Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1900-01-08
Beers Making Desperate Effort
to Capture LadysmIth and
Are Bravely Resisted.
BULLER's OPPORTUNITY COME
Burghers Play Another Clever
Trick and Capture Seven
officers and Seventy
Men.

now marching On Lduy SlhitH'
London, Jan. S--The stock exchange
has received news of a Boer defeat at
Ladysmith, with rousing cheers and
prices Immediately ascerded in all
departments.
London, Jan. 8-Nothing has been
received corroborative Of rum0r of
General Butler having crossed the Tu-
gela river so the report must be taken
with all reserve.
London, Jan. 8-General Buffers
opportunity for an effective display of
strategy has come, and it is to be
hoped, not too late. The Hussars
and battery of field artillery for which
he has been waiting while Ladysmith
is in deadly peril, are now at the front.
General Joubert's army is making a
desperate attempt to carry Ladysmith
by incessant bombardment and a de-
liberate persistent, attack in front. ac-
cording to the latest news from
Ladysmith. What the emergency re-
quires is a cautious, rapid yet far
sighted plan of operations like that
adopted by Wellington in the PENN
sula.
General French reported the situa.
tion at Colesburg unchanged Satur-
day, but General ForestierWalker, in
oAs loc 81 1ferhf hu
war office, gave an unpleasant ac-
count of what was described with Off
cial euphemism as an accident
Four companies of the first Suffolk
were sent at night to attack the enc
my on low hill one mile from camp.
Colonel Watson who was in command,
was wounded after ordering the
troops to charge, and bugle call for
retreat was sounded, apparently By
the Beers themselves, a trick which
has been played before durtug tire
campaign. Three companies retreated
to camp in good order but the fourth
was caught behind, surrounded by
the enemy and seventy men, includ-
ing seven officers, were taken prison
ers.
British warship Thetis, it is report
ed has arrived at Durham with Ger
man liner Herzog in tow. The latter
vessel, according to a Brussels tele-
gram, was conveying German, Dutch
and Belgian ambulances for the Boers.
London Jan. S-S:45 p. m.-War
office has just published the following
bulletin from General Butler: Frere
Camp, January 8-Following is from
White dated 2 p. M, yesterday: "The
attack commenced on my position,
but was chiefly against Caesars camp
and Wagon hill. The enemy was in
great strength, and pushed the at
tack with the greatest courage and
energy. Some ,entrenchments on
Wagon hill were three times taken by
the enemy and retaken by lis. The
attack continued until 7:S0 p. m.
One point of our position was occu-
But at DUSK in very heavy rain
storm, they were turned out of this
position at the point of the bayonet,
in the most gallant manner by the
Devons, led by Colonel Park. Col
Tan Hamilton commanded on Wagon
hill, and rendered valuable service
Troops had very trying time, but be-
haved .excellently. They are elatel
at the service they rendered the queen
The enemy were repulsed every
where with heavy loss, greatly ex.
ceeding that on my side, which will
be reported as soon as the lists arr
completed"
London, Jan. S-Telegrams iron
Rensburg say that seven officers ant
thirty men of the Suffolks were killed
and about fifty captured. Genera
French's announcement that the Es-
sex regiment had been sent to replace
the Suffolks is more bitter to the lat
ter's friends than the list of casual
ties, as the only inference deducibl'
from this fact is that the Suffolks dis
graced themselves by boiling ant
leaving few of their more stauncl
comrades to fill Pretoria jails. Lor'
Delawar. in graphic description y
the battle of Magersfontein. says: Il
is useless to disguise that large per
centage of the troops are losing hear
for campaign, comprised of a sue
cession Of frontal attacks on an in
visible foe, securely entrenched AM
unreachable. Our men fought ad
mirably but were asked to perform
miracles. Don't blame them an
don't blame the gallant general VIII
was the first victim of the terrible lis
aster which overcame the Highlan
brigade. They marched in quartz
column to their doom. General wau
chopes last words, For Gods SAX
men do not blame me for this" wi
gladden. the hearts Of his numberles
friends. There was no accord b.
tween Methuen and Wauchope in re
gard to the best method of attacl
Methuen's plan prevailed and the mi
take lost seven hundred men,"
The stock exchange was greatly d
pressed today owing to the sitnatio
Of Ladysmith. Consols fell almol
half
4 Dublin correspondent says tn,