, 1900-01-22
Beers DRIVEN RACK
BRITISH FORCES IN SOUTH AFRI-
CA STEADILY ADVANCING
TOWARD LADYSMITH.
Relief of That City Now Considered as
an Early Probability, but Stubborn
Resistance is Expected Over Every
Foot Of the Ground-British Have
Profted by Their Lessons.

London, Jan. 22.-Up to 3 o'clock
this morning no tidings had arrived in
London Of the result of h battle
which, according to every indication,
ragged all day yesterday on Buffers left
flank, where General Warren in the
morning had resumed his attempt to
turn the Beers right wing.
Saturday the whole British force was
engaged in fierce conflict with the Bo-
ers all day, which resulting in thrust
ing back the Beers from ridge after
ridge. The fight was resumed yester-
day and at half past 9 O'Clock General
Warren had forced the Beers from
three positions. The Lancashire and
Irish brigades were then advancing.
That is as far as the dispatches go.
The main engagement Saturday took
place to the west of Spion .kop and re-
suited in the British securing the rough
table land which is said to constitute
the key to the Boer position. The Bo-
er right was pushed back upon the CEN
trail hill at Spion kop.
The British assault was delivered
against a ridge of hills six miles long.
The British forces were marshalled in
three b%rigades, under Generals Wood
gate, Hart and Hildyard, General Clery
directing the operations.
The British moved forward and gain
ed position after position, until the b.
err right gave way. The flanking move
ment was evidently entirely successful.
This collapse of the Beers right wing
would enable the British commander
to swing around and drive them into
an ever narrowing circle.
Meanwhile the Beers were kept busy
on their left, facing Potgeister's drift.
A continuous artillery fire was poured
into them from Swartz kop and Mount
Alice. Lyttleton's brigade made a re-
connoissance in force. which rendered
it impossible for the Beers there to ride
off to the assistance of their hard-press-
ed right. The British howitzers, naval
guns and field artillery raked the
trenches. keeping the Beers in them
throughout the Intire day.
The British commander and his lieu
tenants have evidently profited by their
lessons in war. There nave been no
desperate rushes over open ground
swept by fire from Boer marksmen.
There has been no marching in close
formation within range of a Boer vol
ley.
From Ladysmith comes word that the
Beers have placed In position some new
guns and that a bombardment has been
few days. This apparently indicates
that the Beers do not consider their
prospects in Natal to be hopeless.
General Warren seems to have estab-
lished himself at Acton Homes as an
advance point, and being fairly behind
he Boer position, and only 20 miles
from Ladysmith, ought to be in good
position to push the Beers back upon
the besieged city, where General White
ought to have, in spite of the rapages
Of disease, 5000 men ready at the bay
onet's point or lance point to turn the
fee of to the north. This is n Of the
incidental disadvantages of General
Buffers movement by the west, that it
throws the Beers back on the railway
line of communication to the Trans
vaal. This line is studded with fine
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