The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-01-09
BOERS FALL BACK BEATEN
Failure of Attempt to Rush the De-
fenSeS at LadySmith.
Gloomy Feeling i'm London Dispelled by
Thrilling News from the Front
Enemy Is Reported to Have
Suffered Heavy Losses.

London, Jan. S-Not since the day Of
Gen. Buffers reverse has such a crowd of
inquirers visited the war office as to-day.
As the afternoon progressed a rumor OBJ
tanned currency that Ladysmith had sur
rendered and the depression in the lob
bies had become extreme when an official
appeared. and in . loud voice shouted,
Good newsr and posted a dispatch from
Gen. Butler chrOnicling a brilliant victory
for the British troops. The dispatch fol-
lows:
''Frere Camp, Natal, Jan. S-The follow
ing IS from White, dated p. N. yester-
day:
An attack was commenced on my po-
sition, but was chiefly against Caesars
camp and Wagon Hill. The enemy was
in great strength and pushed the attack
with the greatest courage and energy.
Some or the intrenchmonts on Wagon Hill
were three times taken by the enemy and
retaken by US. The attack continued until
7:3e P. m. One point in our position was
occupied by the enemy the whole dav.
But at dusk, in a very heavy rainstorm.
they were turned out of this position at
the point of the bayonet. in a most gal
liant manner. by the Devons. led nv Col
Park. Col. Ian Hamilton commanded on
Wagon Hill and rendered valuable service
The troops have had a very trying time
and have behaved exceilently. They are
elateG at the service they have rendered
the Queen.
The enemy were repulsed evervwhe~e
with very heavy loss. greatly exceeding
that on my side, which will be reported as
soon as the lists are completed
Reading between the lines of Gen
Whites dispatch, it is evident that there
was desperate fight. the British on.
trenchments being thrice taken and re.
taken. and at dusk the Devoashire Regi-
ment. at the point of the bayonet. drove
ont the Beers from another position which
they had occupied all day long. The new.
spread with astonishing rapidity all over
London and caused an instantaneous
change in the aspect of the METROPOLIS
Smiling faces were seen eyervwherc. and
even a the sedate foreign office and other
departments Of the government great Ella.
tion was shown.
The newspapers were all jubilant. The
conservative Standard, in big headlines
announced a GLORIOUS victory at Lady
smith,
SO far as known, Gen. Buffers demon
stration against Colenso had little effect
In spite of the heavy artillery fire. the
Beers did not reply, and the only effect OF
the shrapuel shell reported was that it
caused a hundred Beers and their horses
10 stampede from the camp between Co
lenso and Grobler's Kloof.
The Stock Exchange received the news
of the Boer defeat at Ladysmith with
rouslng cheers and prices Immediately as
cended in all departments. The exchange
had been greatly depressed, owing 10 the
situation AZ ladysmith-
4 rumor is current In the city tonight
that Gen Butler has crossed the Tugels
River captured tN clNe guns, and is now
marching on I.adysmith, Nothing has
been received coTTobOTative of the runner
so the report must be taken with all re
serve,
Though England has taken heart. the
situation is worse. The beleaguered for g
must have expended large amounts OF
ammunition which cannot be replenfShed
ppd must have lost number Of officers
and men. which is CounteTbalanced so far
as The garrison Is concerned, by the great
er loss Of the Beers.
Gen. White sim needs relief. and the
difficulties confronting Gen. Butler are Is
great a. before.
Mr.. spencer Wilkinson, IN the Mornine
Post, points out thar thsre is one division
only at Chieyeley. another al FreFe and
a third at Estcourt As ChieVeley :
seven miles from COienso. the second
6ivi sion would have had 10 march twelve
i..::..-- 20 get into action, and the third
division twenty-five miles, Gen. Butler :
Se0O0 m"n 1nd seventy guns were there.
fore almost inactive on Saturday, and
when Cen. White photographed, Cen Bui-
ier could really make no move, but an
Ineffective demonstration.