The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-01-16
British Have Vsgun a
Combined Movement

WitAUNUF-u WV AilVbAA
LONDON. JAN. l5.-A special dispatch
from cape Town. dated Friday, January
~, evenine. announce4tha. General War
rem has crossed the Thgela river.
LONDON, JAN. l5.-Up 10 the present
the reported crossing OF the TugelaAriver
by General Warrens division remains hut
rumor. Nevertheless the whole tenor of
suchnews as has drlbbed ln from South
Africa during the .ast forty-eight hours
that a combined forward move
ment of comprehensive character is pro-
ceedlng. It IS not necessary 20 believe
the unconhrmed stories of the Beers be-
ing in fun retreat from Colenso, because
it has been learned that q column is pro-
ceeding via Weeuen 10 help Maakar TO
cut off their retreat. But at the same
time credible information from many
sources indisputably points TO momentous
changes in the disposition Of the repub-
lioan forces. Advices from Pietermaritz-
burg, dated SATURDAY. January 10, say
that since their defeat on January G, the
Beers have been removing their guns
from the position south OF Ladysmith
The same dispatch confirms the dispatch
that dhe Thirteenth Hussars reached
Groblerskloof without meeting the Beers.
As the trenches 81 Groblershon were
perhaps the strongest position held ny
tse burghers, their vacation haA consid-
erably as;onished the British.
Merchants at Pietermaritzburg have re-
ce.ved messages from Ladysnlth saying
bring up Jam, etc., Indicating that their
Ladysmith agents anticipated an immedi-
ate opening of communication while
Ladysmith also photographed the belief
pre- yalent there January 13 that The Beers
were moving and concentrating their
forces elsewhere. AS corroborative OF the
British activity IN the direction Of the
relief Of Ladysmith, a dispatch has been
received in London from General Butler
20 the effect thal be expected all the dis
positions for a synchronous movement Of
the various columns against the besiegers
would be completed this morning. Under
these circumstances, ttfs considered quite
probable that the advance on The be-
leaguered town has commenced and that
fighting Is progressing Optimisis 60 so
far as no say that it IL expected that
Ladysmith will be relieved tonight 81 al
goes well The military men are divided
ia opinions as 20 whether General Butler
Is az Springfield or personally directing
the flank movements from Weenen. The
officials are inclined to credit the report
that the British have crossed the Tugela
river in that direction. although there IS
no confirmation OF the report and, alto
gether there IS a more hopeful feeling in
official circles
There is little news OF Importance from
elsewhere General French's forces Eve
succeeded in dragging a fifteen poundeT
to the summit OF the steep, rocky Coles
Kop. a Thousand feet above the surround
/ iug plain and January 12. they successful
! ly routed a Boer camp on ne plain three
miles away from stromstroem.
| An interesting item OF news is that three
hundred Beers escorting a party OF
reapers have successfully garnerei an the
crops within two miles Of the colonial
! camp al Birds river, the Aritish force
being too weak 20 interferl
| A dispatch from Pretoria says the fed
eral forces recommended commandment o
Mafeklng during the morning OF Friday
January ~
! A partial development OF the govern
meu, referred 20 in these dispatche
January y, bat hy no means the mar
objective limited at can be recorded todas
| ia The formation Of "a strong committe,
Of south Africans and ex-onicials win
| Lord Loeb, the former governor OF Cap'
Colony ana Br.ish high commissioner. "a.
president The object q the remeGy.ni
Of the defects of the war office Whti
the war office sanctioned the forma i0r
of corps OF South Africans acqueiuie,
with the topography of the country anS
the Dutch and Kafflr languages. the com
mittee insisted that they must choose
their own Officers The war Office de
INJURED but one Committee pointed 0u
that the South Africans were eoRlzan
Of the defeats IN the campaign and wer'
not going 10 be Ted 10 slaughter lik'
sheep and the officials yielded. Conse
quently prominent South Africans cracl
shots ard acquainted with every strean
and kopjeare are nockipg 20 Join the con
tinGent