MARCHING ON LADY SMITH.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 3957, 24 January 1900, Page 7

MARCHING ON LADY SMITH.

GUNKiIAL TV AUK KN PRESSING ONWARD. CAPTURE OK AN J.M BORTANT POSITION. BRITISH CASUALTIES. DURBAN. January 22. Further news i.-oncurning Uio advance o( Hie Ladysmith relieving army shows that by swiiu'mg his column round, and •occupying the points of vantage on Spionkop, from which; he had forced the Boers, Lieutenant-General Warren has secured possession of a rough tableland which constitutes the key to the Khier position. The casualties on the British side in (lie fighting at Venter Spruit on Saturday, when the troops under LieutenantGenerals Warren and Cilery pushed the Boers hack on their main linos, include •viie disablement of eleven officers and U7D men by wounds. A few Britishers were killed in this part of the advance, but the number is not stated. .Major-Generals Woodgate, Hart and Hildyard are eo-operating with Lieut-enant-General Warren in making his outflanking movement. ANOTIIKB. POSITION TO BE CARRIED, ’ BOER, DEFENCE LESS TENACIOUS. SUSPECTED SHORTNESS OF : AMMUNITION. DURBAN. January 22. The Boers who have been fighting on rile western slopes of Spionkop still hold another soini-eircnlar position on the main ridge, behind Ihe one from which they have been driven. Lord Ouiulonald has secured the approach to Olivers Hook. In the lighting of tiie last few days the Beers have shown less tenacity than has been their wont. They have seldom used their artillery, and it is suspected that they are short of amnnition. GENERAL LYTTELTON’S OPERATIONS. EFFECTIVE ARTILLERY FIRE. DURBAN, January 22. The column under Major-General Hun N. G. Lyttelton, which is advancing from Potgicter’s Drift and threatening (lie Boers’ left wing, made formidable demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday. which compelled the full strength of the enemy to remain in their trenches. In these operations the Naval Brigade did good work, its artillery lire punishing the enemy severely. LORD DUNDONALD'S FORCE. BOERS WALK INTO AN AMBUSH. DURBAN. January 22. Some details are to hand of the action in which Lord Dnnclonald’s cavalry were west of Acton Homos on Thursday last. A party of 160 British posted on a kopje surprised a force of 350 Boers. The latter, who had been concealed in a donga or dry watercourse, leisurely marched np the hill with their arms slung, so little suspicion had they of the presence of an enemy. The ambushed Britishers allowed them to approach until within short range, and then poured in ft volley. Six of the Boors were killed and the majority fled. USING THE BAYONET. DURBAN, January 22. One of the incidents of Sunday’s fighting was the carrying of a strong position by the First Battalion of the Roval Dublin Fusiliers—which, is in Major- - General Hart’s Irish Brigade—at the point of the bayonet. — , • HEMMING IN THE BOERS. BLOCKED AVENUES OF RETREAT. SERIOUS FIGHTING IMPENDING. THE LADYSMITH GARRISON READY. (Received January 2-1, 0.15 a.in.) DURBAN, January 23. The generals acting under Sir Revivors Buller have echeloned their brigades (or swung into parallel lines) thus compelling the Boers to subdivide their forces. General Hildyard is now manoeuvring with the object or halving the enemy's troops. The prevention of their rctre.d through .the southern parses of the Drakensberg mountain is already assured, and an endeavour is being made to drive the enemy in a direction which will permit of the Ladysmith garrison assailing their left tiank. The infantry regiments of Sir George White's force arc stationed on a prominent ridge sheltered, by boulders, ami can lire across a thousand yards of flat country to the Boers' m.iiu stronghold. The artillery is also engaged in maintaining a Howitzer fire on the trenches along several miles of kopjes. (Received January 21. 1 a.mA ; DURBAN.-'January 23. The latest news from the front iuil'.eates ■ t hat General Bailor's brigades are slowly, hut surely, 'converging on the Boer centre, while General Wan- n

is cautiously, though steadily, enveloping • their right trank, pushing northeast. During the fighting on Sunday la-.t. when General Warren’s column was engaged marly the whole day. the British casualties were loss -than one hundred. Further reinforcements have joined tiie relieving army.