Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1900-01-20

LONDON, Jan. 2O.-4.3O a. m.-Every
hour that General Butler delays his
con ned attack makes his position
stronger. Transports continue to ar
rive at Durham and fresh troops are be-
ing sent up the line TO reinforce those
in front of Colenso. It appears that
General Buffers troops north OF the Iu-
CELIA number at least %, 600, and practi-
cally $4,000, with 80 guns. The total
forces, forming q great outer curve
south and west of Ladysmith, probably
number 10000,
While General Buller's forwa 4 oper-
ations, which began on Jan. 10, develop
rather leisurely, the Beers appear 90 be
fully aware that they must meet streH-
uous assault.
Military critics in touch with the war
office think that news that general fight.
ing has begun may be expected at any
hour. 1t is not thought that one day E
fighting will settle the fate of Lady
smith, but rather that there Will be two
or three days of continuous fighting.
The Times has thefollowing dispatch.
dated Thursday, from Pietermarltz-
burg; General Buffers wagon train
Is 70 miles i'll length and embraces 100
wagons and 5000 animals. AS some Of
the drifts are narrow and muddy, only
one wagon is able to cross at time.
The officers are betting two to one that
Ladysmlth will be relieved tomorrow
(triday).'
LONDON, Jan. 20.-A Durham special.
dated Thursday night, says:
ut is reported here that Lord Dun,
donald has smashed Boer convoy.
ll,,Il
IL miles of Ladysn1ith aud General
Warren to be about six miles to the
rear.
LADYsMrrH, Wednesday, Jan, II, via
Spearman Camp, Jan. 19.-Every-
thing is quiet. The position is I'M
changed, aud there is very little bonn
harding.
The welcome sounds of the guns of
the relief column were heard yesterday
from Colenso and Springfield.
LONDON, Jan. 20.-General Butler
telegraphed the war office from Spear
man S Camp under date of the evening
of Jan. Is, as follows:
"Lord Ddndonald, with a body of
mounted troops, came into action this
afternoon with force Of Beers west of
Acton Homes After fight he occu-
pied several kopjes which he is still
holding. Field Oornet Heilburn was
killed and 20 Beers We're killed or
wounded and 10 prisoners were taken.
Two British soldiers killed and two
wounded.
LONDON, Jan. 20.-The Boer accounts
of the passage of the Tugela river were
given in the two following dispatches
from Commandant Viljouns camp on
the Upper Tugela, via Lourenzo Mar
queS, dated Jan. 49,
Jan. 16-Buller's second move was
a reconnaissance in force with an arm
ored train and large party, supported
by cannon, toward Oolenso last night.
A heavy bombardment ensued, and
thereupon the British returned, having
wounded one OF our men.
mo reply was made. This move was
a felnt to cover extensive movements up
the river Katfirs on this side of the
Tugela have been warned by the Brit
ish to leave their kraals as the fight will
commence shortly"
The second dispatch ran thus:
Jan. 1.-THE night was unbroken,
save for slight rifle encounters between
outposts. which led to nothing. At
daybreak the enemy was located as be-
fore. He had not brought single gun
across the river. But from the ridges of
Swartzkopa battery and half of siege
guns opened on our position at a. IN.
1.-The bombardment was probably the
most frightful ever witnessed on land.
"Frequently five heavy naval guns
fired simultaneously at one schanze
(entrenchment)."