Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-01-20
10000 BRITISH
Now Marching to Relieve Gar
rison at ladysmith.
10000 Beers With Pick and Spade
Strengthening Their Defences.
The Battle Once Opened Expected to Last
Two or Three Days.

London, Jan. 20.-4.30 A. M.-Every
hour that Cen. Butler delays his COM
bined attack makes his position strong
or. Transports, continue u arrive at
Durham. and fresh troops are being
sent up the line To reinforce those in
front of Colenso. 1t appears that Cen.
Buffers troops north of the Tugela
number at least -. 600 and possibly %
900. with 80 guns. His total forces
forming a great outer curve south ANA
west of Ladysmith probably number
~. 600 men.
While Gen. Buller's forward opera
tons. which began, Jan. 10. develop
rather leasurely. the Beers appear t.
BE- fully aware that they must meet
strenuous assault. Balloon observers
have roughly estimated that 10000
Beers are using spade and pick in arli-
iicially strengthening positions which
nature has rendered easy of defence.
Military critics in touch with the war
office think that news that general
fighting has begun may be expected
any hour. 1t is not thought that one
days fighting will settle the fate Of
I.advsmith. but rather that there will
be two or three days ~ continuous
fighting.
\ Durham special dated Thursday
night. says: 1T is reported here that
Lord Dundonald has smashed a B0er
convey.
Gen. Butler is said to be within II
miles of Ladysmith and Gen. Warren
To be about six miles II the rear"
The Daily Mail publishes the follow
ing dispatch, dated Thursday. from
Spearman's camp: 1t is rumored that
the Beers have evacuated Colenso in
order to reinforce their troops here.
Heavy fire was heard from Lady
smith, this morning. Gen. Buller's or
der instructs the men 10 heed the white
flags Of the Beers only when they lay
down their arms. II also instructs
them to beware Of false bugle calls
The Standard publishes the follow
ing, dated Thursday. from Spearman'S
farm:
1t is reported that the Beers oppo-
site Colenso. on finding that Gen.
Butler had outmanoueVred them,
crossed to the south Of the Tugela,
Monday. and set fire t. all The nous,
in the village.
as the force from Chieveley ad-
vanced the Beers retired them to
trenches On hill in line with Colenso.
our infantry advanced to the attack
in skirmishing order. followed by sup
ports ana reserves our cavalry scout
ing on the right close up to- the river.
The Eoer forces at Colenso must hay"
been considerably weakened by the
dispatch of large reinforccmcnts west
ward to meet Gen. Buffers advance.
and they now hurriedIy evacuated the
river trenches and the kopjes opposite
the village and scattered before our
shrapnel BY evening, none Of the en-
envy Was left within rife shot Of CO.
lens0 The British force then retired
to Chieveley."
Dispatch to the Daily Telegraph,
dated Thursday, from Spearman'
camp. describes the difficulties Of the
march owing u the unWieldy baggage
column. including all The tents ANA
sheep, over bad roads in wet weather
The correspondent says:
Some 10000 Beers arrived in the MI
cinity of Potgeiter's drift. Thursday
ana Friday Of last week. and began
Inc erection Of extensive ana formid-
diDlt' lltltS Ol tltIt'iltN- lbl lII'li IIf~l-
ton. apparently. could only be turned
from the west by assailng the high
ridges of the Sproen kop
A balloonist. today. reported that
no guns We're visible in the "ncmyS
works. but that there was n large Eorr
camp in the direction IF Rrakfontein.
a brown ridge four miles from Pot
gie-ter's drift
Beers arrived in large numbers. To-
day. from ColensO and Ladysmith.
They have certainly run branches of
the railway from Modder Spruit around
Mount BulWaya. Nearly all the Beers
have gone to attempt to check Gen.
Warren's advance, but he made no
sign. today"
A dispatch to the Daily Telegraph
from Spearman farm or camp, as the
now describe it. dealing
with Lord Dundonalds movement, to
the west Of Gen. Warren's force, al
ready cabled, says:
His success gives us control OF an
easy entrance to Ladysmith. our guns
continue to lombard the Boer lines
the Beers replying but feebIy. Gen
Warren is steadily advancing.
The Times has the following dis
patch. dated Thursday, from Pioter-
Gen. Buffers wagon
train is 10 miles in length and en-
braces 400 wagons and 5000 animals. /
AS some Of the drifts are narrow and |
muddy. only one wagon is able to cross |
1T a time. The officers are betting two |
o one that Ladysmith will be relieved. |
omorrow lFriday).
Speaking. yesterday. at ccnsarNa- !
i've meeting in Bradford. Mr.. William /
son. municipal councillor. said that
t was within his personal knowledge /
hat thousands Of bullet proof shields, |
Weighing seven pounds each. were be
ng manufactured in Sheffield for the
British soldiers. These are designed I"
protect the vital parts at a range OF
90 yards.