The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-01-20
NOT In One DAY
Can the Garrison at Ladysmith Be
Given Relief.
WAR OFFICE BELIEVES THIS.
Several Days Fighting Necessary to
.>s Sex. Settle the Fate.
Sor.
IL. RS AT C0LENSO WITHDREW
When They Found that Butler Had Crossed
the Iugela to The South,
RS AT COLENSO WITHDREW
EVERY HOUR STRENGTHENS THE BRITISH
Bocr Trenches ShcIlcd from spear
mans Camp-Ncvs from Natal Is
sAnxiously Awaited by All.

mum thhp-NfWs from Natal Us
sAnxiously Awaited by All.
London, January 90 4.3o p m.--Every
| hour that General Butler delays his com-
bned attack makes his position stronger
Transports continue TO arrive as Durham
and fresh troops are being sent up the
line to reinforce those In front OF Colenso.
It appears that General Buffers troops
north of the Tugela number at least o.
COO and possibly 25,0o0 with fifty guns. His
total forces. forming a great outer curve
south and west Of Ladysmith. probably
| number 10000,
While General Buffers forward opera
tions, which began on January 10. develop
rather leisurely, the Beers appear to be
fully aware that they must meet a siren
nons assault. Balloon observers have
roughly estimated that 10000 Boers are
using spade and pick in artiGcially
strengthening positions which nature has
rendered easy for defense. Military critics
in touch with the war Office think that
news that general fighting has begun may
be expected at any hour, 7, Il not thought
that one days hghtnE will settle the
tate OF Ladysmlth. but rather that there
will be two or three days Of continuous
lighting.
London January 1a.--Tbe STANDARD pub
fishes the following dated Thursday, from
Spearman's farm ut is reported that the
Beers opposite Colenso. on finding that
Butler had outnumbered them. crossed 20
the south OF the Tugela on Tuesday ana
set fire TO all tho houses In the village.
When a force from Chievely advanced
the Beers retired before them to trenches
on a hill in line with Coenso Our in
fantry advanced to attack in
skirmishing order, followed by
supports and reserves, our cavalry scout
ing on the right close up 90 the river. The
Boer forces at Colenso must have been
considerably weakened by the dispatch OF
large reinforcements westward to meet
General Buffers advance and they now hur-
riedly evacuated the river trenches and
the kopjes opposite the village and scat
tered before our shrapncl, BY evening not
sign of the enemy was left within rife
shot of Colenso. The British forH thep
retired to Chievely"
London, January IA Durham special
dated Thursday night, says ut is re-
ported here that Lord Dundonad has
smashed Roer convoy. General Buller
is said to be within twelve miles OF
Ladysmith and General Warren 10 be
about six miles to the rear
Ladysmith, Wednesday. January II, via
spearmsns Camp. January 19.-Every-
thing IS quiet. The position Is unchanget
and there is very little bombarding. Tne
welcome sound of the guns OF the reli,f
column were heard yesterday from Colenso
and Springfield The heat is intense, bit
there is no increase of sickness
London. January l9.-The Daily Mail
publishes the following dispatch dated
Thursday, from spearman's Camp: 1t Is
rumored that the Beers have evacuated
Colenso In order to reinforce their Troops
here. Heavy gun fire was heard IRON
Ladysmith this morning. General Buffers
order instructs the men to heed the white
flag OF tho Beers only when they Law dowa
their arms. 1t also instructs them TO he
ware OF false bugle calls.
spearmans Camp, Natal. Thursday.
January IS. s;25 p. n.--The Boer trenches
have been persistently shelled by the
naval guns all day long Small parties
of Beers were seen al Intervals and
large force from the direction of Lady
smith was seen going toward the north
west British position, balloon did good
service in observing that Lyttleton's force
made a demonstration in the direction of
the Brakfontein kopjes four miles north
of the British position under cover OF i
heavy artillery FIRE. to which the Beers
did not respond, On the left General
Warren's troops remained in possession
of two prominent kopjes beyond spionkop
There was some Boer shipping but 1t was
ineffective
The Graafrlenet Beers evacuated PrieslSa
January Il and returned northward across
the river.
London, January 19.--General Butler has
teegraphed the war office from Spear
mans Camp. under date Of last evening
as follows:
Lord Dundonsld with a body OF mount
ed troops came into action this afternoon
with force OF Beers west OF Acton Homes
After a fight he occupied several kopjes
which he IS still holding Field cornet
Heilbrum was killed. Twenty burghers
were killed or wounded and fifteen pris-
oners taken. Two British soldiers killed
and two wounded
London. January 2O.-The Times has
the following dispatch. dated Thursday.
from Pietermsritzburg
General Buffers wagon train is nine
teen miles in length and embraces 400
wagons and 5000 animals As some Of the