The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-01
FUsILIERs LOSE HEAVILY
ONE COMPANY Is ALMOST ANNIHI-
LATED BY A FUsILLADE.
Two Hundred and Fifty Men Are
Killed and Wounded I'm the RAILWAY
Hill Fight-Ladysmith Suffering.

LONDON. March i, Ais a. m.-General
Buffers distinct success in storming
Pieters hill brings the rescue of Ladysmith
near, but the War Office intimated late last
evening that an immediate announcement
OF relief need not be expected. The goings
10 and fro at midnight of officials and mes
sengers suggested that important news has
been received. If this were the case, Lord
Lansdowne obviously desired to sleep on II
before taking the public into his confidence.
AS his message reveals. General Buffers
successful attack came after the hard fight
ing of Friday, and 1t was improviscd and
its execution begun during the armistice of
Sunday. In proposing the armistice, the
British commander stipulated that both
sides should be free to move, but that
neither should do any shooting He was.
therefore, within his privileges in immedi-
ately beginning to transfer his troops.
General Buffers tidings come weighted
with his long list OF casualties. His losses
In the four attempts to get General White
out aggregate 1900.
Ladysmith is in desperate straits Charles
Williams, the military expert. saws he
learns on high authority-presumabIy that
OF Lord Wolseley-that General Whites
force Is almost at its last gasp" This Is
not so much," says Mr.. Williams ION ac-
count OF any lack of provisions or of am
munition. neither OF which Is yet ex-
hausted. as because of the poisonous
waters OF the Kip river and the evil effects
or the heat on the terrain in which the
garrison must reside. Even those who have
escaped fever, dysentery and diarrhoea are
In state Of low vitality. They can still
man trenches and would probably hold
their own against a last desperate assault
but they can initiate nothing. General
Butler now knows that as units, the regi-
ment will be OF no use to him for months
The water Of Kip river is not available for
drinking, and to boil it is impossible be-
cause OF the scarcity of fuel. 1t is thick
with putrid animal matter. Tea made of it
has suspended fibre. something like beef
tea. 1t is caused by the sewage from the
Boer camps" Mr.. Williams adds that when
news like this passes under the thumb of
the censor, it more than Offsets whatever
jolly news may be photographed from Lady
smith.
Though General Buffers lengthy dispatch
Is construed as n victory bravely won. the
commander of the force in Natal has so
often reported victories without achieving
his main object that the public has learned
TO contain its jubilation until Ladysmith is
actually relieved. while the long list OF
casualties invariably following any appar-
ent gain by General Butler Is always
awaited with dread and anxiety, which
temporarily rob his partial success OF its
acclaim. However, it is the general ac-
cepted belief that General Butler is deter
mined TO reach General White this time.
and though the stages are disappointingly
slow. the nation confidently awaits news OF
the relief OF those 5000 besieged troops
Spencer Wilkinson, commenting on Gen.
Buffers operations. says: 1T hardly seems
as though Tuesdays attack had covered
more than an advanced position. covering
the BOer main lines of investment, or that
the Beers have abandoned any part of
those lines. Otherwise General Butler and
Sir George White would have met the same
the other. to be decisive. Apparently, Lord
Roberts cannot. for some time. influence
the course OF events in Natal. and General
Buffers force has now been subjected to a
very considerable and prolonged strain
The moment seems opportune TO point the
necessity Of sending General Butler rein
forcemsnts."
The military critic OF the Times, dwelling
upon the difficulties facing General Butler.
says: Although his progress has not been
so great as earlier reports had led us 10
expect, the sacrifices his force has made
already have been great. The country Is
exactly adapted TO the tactics OF tena-
cious rear guard and IL the Beers continue
their resistance with the skill and stub
bornness hitherto shown. many difficulties
remain 20 be surmounted."
PIETEa's HILL CAPTURED.