Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-01-18
ON THE TUGELA.
a Fierce Battle Reported in
Progress, Wednesday.
Butler Advancing--Surpri.es Beers and
Occupies Strong Position.
Maieking Now Hard Pressed-Mors Details Of
Battle Of Ladysmith.

London, Jan. 1s.-The Pietermaritz-
burg correspondent of the Daily Mail
telegraphing. late Wednesday evening,
Jan. IL, says: Arrivals from Estcourt
report that there was fighting on the
Tugela, today. The result is not
known here"
London. Jan. 2s.-4.3O A. M.-Gen-
Butler completely surprised the Beers
and occupied the hills beyond Pot
gieter's drift Is miles west of Colenso-
Wednesday. Jan. TO- This intelligence
is contained in an exclusive dispatch
to the Times. dated yesterday. He fall
lowed up the movement by Smelling the
Boer trenches
This news completely disposes of the
statement that Sir Charles Warrens
force went in the direction Of Weenen.
and it tends greatly to restore conf
dence in Gen. Buffers tactics. The
suppositiCn that he had divided his
forces into three columns had given
cause for anxiety. 1t is now seen that
such Il view was erroneous, as Gen.
Ruler's forces are concentrated.
In cape Colony. Gen. Methuen has
made demonstration in force. she'll
ing the Boer works. Gen. Gatacre is
skirmishing around Molteno and Gen
French has been throwing a few shells
at the Beers at Renshurg. Col. Plumer
is moving 10 the relief Of Mafeking
FROM Bechuanaland. He is now in
command of l.ss than 1000 men. MAIZE
kius is in q bad way; the siege is be
ing pressed with determination and the
Kafirs are deserving because Of pinch
"a ratilns and the necessity of eating
horse nest
The Standards vivid account of the
assault upon Ladysmith shows that
tEe garrison was surprised and that
several times tn" situation was criti-
cal. out Of detachment of 80 Cor
don Hghlanders who surrendered ev-
cry man was wounded. Curiously
enough. this Is the first mention Of the
capture Of Highlanders. The Boer re
pulse at Ladysmith was the heaviest
commensurate Of the war.
The government is relaxing its efforts
to send reinforeements. 1t is quite I'M
decided as to when the eighth division
will be shipped
The war office declined the offer of a
third battalion Of Northampton militia.
saying that no more militia will be
sent abroad. 1t seems probable that
only 5000 instead Of 10000 yeomanry
will be modified.
The war office sent for Lord Strath
coma. yesterday. and he had a long in
terview with the officials. particularly
Gen. Sir Evelyn Wood. The details of
his force have been arranged and ca
bled to Canada.
Mr.. j. J. Van Aliens offer to give a.
field hospital section to consist of three
wagons. % cots and 20 transport ami
mails. with all the appliances, has been
accepted by the war office. The sec
ton will be called the American sec
ton of the hospital to which it is at
tached
The ministers are gathering for a
cabinet council, which will probably be
held. tomorrow friday.
London. Jan. 1S.-The Daily Mail has
the following. dated yesterday. from
PietermartZburg: News has been re-
ceived that Gen. Butler is making sat
isfactory progress"
A correspondent Of the Daily Mail
at Lourenzo Marquee. says: "Numer-
Gus foreigners arrive here in French
vessels. They are en- train al a station
outside the town and leave al a station
before the TranSvaal is reached. Then
they walk across the border and rejoin
the train. Hundreds have passed
through in that way since the outbreak
Of the war"
The Standard publishes the follow
ing dispatch from Ladysmith. dated
Jan. 6. by way Of Frere. Jan. II: The
enemy. today. made determined eff
fort to capture two positions. Caesars
Camp and Wagon Hill. The latter is
4 lofty entrance to the southwark. pos
session Of which would have brought
them within rifle range of the town.
Caesars Camp was held by the frs
battalion Of the Manchester Regimen.
The position was separated firm
that Of the Beers by a rocky ra ms
In the early hours Of the mohihs'
under cover Of darkness. the Feiuei-
berg commando succeeded in sVau'"s
our pickets. making their wa, thiousn
the thorn-bush and reaching the loot
Of the slope at $50 The darih was
raised by our sentries; brf peIoie 'ne
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