The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-01-24

day between tho Beers under protorius
and 5000 British. The fighting is in full
swing at Spionkop. The Beers. under
Botha and cronic, have been sent thither
The British elsewhere are only making
reconnaissance of the Boer positions.
President steyn was under Are at the
foremost position OF the Free staters.
Boer Camp, Upper Turela River, Friday.
January 1s.--The British now occupy three
positions along the Tugela river Their
naval guns have been firing steel pointed
armor piercing shells. Reports being re-
ceivcd that 1000 British cavalry were at
tempting to outfank us along the Drakens-
borg bridge, strong patrol was sent 20
reconnoiter. installing the signals. the
scouts and patrol proceeded to lSopje
from whence rifle and Maxim gun Are
suddenly opened. The Beers lost fourteen
men killed and twenty wounded. The
British loss was probably insignificant
The bombardment Of tho Boer positions
from SwartKkopje was resumed yesterday.
chiefly from n battery brought acrosa the
river, In the afternoon the cannonading
became exceedingly brisk and under cover
thereof the infantry advanced In three
lines To a second row Of little kopIes which
they occupied at nightfali but later they
retired 10 their old position. During tbs
night a score of shells were fred by the
British and q balloon was sent up to spy
out tho Boer position. The naval guns
resumed the bombardmont this morning
from u new position but without results.
The three British posltlons are ahe old
Chievcly camp. near Colcnso, the central
position az SwartEkopf Drift. where they
hold both banks OF the river and a point
higher up IN the direction OF Zunkllls
where they havo hridged tho river and
established an immense commissariat, On
a summit OF the terraces at Swartzkopt
they have placed Ave naval guns and have
brought the neld artillery across tho
river to small kopIe on the left bank,
whence they kept IN an nccssant and ter
rife cauuonade on the Boer trenches.
Since the beginning Of tho week com
muuication with the different positions has
hcen kept up under the ordeal Of this can
nonade, the casualties resulting from this
being heavier than those occurring at CO.
lenSo Ono OF the shells from the naval
gun killed father and son, Free staters,
who were chatting al the time Strangely
neither had any visible wounds.
London, January 2S-Field Marehal Lord
Roberts reports from Capetown today that
the war situation is unchanged
London, January a. Shortly before
midnight the war office announced that It
did not expect to issue anything during
tho night. There had been considerable |
activity at the war office throughout the I
day. but ~ o'clock p. m. and again Mt .
II was announced that no fresh news had
been received AZ II o'clock the news
paper men were asked 10 return at 1880 |
They did so and found Arthur j Balfour
aud other prominent men in attendance. I
Hopes ran high and there was great dis
appointment when 1T was hually given out
that nothing would be Issued until We'd
nesday forenoon.
General Buffers silence is beginning to
create alarm.
Berlin, January % There wac a rumor
on the bourse today that General Butler |
has suffered defeat
London. January 23-It was reported on
the stock exchange today that the two I
battalions Of British troops have been |
captured by the Beers.
There ID nothing here 10 confirm tho re-
port on the Berlin bourse OF tho defeat Of
General Butler or the rumors on the stock
exchange Of this city OF tho capture OF
two battalions by the Beers. The fact
that General Butler was heard from this
morning when he sent lists OF casualties
10 The British troops, seems TO disprove
these stories
The officials Of the war Office entirely |
III N ~ atg az nj
the reports of Lord Dundonald's entry into |
Ladysmith. They think the former ru-
mors we're circulated for stock exchange
purposes.
report of the Associated Press states
that no decisive news was expected for
two OF three days relating either 10 the |
relief OF Ladysmith OF a conclusive vic
tory or defeat. as the operations at present
being conducted by General Butler were
necessarily OF a lengthy character.
Boer Camp, Upper Tugela River. sun
day, January 81. 49, After comlnandant |
BOtha checked the British advance yes |
terdsy morning II was expected that there
would be no further action until tomorrow.
This evening. however signs were dis !
cerned OF an intended movement in the |
British camp When the heat which was
more frightful than any yet experienced
had worn on the British cannon started !
In full force and the infantry advanced In |
extended order Generals Botha and Cronje |
held the high hills over which the road |
TO Ladysmith passes. When the Mauser
fire opened, a pandemonum OF sound |
filed the air. The vindictiYe crash OF |
shells. the sharp volleys Of Lee-Metfords |
and the whip-like crack Of the Mausers
were nterspersei With the boom OF the
Maxlms. The battle ended with darkness, |
but not without evidences OF exhaustion /
among the British that were manifest at I
sunrise Field Cornet Ernest Emilio was
killed, nor did the generals escape UNI
seathed.
At the central position. swartzkop. where
the other road 70 Ladysmith crosses the
hills. the British advanced from low kopies
on the banks OF the Tugela unmolested. /
Then they entered the scene OF the Mauser
fire and although their naval guns kept
up tho usual terrible racket, the advance
was stopped and the British had TO count
out their dead and wounded.
Commandant Viljeon and two burghers
were knocked sengeless by an explosion OF
lyddite being handled by Commandment
Vlljoen.
Field Cornet Hiideboen was injured and
on refusal 10 surrender was shot. Tho
British loss was probably insignificant.
'rbas, oplo as In,