Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-01-22
His Troops Are Having a
Hard Battle.
is ALL UPHILL WORK
But Splendid Progress is Being Made
The Strict Censorship is Justi-
fable at the Present Time--Boer
Tactics Same as Usual,

London, JAM. 21.-General Butler cables
to the var Office as follows:
"Spearman's Camp, JAM. 21.-9 p. m.-
General Warren has been engaged all
day, chiefly on his left, which he has
swung forward about a couple of miles.
The ground is very difficult, and as the
fighting Is all the time uphill. it is diff
cult to say exactly how much we have
gained, but I hin we are making splen-
did progress"
London, Jan. 22.-4:45 a. m.-The justi-
liable censorship at the present moment
prevents the special correspondents from
giving additional information to supple
ment Gen. Buffers latest dispatch. The
success of the movements depends al
most entirely upon how far he proves
able to Out-maneuver the Beers, whose
available forces are doubtless larger
than his own. The chief difficulties lie
In the ability Of the Beers to transport
men, stores and ammunition quickly
and to entrench in new positions. Sc
crecy regarding Gen. Buffers progress,
therefore, is essential, and the public
here is quite content to wait patiently.
From the information which the censor
has allowed to pass 1t Is as yet impOssi-
bic to form a correct notion of the Brit
fsh tactics. One thing, however, is quite
clear. The British commanders have
profited by experience and are now avoid
ing infantry charges, giving preference
to the more judicious use OF artillery.
The general idea is that Sir Redvers
Butler. with some 5000 men and IS field
guns, Is holding the northern bank of the
Tugela at Potgeiter's drift, while Sir
Charles Warren, with about 10000 men,
30 guns and q large force of cavalry, is
working around the right flank Of the
Beers eight or ten miles away.
One account of Saturdays fighting
says that the British had few killed.
Little reliance car be placed upon these
reports, and although the main position
Of the Beers has not been attacked and
nothing is known as to it's strength, Sat
urday's and Sundays fighting. which
al hardly be described as more than
outpost affairs, evidently .entailed seri-
GUS losses.
The Beers are following their old-time
tactics-making a show of resistance
and then retreating in good order to pre-
pare positions, and as they are working
from the interior of their lines they may
De able to bring strong forces to defend
the main position.
Nothing is heard regarding any counter
attack by Sir George White from Lady
smith, n General Buffers II think we
are making substantial progress re-
mains the last word. This shows that
there is still some very hard work to the
front Of the Boer forces.
The news from other points is of slight
interest. General Kelly Kenney's divi-
sion has been sent by General Gatacre
to form an advance base at Rosemead
junction.
Spearman's Camp. Jan. 21.-1O:3O D. m.
After ten hours of continuous and ter
rible fire yesterday, Generals Hart ana
Clery advanced 1000 yards. The Beers
maintained an irregular fire during the
night, but the British outposts did not
reply.
This morning at daybreak the Beers
opened a stiff fire. The British stood to
the guns where they had slept and an
engagement was renewed vigorously.
The field artillery poured shrapnell into
the enemy's trenches.
A rumor that Ladysmith had been re-
lieved enlivened the British, who sent I'm
a ringing cheer. This was taken for an
var h first kopje was carried at
the point Of the bayonet and the Beers
retreated to the next kopje, which, like
most q the rest, was strewn with dead.
Inc British advanced steadily and the
Beers relaxed slightly. The latter did
not snow as much activity as previously.
Thelr ~Nordenfeldt's fired at long inter-
vals and, their cannon fired but seldom.
Apparently the Beers were short Of am
All day the roar of musketry fire con-
tinued. The British took three Boer po-
sltions on n mountains and found shell
ter behind the boulders.
-- go,
ondon Jan. %. 1925 a. m.-Yesterdav
was quite q record at the war office. A.
anticipating important news. the an
announced Saturday that the
iobbies OF the war Office would be open
throughout Sunday and the knowledre |
a great crucial battle was proceed
Fl q |