Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-03-03
|glISED The SIEGE
OF LADYSMITH.
- Comes from BOer Sources, and Prob
|" .hlv True-Boers Gone from Lady
smitt-Next Stand Uncertain.

I trust you are all not very much ex-
hausted."
Sir George sent the following reply
"Your majesty's most gracious mes
sage has been received by me with the
deepest gratitude and with enthusiasm
by the troops. Any hardships and pri-
yatlons are hundred times cOmpen-
stated for by the sympathy and apprecl-
alton OF our queen and your majesty $
message VIII do more 10 restore bOth
officers and men than anything else
COMPLETE DEFEAT OF BoERs.
The war office has received the fol-
lowing dispatch from Gen. Butler:
'IadyMmith, Friday, March End, $3.50
d. MI find the defeat OF the Beers
more complete than dared TO antici-
pate. This whole district Is completely
clear OF them, and except at the top OF
Van Reenan's pass, where several
wagons are visible, | can find no trace
of them.
Their last train left Modderspruit
station about ] o'clock yesterday, and
then blew up the bridge, They packed
their wagons six days ago, moving
them TO the north OF Ladysmith. so
that we had no chance of interoepting
them; but they have left vast quaint
ties Of ammunition OF all sorts. herds.
grass, camp and individual necessaries.
They have got away with all their
guns except two"
A dispatch from Ladysmith, dated
Thursday, says; Gen. Butler accom-
panied by HIS staff, arrived at 1870 a.
m. today. He entered the town unno-
ticed, as more cavalry was coming In
during the morning. The news OF his
arrival soon spread however. and Gen.
White and his staff al once went 20 re-
ceive him. The two generals met amid
scenes OF tremendous enthusiasm. and
Gen. Butler had an immense reception.
II Is expected the Beers are In full
flight toward the Free State and fly
ing column Of Ladysmith troops Is In
pursuit Of them. The Beers left many
wagons. guns and quantities of pro-
visions and ammunition behind them"
COULD HAVE TAKEN LADYsMITH.
The Standard publishes the following
dispatch from Ladysmith dated Thurs
day, March LIST:
The once dashing cavalry brigade has
practically ceased 70 exist. At the be-
ginning Of the year we had $500 horses
and 1900 mules. Before the end OF Janu-
AIRY we could only feed /, 100 horses. the
others had either been converted into
Joints, soups and sausages, or had been
left to forage for themselves. These
poor, emaciated animals--mere phan-
toms OF horses-werc among the most
painful sights of the siege.
Had We possessed an unlimited
amount Of heavy guns and ammunition.
we might have made the position more
bearable. Although not shot was fired,
except in dire necessity. there were on
February LIST only forty rounds left
for each naval gun, while the supply for
the field artillery would have been ex-
hausted In a couple OF minor engage
ments. Fortunately, the Beers were
ignorant of the true state Of affairs.
Had they known our real weakness they
might have displayed greater daring
with results which-now that We are
safe--we can venture 10 contemplate.
We were victorious solely because Of
mastery inactivity.
The bombardment was heavy, but on
the whole ineffective. II Is estimated
that during the investment about 1000
shells were thrown into the town, an
average OF three tons OF explosives
daily. Yet we had only forty-fye men
killed and 1SS wounded. Our largest
losses were from disease.
Mr.. Winston Churchill, who accom-
panied the Ladysmith relief column.
telegraphing his experiences, says:
During the afternoon Of February 2sth.
the cavalry brigade pressed forward
under Col. Burn Murdoch toward Bull
wana hill. and under Lord Dundonald in
the direction OF Ladysmith. The Beers