Show MORE WAR BRITISH CRUISER SAID TO HAVE FIRED ON A DUTCH WARSHIP london jan 9 A dispatch from amsterdam says that an rumor is current there that a british cruiser has fired upon the dutch couii er near delagoa day and that a dutch officer was killed WHERE IS CULLERS ARMY BELIEF THAT IT IS TRYING TO FLANK ARMY new york jan 9 A dispatch to the I 1 new york tribune from london says the story of the heroic defense ot be league red and fever stricken lady smith cannot fall to have a strong tonic effect upon the british army and the english people gen whites blundering tactics at nek have already been minimized by the defeats sustained by other generals and he la destined for the peerage in consequence 0 this splendid exploit following as it does many gallant corties sorties and the prudent conduct 0 tho defense of he is tonight alio hero of the nation and lady white is the happiest among english women sir redvers bullers explanation on sunday that in response to the ominous news from ladysmith Lady smith he had sent all hia available troops for a demonstration against colenso on saturday afternoon has directed attention to the details of the reconnaissance which had been received nothing was accomplished since there was no reply from tho guns to the shrapnel of the held artillery or the shells of the naval brigade and alie troops returned to camp after a futile demonstration which was ot no apparent sc arvice to the defenders of ladysmith Lady smith the list of the brigade battalions and batteries mentioned tends however to prove that a large portion of gen bullers aimy waa not available at the front and consequently was massed tor operations in some other quarter either on alie right or left flank military men were confident last night that gen butlers advance wound have been ordered in the course of the day it it had not been previously in progress in direction toward springfield or and the lower tugela the censorship until a late hour prevented the glimpse behind ane scenes at frenc camp but gen whites gallant defense lias rendered tho relief of ladysmith Lady smith an imperative duty which must be performed perl ormed without flinching the nation did nol forgive those responsible for the failure to rescue gordon it will be equally stern in resentment it gen whites garrison is not relieved speedily tho ie dragging in other quarters lord Met huens force is holding guard on the modder river until lord roberts can arrive and decide what to do with the sixth division french is still maneuvering around the details of the Suf folks sc furnished by correspondents do not alter the essential character of the episode the attack was planned by col watson and gen french allowed him to carry it out the enemy opened fire as watson was ordering the final advance at daybreak the cairel by his wounds and atoe mysterious signal for may account for the the post prints a dispatch dated january 2 from its correspondent in which says that the boers intend to give one battle and then retreat to macuba hill this suggests blat saturdays attack may have been a desperate move |