The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-01-25
BOERS SHOLD HEIGHTS
Warren Retains Perilous Posi-
tion Gained Sunday.
STEEPSLOPESPREvENTCUNp PLANTING
d Night Attack Contemplated to Car
ry spion's kop-Dutch CoIonists
Aid the Enemy-Boer Re-
port of the Fight

port of the Fight.
LONDON, Jan. 2i.-General Buffers
great turning movement, of which $,
much ssd been expected, has come to 9
stands,ill. His carefully worded mes
sage to the war office telling this after d
silence of two days reads like an apology
nd I'm EXCLAMATION.
General Warren holds the ridges, but
lie ensSlsA positions are higher. The
british artillery is playing on the Boer
,ositions, and the Beers are replying
ihe British infantry is separated by only
1,4OO yards from the enemy. but an ap-
proach to the steep slopes across the bare
open would expose the British to fatal
rife fire.
The following dispatch from General
Butler, dated at Spearman's Camp, Jan.
2S, 6:2O p. M, has just beqn posted
Warren holds the position he gained
two days ago. In front of him Mt about
1,4OO yards is the enemys position, west
OF Spion's kop. 1t is on higher ground
fhan Warren's position. so it is impossi-
Die to see into it properly.
1t can only be approached over bare,
open slopes, and the ridges held by War
ren are so steep that guns cannot be plac-
ed on them. But we are shellng the enc
my's position with howtzers and field ar
tillery placed on lower ground behind in
fantry.
The enemy is replying with Creusot
and other artillery. In this duel the ad-
vantage rests with us, as we appear to be
searching his trenches. and his artillery
lire is not causing us much loss.
An attempt will be made tonight to
seize Spion's kop, the salient of which
forms the left of the enemy's position
facing Trichard's drift and which divides
1t from the position facing Potgeter's
drift. Ii has considerable command over
all the enemy's intrenchmonts."
The Daily Chronicle publishes the fol-
lowing photographic message from Lady
smith, dated Jan. 22, by way of Swart
kop, Jan. %:
Yesterday we could see British shells
bursting close to the Boer camp on the
plateau this side of Potgieter's drift, but
the camp still remains in position there
today.
I'VE heard very heavy firing all this
morning. The bombardment here is
slack, but the Boer big gun on Mount
Bulwana is still firing"
ID,
Tusela river, dated Jan. u, has the fol-
lowing:
After Commandant Botha checked the
British advance yesterday morning it was
expected that there would be no further
Rction until tomorrow. This afternoon.
however, signs were discerned of an in
tended movement in the British northern
camp.
when the heat. which was more
frightfu than any yet experienced. had
worn off, the British cannon started in
FULL force, and their infantry advanced in |
extended order
Generals Botha and Cronje held the |
nigh hills over which the road to LADY, |
smith passed. When the Mauser fire |
opened, pandemonium of sound filed |
the air The vindictive crash of lyddite /
shells, the sharp volleys of Lee Metfords |
and the whiplike crack of Mausers were
interspersed with the boom of the Boer
MaXims. The battle ended with dark
ness, but not without evidences of exc
cution among the British that were mani.
Tested at sunrise.
Field Cornet Ernst Emilio was killed;
nor did the generals escape unscathed.
AT the central position, Swart kop,
where the other road to Ladysmith cross
es the hills, the British advanced from
low kopjes on the banks of the Tucela
Then they entered the zone
of Mauser fire, and, although their naval
guns kept up the usual terrible racket.
the advance was stopped and the British
had to count out their dead and wounded.
'Commandant Viljoen and two burghers
We're knocked senseless by an explosion
OF lyddite, but Commandant Vilioen re-
covered. Field Cornet Heilbron was
wounded and, on refusing to surrender.
was shot.
The British loss was probably insigni6.
cant. They complain that sporting Man
sers We're found on the field and soft
nosed bullets, with Lee Metfords. The
Beers admit that sporting Mausers were
occasionally found, but they DENY the
charge respecting expansive bullets. Not
shot was fired by the Poers with can.
non or rifle at the Swart kop position this ,
side the river
"One thousand infantry and a battery
advanced yesterday to the second row of
low nils between the republicans and
me river. Heavy cannonading proceeded
at range of 1000 yards, but the feder. =
ais maintained the silence of death. This
must bave staggered the British, as the
advance was stopped, and this morning '
'hey had retired to their old positions" t