The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1900-01-06
OF SOME IMPENDING MOVEMENT
BY GEN. BULLER.
May Intend to Make Another At
tempt to Relieve ~Ladysmfth-
Beers Moving Their Lnagers
Nearer Ladysnlith With the View,
Probably, Of Putting Greater
Pressure ON h Garrison. Which
Have a Hard Fight With KafIirs-
British Nervous About Butler,

darkly at some impending movement.
This is taken. With some misgiyings.
that Gen. Butler intends to make an
other attempt to relieve I.adysmith.
1t is reported by the same dispatches
that the Beers have now returned to
the north bank of the Tugcla. being
afraid that the swollen river may cut
off their retreat. They are also NOV
ing their laagers nearer Ladysmith,
with the view of probably putting
greater pressure Oh the garrison,
which is now suffering severely. 1t
is hardly conceivable now that Gen.
Butler would make a frontal attack
now that the river is rising. especially
in view Of the fact that he is contem-
plating moving his headquarters back
to Frere can p. w
The present movements of the Beers
is in line with the enemy's tactics Of
securing a safe line of retreat. 1t is
known that artillery is due to arrive
for Gen. Butler, but the belief is that
even then his forces would he too
week to act. He might be moved by
a desire to accomplish something be-
fore the. arrival of Lord Roberts. His
nien L also keen to retrieve their de.
feat.
The reported engagement between
Beers and Kaffirs is very vigun and
cannot be explained until the arrival
Of later disr: tcles.
The number of members of The COM
mons who have volunteered for the
front threatens seriously Il reduce The
government majority when parliament,
reassembles.
The R%othschilds have donated e.
600 to the Buckinghamshire volunteer
fund. 1t is estimated f2O.0G0 will be
contributed privately to volunteer
funds throughout the country. AL
ready the fund for the relief of the
families of soldiers exceeds f:0N.H IW.
Boer Fire Very Damaging.
Ladysmith. Dec. 81. = Gen. White
has had a slight attack of fever. but
he is now convalescing. The Boer
shell fire has been very damaging re-
Gently. On Friday Il shell killed six
men and il jured one The same shell
killed twelve horses. Another fell. in
the Fifth Lancers' lines. slightly
wounding six officers. Several shells
have fallen close to Gen. Whites
house, con polling the removal of
headquarters to another point. 1t is
reported that Gen. Joubert is again in
command of the Beers here. The mil
itary authorities appear confident. but
they are very reticent. Beers have
been observed moving %northwarl and
westward in large numbers.
Makes British Laugh.
London. Dec. 31.-The Modder River
correspondent of the Times, referring
to the scare-firing of the Beers. says:
"Their nervousness causes much
amusement among the British. 1t is
quite certain that half the Boer force
Is employed watching by day and the
other half by night. Probably the
consequent WEAKNESS with the scarci.
ty Of water and the presence of ty.
phOid will render their position intol-
cradle. Their present action is due
either to a scare or to a wish to cover
a retirement to Spytfontein."
l.. Russians In Bocr Ranks.
London, Dec. 81. = The Marseilles
correspondent Of the Daily Mail, tele-
graphing the substance of an inter-
view with the Russian Gen. Goruke,
eldest o of the famous Gourke, who
is now about to start for Pretoria,
says that the Russian officer made the
following statement: u Rave been of.
fered the command of a Boer army
corps. In my own mind I am abso-
|lutely confident Of the success Of the
Beers. You may take my word for it
that thousands of Russians are now
lighting under Gen. Joubert."
The Boer Side of 1t.
Pretoria, Dec. 81. Commandant
Snyman reports from Molopo: ION
Monday morning the enemy from
Mafeking attacked n of our forts in
force with cannon. MaXims and an
armored train, and SD persistently that
there was fighting right on the walls
Of the fort. But we have retained our
fort. The British loss is reported at
|afty-five." The other commanders re-
port "All quiet" with the exception of
1.-THE usual bolnbardment of Ladysmith.
Gen. Lucas Meyer has recovered and
returned to the front.
Beers Fight With KniEirs.
Pretoria, Dec. 81. - Commandment
Swartz reports from the lager at
Abwinskop, near Zeorust, that he had
IN engagement on Friday, Dec. %,
with kaffirs in the neighborhood Of
ID~erdorpoort. The kaffirs occupied a
strongly fortified ridge and were well
prepared for emergencies. After
heavy fighting the burghers captured
the kaflr position. losing three killed
md five wounded. /.
British Capture q Hill.
London, Dec. 31.-The Times pub
fishes the following dispatch from
Chieveley Camp, dated Dec. 20:
parties Of Beers arrived today with
In three miles of Chieveley Camp,
threatening our watering parties, who
are compelled to go two miles owing
to the scarcity Of water. It is reported
the Ladysmith garrison made a sortie
on Tuesday and captured a HILL,
Beers still Rcsieging Kimberley.
Kimberley, Dec. GA detachment
Of the n ounted forces, with artillery
and light infantry, moved out in a
Westerly direction. Boer artillery from
Kamlerdam opened fire at Ottoe's
kopje, Kimberley fort replying with
twenty shells. The British force re-
sonnoitered outposts along Lazeretto
Ridge, the Boer patrols f~etreating.
Having accomplished this and having
Discovered Beer reinforcements ap-
preaching from Wimbledon Ridge,
I'D NSnna,oer~ .,axL 49, 1Dor,o0 - ..Af,,.-L'