The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-16

say: Bring up JAM" ETC., indicating that
their Ladysmith agents had anticipated an
immediate opening Of communications with
Ladysmith. They also photographed the
belief prevalent there Jan. Is. that the
Beers were moving and concentrating their
forces elsewhere. AS corroborative Of the
British activity in the direction of the re-
lief of Ladysmith, dispatch has been re-
ceived In London from General Butler to
the effect that he expected all the dis
positions for a synchronous movement of
the various columns against the besiegers
would be completed yesterday. Under
these circumstances 1t is quite possible the
advance on the beleaguered town has COM
menced and that fighting is progressing.
The military men are divided in opinion as
to whether General Butler is at Spring
field or personally directing the flank
movement from weenan. The officials are
inclined to credit the report that the Brit
ish have crossed the Tugela river in that
direction, although there is no confrma-
tion of the report. and altogether there is
more hopeful feeling N official circles.
The Daily News suggests that multi
tude OF the rumors that originate in South
Africa and London are given currency by
the English military authorities in order to
mslead the Beers.
The war pages OF the great dailies this
morning are almost barren. Nevertheless
the instruments on the loops connecting the
War Office with the cables continue to
click
The yeomanry recruiters are disturbed by
the fact that they are able to get only one
and one-half companies out of upward of
One thousand applicants in the metropoli-
tan district. ALI the other applicants fall
short of the requirements. One thousand
would be regarded as a very small number
even were all accepted. The provinces are
doing better. although to raise 10000 ap-
pears far from an easy matter as it did a
fortnight ago.
Among the minor perplexities of the War
| Office is strike among the military tailors
which causes delay in uniforming recruits.
partial development of the government
referred to in these dispatches Jan. u. but
by no means the main objective limited at,
can be recorded in the formation of a
strong committee of South Africans and
| ex-officials with Lord Loeb. the former
governor of Cape Colony and British high
commissioner. as president. The object is
ONCE. When the War Office sanctioned the
| formation of a corps of South Africans ac-
quainted with the topography of the coun-
try and the Dutch and Kaffir languages.
the committee insisted that they must
chose their own officers. The War Office
demurred, but the committee pointed out
that the South Africans were cognizant of
the defects in the campaign and were not
going to be led to slaughter like sheep, and
the officials yielded. Consequently promi-
nent South African crack shots and ac-
quainted with every stream and kopje are
| focking to join the contingent.
As prominent enlisted man said yester-
day: I'VE are not going to fight for pro-
motion or the Victoria Cross. We simply
| want to meet the Beers on their own
| grounds and according to our own methods.
| Our object is to defeat the enemy and not
run splendid but useless risks"