pTecipitOuS
bluffs near GrObler's Kloof and among
the low hills, kopjes and scrub around
ColensO village.
Against this position part of the at
tack of December Is was directed.
Gen. Butler has now decided to try
the eastern half which lies on the south
side of the Tugela river running over
HIangwane hill along the green hills
Christie and beyond it Ingola Kop and
the mex between the two latter.
"Hussar hill was seized by cavalry
and occupied by the army the 14th
wednesday,. On the 18th (Thursday)
batteries were established on this posi-
ton and heavy siege and naval guns all
well intrenched.
ION the 18th CFriday) a spasmodic
bombardment was kept up but the
Beers were well concealed and only re-
piled with long range guns causing few
casualties
'.On the 18th Saturday Gen. Butler
attacked the extreme Boer left on Gin
sola Kop with two divisions and caval-
~, holding their right and centre with
formidable line of field and siege ar
tillery. Action began at o'clock. The
infantry, covered by the guns, advanced
through broken, scrubby country across
GOmba stream. upon CingOla Kop, con-
tinually reaching out to eastward to
find the true BOer flank. The cavalry
brigade, under Lord DundOnald, made Il
detour of ten miles and climbed the
eastern side OF Cingola Kop through the
dense jungle up an almost precipitous
slope and arrived at the summit at 10
o'clock After a brief sSirmish with the
I8Oer picketS Major Coughs regiment
gradually cleared the whole ridge. The
Queens Lancers who now arrived on
the extreme left of the infantry attack
supported them in holding the hill
which had been won.
The Beers lost several killed and
wounded Ten horses were captured.
The Beers retired under heavy fire
across the mex to Monte Christie. The
cavalry then 3 crossing Cingola Kop
reached out to the Tugela river and the
South African Light Horse advanced
on the plain beyond the ridge level with
the infantry.
The Beers had now been driven from
Cingola but still occupied Monte Chris
to strongly. The mex between was COM
unanded by the fire of both combatants.
the road across It being available to
neither.
AT right angles to Monte Christie
ridge runs a long spur TO the Tugela
river. The Boer left was now turned
back along this and the operations on
the 18th closed with cavalry facing in
1antry and holding the ridge.
During Saturday and Sunday Gen.
Butler began a turning movement on
the eastward around the Eoer right
resting on the high hills, Cingola Kop
and Monte Christie. The operations so
FAR are entirely successful. Both hills
were captured without heavy loss. The
cavalry on the extreme right under
Lord Dundonald menaced the BOer rear.
THE Boer losses in the bombardment
must have been considerable. L person
ally saw wounded. dragged away.
AT last we have got on their flank
and although fierce fighting lies before