The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-08
CAMPAIGN GROWS CRITICAL.
NEXT NEWS MAY BE THAT OF THE
FALL OF LADYSMITH.

Beers Took the Opportunity Afforded
by the Rise of the TuSeIa to Pour
"A Terrific Fire Into Ladysmith.
BuIIer Prevented From Acting I'M
mediateIy-BOers Have Forces to
Hold Butler In Check as Well as to
lombard That Town.
London, Jan. 8. 4:5O a. m.-The British
public is at last face to face with crit-
cal moment in the campaign. 1t may safe
ly be said that at no previous times have
there been such anxious hours of sus-
uense as will be passed through until the
arrival of further news regarding the fate
of Ladysmith.
The week opens with only fresh add-
lions to the disasters which have befallen
British arms, and there is no longer any
sustaining confidence to buoy up public
opnion. The editorials this morning fully
reflect the extreme gravity of the situa-
ton. with a painful undercurrent of om-
nous foreboding, mainly caused by the
fact that while the Beers have now chang
ed their tactics and assumed the offensive,
Gen. Butler is apparently unable to do
more to assist Gen. White than in making
a demonstration. The Morning Post says:
He might as well have ordered dis
play of fireworks"
As the heliograph ceased working yes
terday Sunday it is presumed that Gen.
Whites last message was sent by a pig
con or runner Its purport is serious
enough.
Attacks on Ladysmith.
The Times publishes a dispatch from
Iadysmith, dated Jan. 1, recording two
night movements on the part of the Beers
70 assault the town. These had to be
abandoned when the British defenses were
reached, but the correspondent says it was
apparent that the great attack would not
be long delayed. He adds:
Loyalty supported by the civilians the
garrison can hold out for a considerable
period We are not yet reduced to half
Tations. The greatest difficulty is proper
accommodation for the wounded and
sick"
Little doubt remains as to the meaning
of the Boer attack. A dispatch from the
Beer camp at Colenso dated Thursday
last and sent by way of Lorenzo Mar
queZ, mentions that a thunderstorm had
turned the dry ravines into torrents, and
flooded the Tugela. Doubtless Gen. Jou-
bert felt sure he had secured a couple of
days in which he could attack Ladysmith
without fear of interference from Gen.
Butler, who, even, if he decided to at
tempt to relieve the town. will probably
occupy three days in reaching it by even
a victorious advance.
Apparently on Saturday Gen. Butler was
not ready to attack. Possibly Gen. Jou-
bert anticipated that Gen. Butler would
shortly deliver an attack, and in that
case Gen. Butler may have actually open
ed battle yesterday.
Terrible Possibility.
Great Britain has to face the terrible
possibility that the next news viii be the
IAN of Ladysmith. The dsquieting fea-
'ure Is that the Beers seem to have had
suthelent forces to deter Gen. Butler from
attacking while themselves making siren
uous efforts 20 reduce the town
IN the presence of this ominous stua-
uoh- even Gen French's disaster, of which
apparently the worst has not yet been
Aeaid' assumes quite minor importance in
tle eyes of the public
me war office has already decided upon
Immediate steps for sending an eighth in
Isntfy division to South Africa. Some of
ug regiments for this division will be
taAen from Gibraltar and Malta. They
Will he replaced by militia
II is asserted that the customs authori-
ues on the river Thames have detained
,t"o outgoing steamers and seized two
.a'se guns and six Maxims, packed in pl-
'o cases, intended for the TransVaal 1t
- dS9 said that a quantity of foodstuffs
y" duolher vessel has been seized.