The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-19

LONDON. Jan. 10, a. MA special
dispatch from Durham, dated Wednesday.
says:
"Advices from Potgieters drift, dated
yesterday Cruesday), say that Sir Charles
Warren mas arrived within seventeen
miles of Ladysmith, and that the British
wounded are arriving at Mooi river field
hospital by every train from the front,
indicating that there has already been se-
we're fighting. Neither report has yet been
confirmed.
The military critics In affiliation
with the war Office consider that the ex-
pected battle along. the wide arc south
and west of Ladysmith can hardly be
delayed beyond today. From Durham It
is reported that lighting has already be-
gun.
Force Now with Butler.
Gen Buffers force engaged in the flank
ing operation across the Tugela are some
1900 or 1900 bayonets. 1900 horses and
forty guns. The disposition of his other
1900 or 10000 men is not known although
the assumption is that the whole army
win be in action when the hour for COM
bined movement arrives.
Three weeks ago Gen. Butler had 5000
men. Considerable reinforcements have
since reached him, giving him probably
5000 men and eighty guns all told.
Estimates of how many men and guns
the Beers have to oppose him are mere
guesswork. In not replying to Gen. Lyt-
tleton's shell fire, they are using the tao
tics that proved so successful in the bait
Ties of Magersfontein and Colenso-lying
low in their trenches. and thus hoping to
conceal their precise position until the
infantry advances.
Curious Analogy Drawn.
The Daily Chronicle military expert
sees a curious analogy between Gen. Bull
ler's situation now and the eve of
Magersfontein. Now. as then, the Beers
are making a stand with their backs to
investing lines within a few miles. As
Lord Methuen, after crossing Modder riv-
er, had to attack the Spytfontein and Ma
gersfontein hills, SO Gen. Butler. after
passing the Tugela. faces invisible In
trenchments in rough country.
Buffers Transport Service.
One correspondent mentions Gen. Bull
ler's wheeled transport of 5000 vehicles.
which connect him with the railroad.
about thirty miles to the rear. Among
these vehicles are thirty traction engines,
which draw from ten to fifteen wagons
each.
Broad Hint TO Give No Quarter.
Gen. Buffers warning as to the misuse
of the white flag by the Beers In bis proc
iamatfon to the troops Is considered
rather broad hint to give no quarter. His
phrase, There will be no turning back
is played upon edtorlally by the morning
papers as presaging cheerful announce
ments.
other Points of Interest.
The absorbing interest felt in the situa-i
tion in Natal makes other points In the
theater OF war seem microscopic.
Lord Methuen lies behind his works at
Modder river. 1t is estimated that his
forces will have to be nearly doubled be-
fore he can relieve Kimberley.
British reinf6rcements are moving to-
ward Gen. French at Rensburg. With
these he is expected to advance. Gen.
Gataere's men occupy Loperburg. slight
advance.
More Troops to Embark.
The war office announces that next week
there will be embarked seventy-two guna
ilU men siuu 1s1iV iloiStS. iiS - thF fuAu-
est consignment of artillery ever sent
abroad. The war office inyites 560 voiun-
teers for a sharpshooters' battalion OF yeo-
nanry.
Sir william MacCormack, In the Lancet
says that OF the so wounded In the. krss-
pital visited by him. only eight had been
hit by shells. NJ
KipIins,s CharaeJ byssfic Letter.
Kipling has written the following char
acteristic letter to the British Guiana
branch of the Navy League. in recogni-
ton Of contribution TO the war fund.
Bravo, British Guiana, Seeing what they
had to contend with lately In the sugar
line, they have done uncommoniy we'll.
Please convey TO them my best thanks
first, as vice president OF the league; sec
ond. as perpetrator Of the 'Absent-minded
Bcgsar,' and third, as a fellow contributor
to the big Jackpot which we are boiling
up on Thomas behalf. Have you seen
Brazil and Trinidad come into the
gamer,
Possible Rising mt the Cape.
The Cape Town correspondent OF the
Times, discussing. Afrfeander disioyalty,
sa.,s:
81 believe the sympathy of every Dutch
man in South Africa Is with the two re-
puhlics, and that a general rising Is still
quite possible. Howe4cf, there Is nothing
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