Omaha daily bee., 1900-01-09
White Has Less Men and Ammunition as
Result Of Saturdays Battle.
NOT CoUNTtRBALANCED BY BOER LOSSES
Olery's Force from Uhieveley Makes a
Demonstration Before Oolenso.
FOURTEEN BRITISH GUNS ARE IN ACTION
Naval Battery Joins in Artillery Prnc-
FL Remain Passive, Not
Firing IA single
return TO Camp.

Copyright, 1900, by Press Publishing COS
LONDON. Jan. SIS a. m.-(New York
World Cablegram-Special Tel~egram.)-The
war Office has no confirmation of the report
that General Butler has succeeded In cross
ing the Tugela river and is moving nearer
L%adysmith. Since his defeat, December 10,
at Colenso and loss OF artillery, he has been
reinforced and it has been understood that
he would make another move shortly, but
nothing official has been learned of an ad-
vance.
The London Morning Posts military ex-
pert, commenting on General Whites re-
port Of the Boer attempt to take Ladysmith
by storm, says:
at is with an inexpressible sense Of re-
lief that the country learns that General
White and his brave troops beat back the
Beer attack Saturday.
THE situation in a material aspect is
what 1t was on the eve of battle. Lady
smith Is still invested. General Whites
force still urgently needs relief and the
difficulties which confront General Butler
are as great as they were before,
whites situation is Worse.
Indeed, in two respects the situation
Is worse, for General Whites force on Sat
urday must have expended a large amount
of ammunition, which, until the relief OF
Ladysmith, cannot be replenished, and must
have lest a number of officers and men,, a
less not counterbalanced, so far as Lady
smith is concerned, by the larger losses CT
the Beers, for the Boer force was much
more numerous.
Nov, therefore,, while the effect of the
rcpulses OF Saturday Is fresh on them and
before the Consciousness of failure has dis
appeared is the time for General Butler to
make his attack
CnnrroI puIlpr has hapn in Natal since
November 25 planning to relieve Ladysmith.
Today his vanguard is at Chieveley, about
twenty miles from Ladysmith. Every hill
and kopje beyond Colenso is strongly forti-
fed and manned, while the Boer trenches
on his front are said to extend seventeen
miles along the Tugela river.
The Mail military expert exults in Gen
eral Whites defense and says:
THE British army of relief has lost a
great opportunity. VIII 1t be allowed an
other such chance?"
The other military experts follow the same
general line, declaring the situation at
Ladysmith is still critical and urging Gen
eral Butler to do something for its relief
at any cost.
CIery Makes u Demonstration.
Copyright, 1900, by Press Publishing Coz
FRERE CAMP, Jan. 6.-9:35 p. m.-(New
York World Cablegram-Special telegram
AT IL O. clock today White photographed
he was heavily attacked and all his forces
engaged, whereupon Clery, with a force
from Chieveley camp, decided to create a
diversion by making a demonstration before
COlenso.
At 2 o'clock a division marched out of
Camp. Hildyard's brigade began on the left,
Barton's on the right, with cavalry on the
TANKS. The infantry advanced in scattered
swarms toward the Tugela until within
5000 yards of the river, when fourteen
British guns came into action from a con-
venient ridge. The artillery then searched
the Boer position thoroughly, working from
right to left, making excellent practice, in
which the naval battery joired. The shells
burst in rapid succession along the Boer
trenches.
There we're black clouds, lightning and
thunder intensified the effect, but the Beers
remained impassive, not firing a single shot,
Many We're. however, seen galloping into
the works from the direction Of Ladysmith
Al 5 o'clock news from General White
arrived, saying the enemy had been repulsed
OF all points for the present. Therefore,
as night fell, the British troops returned
quietly to camp. CHURCHILL.