Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-01-18
British Advance IN FORCE.
Gen. Buffers Army Has Crossed
the Little Tugela.
ATTEMPT TO FLANK THE BOeRS.
Deceive Battle Must Now Take Place
In q Few Days-Omcisi Lat of Casual
ties ut Ladysmith-Russia Makes Prep
sratious for War.

some part of his force has crossed the
Little Tugela river and occupied a de-
feasible position on the south bank OF
the main river a few miles north OF
Springfield, and within 5000 yards OF
the enemy's strong intrenchments.
f.! The movement is believed here TO
indicate that Gen. Butler intends to at
tempt thanking attack on the right
end of the Beers line.
The burghers are understood to be
In strong force at the junction Of the
two Tugelas. 1t was reported several
days ago that Gen. Butler was building
a railroad in the direction of Spring
field from Frere, whittier the greater
part of his forces had withdrawn Just
prior to the fighting which began at
Ladysmith last Saturday.
This was borne out by his compare
tive weakness in Colenso on Sunday.
when he said he had ordered out all
his available troops. These it is known
now only amounted to about 10000
men, whereas his army was fully, II
not quite, 10000.
I 1t Is reasoned here by military
critics that the secret OF the weakness
of that demonstration was that the
remainder of the army was occupied in
other work.
! They say that there Is good reason to
believe that these men, perhaps 10000,
have, by means of the railway spoken
of or by the road to Springfield, which
passes Doom Kop, reached the posi-
tion Butler now reports that he has oc-
cupied at Potgieters drift, eight miles
north of Springfield on the. Tugela
proper. He has the main position OF
the Beers well to his right. and If he Is
strong enough his position will be a
serious menace to the right end OF the
Beers line.
BY means of pontoons he will prob
ably be able to cross the river, even
though 1t be, as he reports, in flood,
and serious battle win probable be
fought when he does so, as the enemy
is reported to be four and half miles
to his north. probably guarding the
road to Dewdrop. II Butler reaches
Dewdrop, which Is only ten miles from
his present position, he will be almost
in sight of Ladysmith, which Is only
eight miles further.
The war officials state that they
know nothing Of the reported illness
Of Gen. Methuen. Nevertheless 1t 10
again rumored that Gen. Hector Nc
Donald will supersede Gen. Lord Me-
thuen in command of the Kimberley
relief column.
The war office has, issued list Of
the casualties among the officers in the
fight at Ladysmith last Saturday.
Thirteen officers were killed and twen-
ty-seven wounded. The earl of Ava.
eldest son Of the marquis of Dufferin
has since died.
The war office list OF casualties to
the rank and file in the battle of Jan.
6 at Ladysmith shows that 1876 were
killed and 244 wounded.
A dispatch from Frere says the
wounded Boer prisoners who have ar
rived there from Ladysmith state that
Commandant Villiers and many of the
best Free State Beers were killed in
the fighting at Ladysmith.
Eager to Act without Roberta
Gen. Buffers movement is no sur
prise to military men here. The ad-
vance is believed to be made In ac-
cordance with important plans COM
municated by Gen. Butler to Lord Rob-
erts, and sanctioned by the latter.
Some critics think that Gen. Butler.
whose dislike for Lord Roberts and
contempt for his military capabilities
are well known. Is determined to carry
through the Natal campaigns unassist-
ed by the commander In chief. Doubt
less he counts on the moral shaking
administered to the Beers by Gen. Sir
George White at Ladysmith to render
his task easier. In that case 1t will be
White helping Butler. rather than
Butler relieving White.
Estimate of Boer Strength.
An apparently well-informed corre-
spondent Of the Morning Post says:
The Boer strength, originally $4,000
men, Is now heavily augmented by Cape
Colonists. and the enemy's fighting
forces may be estimated fairly at 100,-
900 men and FOG guns. The Beers are
not compelled to guard their communi-
cations. Their grass Is good. the
crops arc good, vegetables. cattle and
sheep are plenty. and game Is abund-
ant"
Beers Admit Defeat.
A Boer telegram from Pretoria ad-
mits that. while the burghers were sue
cessful at the beginning Of the storm
ing of the plateau at Ladysmith on the
9Th, subsequently, they were compelled
to abandon two OF their positions.
From Boer advices 1t appears that
last Sunday at Colesburg the British
were beaten back with loss.
Kitchener to he Supreme.
1t ia believed here that Lord Kitch-
ener is really chief in South Africa at
the head OF the British troops and
Lord Roberts is figurehead.
Mafeking and Kimberley Silent
No news comes from Mafeking or
Kimberley. and none Is expected from
the former point except by way of
Mochudi, opposite Marico. Neither
eide at Modder river makes a move.
though tie naval guns are steadily
Smelling the Boer emplacepaents. In
which new big guns have been set.
Invade Orange Free State.
Experts speculate upon Buffers
probable intention of joining forces
with Gen. White after the relief OF
LaGysmith, and, leaving 10000 at
Colenso to hold the Boers making n