Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-01-19
FORWARD MOVEMENT
BY BULLtR'S ARMY.
THE BRITISH FORCES NOW OCCUPY
TWO STRONG POSITIONS NORTH
OF THE TUGELA RIVER.
B0ERS RETIRED TO THE HILLS.
War Omcials Believe the Tide Has
Turned in Favor of the British,
But at the Same Time 1t Is Expect
ed That the Boers VIII Resist
Fiercely the British Advance.


LONDON, January 18.-The war Of
fee has received the following dis
patch from Gen. Roberts, dated Cape
Town, Thursday, January Is: Il have
received a telegram from Gen. Butler
stating that one brigade and Howitzer
battery have crossed the Tugela river
at Potgiers drift. Five miles further
west, at Trichards drift. Gen. Warren
has thrown a pontoon bridge over
the river. By this part of his forces
crossed yesterday. The remainder is
expected by this morning to be on
the north bank. Warren hopes he
will be able to turn the enemy's posi-
ton, which five miles off to his right
'front.' is being strongly entrenched."
The rumors from Cape Town that
Ladysmith is already relieved, are APP
parently ahead of the facts. In any
Ease, Field Marshal Lord Roberts,
whose report was dispatched this
morning, RAJ not aware of it, and his
dates precludes the possibility that the
troops mentioned in his dispatch have
SO soon reached the beleaguered town.
Though there are some discrepancies
in the kilograms, the whole tenor of
the news points to Gen. Buffers sec
Ond advance, having been begun with
good prospects of success, but it is
generally recognized that with an enc
my SO resourceful as the Beers have
proved themselves to be. it is idle to
result SO far as known, is that Gen.
Butler occupies two commanding posi-
tions north of the Tugela river, there
by securing at least two crossings by
which he can bring up necessary re-
Inducements.
The officials of the wal Office here are
satisfied that the tide has turned, and
that news of a more hopeful character
from a British point of view will here
IIC NC LLO lulC lIoICdu il ILC SACSp-
ton. That the British advances in a
northeasterly direction will be fiercely
resisted is fully anticipated. The Boer
strength is probably superior to the
British and the dispatches show the
burghers occupy strong positions.
There is some doubt as to whether
the Sproenkop occupied by Gen. War
rem is identical with Spionkop. If so,
the British are within a few miles of
Acton Homes, the scene of the earlier
conflicts between Gen. Whites forces
and the invading Free Staters, whence
there is a good road direct to Lady
smith.
While Gen. Warrenis force was cross
ing the Tugela river, the Beers occu-
pied a thickly wooded plantation a mile
north of the river, and sent several
vOlleys into the advance guard. The
British replied and the artillery opened
On a ~neighboring kopje. AS the British
pushed across the river the Beers found
their position uncomfortable, and re-
tired to the hills. Immediately after
the pontoon bridge was completed the
whole British force crossed. 1t is
thought probable that a combined for
ward movement has since developed.
Meanwhile the naval guns on Swarts-
kop had been persistently Smelling the
Boer entertainments facing the kopjes
occupied by Littleton's brigade.
RENSBURG, Cape Colony, January
1S.-A patrol composed of sixteen men
of the New South Wales lancers and
South Australians was ambushed yes
terday by the Beers and overwhelmed
after a severe fight Two of the de-
tachment escaped, and have arrived in
camp. This morning a patrol visited
the scene of the fight and found five
dead Australians and one wounded. A
number of dead Boer horses also were
found, showing that the Australians
made a gallant fight before surren-
dering.
1t appears that when the Australians
encountered the first body of Beers
and found their retreat cut off. they
galloped for a nearby kopje, hoping to
beat off the Beers, but on arriving they
found another force of Burghers con
cealed there.
This morning a patrol visited the
scene of the fight and found one dead
Australian and one wounded man.
Later in the day six men of the Aus
tra1ians returned. The others were
captured.