Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-01-23
NO GOOD NEWS,
HENCE NO NEWS
London Leaders, Statement Why
Butler Does Not Report Promptly
HASA BIG TASK BEFORE HIN
If He Wins He VIII be the Greatest
English Soldier since yelling
ton-uhat VIII Beers Dot

London, Jan. 23--The war expert OF
the Leader writes in today's issue;
Not a word came from Gen. Butler
yesterday, good or bad We do not think
he would have refrained from reporting
last night had he had any good news.
zone thing only we knOw-the enemy
at length is out-matched in artillery,
but bis supremacy in rifle fire seems to
remain.
" II Is unnecessary TO make any re-
mark upon the composition Of the staff
Of the eighth division (the latest diyi-
sion organized save that another
guardsman is pushed up two steps by
the vicious old system. He has, in spite
OF all that has happened got a brigade
on account OF the absurd rule that
guardsmen must be commanded by
guardsmen, and there are two battal-
ions OF guards in this brigade This
rule cOmmends itself TO the secretary
OF state for war. most Of whose rela-
tiyes are In the household troops,
Lord Methuen got his command be-
cause he is a guardsman."
New York, Jan. pa despatch TO the
Tribune from London says:
1t has been difficult TO understand the
reports Of the fights among the kopJes,
owing 10 the inaccuracy OF the maps
available here and the confusion caused
by the use Of the terms right" and
left" when the direction I'm which
Gems. Warren and Clery were moving
was unknown. II is now fairly clear
that Saturdays fighting was west OF
Spion kop, and that the Boer right
was forced back upon the main post
ton. Sundays thanking attack carried
Warrens left northward and upward
two miles. Central News dispatches
dated on Sunday night, describe Gen.
Warren as having worked around the
extreme right Of the Dutch line, and as
having taken everything except the last
ridge on the summit Of Spion Kop
Dundonald's cavalry brigade was still
further TO the north and west, covering
the approaches TO the Tintwa and DIV
lers Hook passes over the Drakensberg
mountains.
Gen. Warren has apparently got 10
the end Of the Boer line Of defense and
turned II, while his cavalry holds a
strong position on the main road 10
Ladysmith, near Acton Homes. His
army blocks any attempt of the enemy
TO outflank his own turning movement
by advancing from Bethany toward
Springfield General Lyttleton, at
Potgieters Drift. faces the second Boer
position OF Brakfontein and also OBJ
structs a counter attack upon Spring.
field. The Dutch second line of con-
cenuation extends from Spion Kop TO
BTakfontein, and thence to the hills
surrounding Ladysmith and southward
to ColensO.
AS many as eight Boer camps have
been seen from Ladysmith westward.
With this n ,tlle force confronting him,
Gen. White cannot cooperate with the
relief column until Splon Kop and
Brakfontein are taken and Warren
marches eastward. Gen. Buffers head
quarters are on the heights behind Pot
gieter's Drift. but as Barton's brigade
Is atChleveley and Hlldyard's is persist
emily reported 20 be with Warren on
the fighting line, he cannot have large
reserves at Springfield,
The situation, while a promising one
fraught with danger. General Buffers
force is hardly adequate In strength for
so bold a movement and its success
Is largely dependent upon Dutch neg.
lect to make use of superior mobility
for a counter attack. General Butler
has challenged good fortune In playing
for high stakes. Success will make
him the greatest English soldier since
Wellington; failure will expose him TO
destructive criticism for attempting
with thirty thousand men work which
required an army Of fifty thousand.
The news from every other quarter
was meagre. There were fever lists
from Ladysmith, scattering casualties
from the Upper Tugela and large ad-
ditions 10 The death rolls Of Mayors
fontein. caused by the addition OF names
OF British troops buried by the Dutch.
General French has been reinforced
and is using lyddite shells freely.
There are unofficial lntimatlons that
Lord Roberts's first work Will be the
clearance OF the northern frontier by
the sixth division, which will reinforce
Generals French and Gatacre. Methu-
ems army remains idle.