Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1900-01-27
BRITISH ARE WITHIN
SIGHT or LADYSMlTH
Buffers Advance Toward the Be-
Ieaguered City Proceeding
Slowly But Steadily.
moMENTOus NEWS EXPECTED SOON
London Momentarily Looks for Tid'
ings That n General Engage
Dent Has Bcgun--views
Of the Experts.

-
Spearman's Camp, Natal, Jan. a.
(Noon) Firing of field guns was
heard early this morning from the
left. Evidently Warren has commenced
bombardment of Boer trenches on
Tabanymna mountain. a brief mus
kerry fire was also heard. Among the
prisoners captured Thursday was a
grandson-in-law of Kruger.
London. Jan. 22.-Telegrams from
the front indicate that the northward
march of the relief column moving
toward Ladysmith is proceeding
steadily. Authorities here seem satis-
fed, now that Buffers forces are with
in sight of Ladysmith, that the be-
sieged place is at present safe from
serious attack. No news OF real inn
portance was made public up to 2:3o
| this afternoon and there is nothing to
| show that the general engagement so
frequently rumored has yet COM
| menced, though obviously news of
such battle is momentarily expected.
Prince Francis, of Teck, has gone to
| the front
A special dispatch from Capetown,
dated Friday, January 10, / p. m,
says:
"The Ladysmith RELIEF force is
steadily working northward. Heavy
fighting occurred yesterday. The
Beers are retreating."
There is every indication that the
big fight for the western roads, lead
ing to Ladysmith, will take place to-
day," writes the London Leaders mill
tary critic in it's issue today (Satur-
day) Though it may have begun yes
terday, all the artillery of Generals
Warren and Hildyard were not across
the drifts yesterday morning, and the
ammunition train and most of the
heavier guns were probably then still
south of the Tugela. These indica-
tions, as well as General Warren's
longer march, point to a serious effort
being made today"
The war critic of the Morning Post
| says:
"Sir Charles Warren's intention is
to turn the right flank of the Beers,
presumably those facing General Lyt-
Teton, but whether he proposes TO at
tack that flank as he would by de-
scending the valley of Blauubank
Spruit or to march right around it by
the valley of Sand river can hardly yet
be determined. Fighting, When it
comes, may be expected to be heavy
and continuous and the losses may be
severe. Far from their base at Chieve-
ley, with the river behind them and
with the enemy in large numbers be-
tween them aud Ladysmith, the posi-
ton of the British forces is not an
easy one"
The duke Of Marlborough, in the ca
pacity of staff officer, left for South
Africa today. The duchess and her
mother, Mrs. o. II. r. Belmont, ac-
companied him as far as Southamp-
ton. The duchess will not, however,
go with her husband to the Cape. The
duke does not take large retinue of
servants to the front with him, as has
been frequently intimated, but is ac-
companied only by his valet, who will
probably be replaced by the usual of
ficer's striker" when he gets into
camp.
The departure of the second detach-
ment of the London volunteers today
was accompanied by the customary
scenes of enthusiasm, as they were
given a hearty final send-off on board
ing the transports at southampton.