The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-01-19

| A4A4R4 = = ! = = \ =
= London, Jan 19.-The British =
= losses in killed, wounded and =
4 captured in the war with South =
= Africa up to date, are 1887 OIL =
7 GERS and men. This does not in =
= clude the death list from dis =
= ease in the various besieged y
\ cities, where the fatalities have =
= been enormous. ,
+4f& 7 + 7 =
London, Jan. 1S.-At midnight the
war Office announced that it had no
further news for publication. When
questioned with regard to the rumored
British victory and the relief Of La
rysmith, the officials replied that they
! had received no information TO bear
out either feature of the Tumor, and
were inclined to think that serious
| fighting must precede the relief OF the
town.
A special dispatch from Durham,
dated Wednesday. says. AdViceS from
PCtgieters Drift yesterday tuesday
say that Sir Charles Warren arrived
within seventeen miles Of Lddysmlth
and that British wounded are arriving
at Moot river field hospital by every
train from the front, indicating that
there has already been severe fighting.
Neither report has yet been confirmed.
Military critics in utilization with the
war Office consider that Ele expected
battle along the wide arc south and
west of Ladysmith can hardly be de-
layed beyond today. From Durham it is
/ reported that fighting has already be-
gun.
General Buffers Strength.
General Buffers forces engaged in the
fianNng operation across the Tugela
are some $1,000 or 14.000 bayonets, 1920
horses and forty guns. The disposition
Of his other 1900 or 10000 men is not
known. although the assumption is
that the whole army viii be in action
when the hour for combined movement
arrives
Three weeks ago General Butler had
10000 men. Considerable reinforce
ments have since reached him, giving
him probably $4,000 men and eighty
guns al told Estimates of how many
laear and guns the Beers have 70 or
pose him are mere guess work. In lot
replying to General LyttletOn's shell fire
they are using the tactics that proved
SO successful in the battles of Mayors
f0ntien and COlensO-lying low in their
trenches and thus hoping to conceal
their precise position until the infantry
advance.
The Daily Chronicles military expert
sees a curious analogy between General
Buffers situation now and the eve Of
MagtrsfOntein. Now, as then, the
Beers are making a stand with their
backs to investing lines within a few
miles. As Lord AIethuen, after cross
ing AEodder river, had to attack the
SpytfOntein and MagersfOntein hills,
50 General Butler, after passing the Tu-
gela, faces invisible entertainments in
a rough country.
No Quarter to Beers.
General Buffers warning as to the
misuse Of the white flag by the Beers
in his proclamation to the troops. is
considered a rather broad hint to give
no quarter. His phrase, There viii be
turning back" is played upon editOrially
by the morning papers as presaging
cheerful announcements.
The absorbing interest felt in tie sit
uation in Natal makes other points in
the theatre of war seem microscopic.
Lord Methuen lies behind his works az
Modder river. 1t is estimated that his
force viii have TO be nearly or quite
doubled before he can relieve Kimber-
ley. British achievements are NOV
ing toward General French at Rens-
berg. With these he is expected to adj
vance. General Gatacre's men occupy
Loperburg, a slight advance
The war Office announces that next
week viii be embarked seventy-twO
guns, 5. 10 men and 2.210 horses. This is
the largest consignment of artillery
ever sent abroad. The war Office in
vites 800 volunteers for a sharpshoot-
eTs' battalion Of yeOmanTy.
Sir William MacCOrmac. in the Ian
Get, says that of the 300 wounded in
the hospital visited by him only eight
had been hit by shells.
Letter From Kipling.
Mr.. Kipling has written the following
characteristic letter 70 the British
Guiana branch of tbe Navy league. in
recognition of a contribution to the
war fund:
Bravo British Guiana, Seeing what
they had to contend with lately in the
sugar line they have done uncommon
~ well. Please convey to them my best
thanks-first, as vice president Of the
/ league; second, as perpetrator of the