Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-20
NEW BRITISH FORCE.
RULER HAS DEMANDED 1T As rs-
sENTrAL TO SUCCESS.
TEN THOUSAND MOUNTED INFANTRY.
10 he Called Imperial Yeomanry,v
and 10 he Composed OF Good Riders
and Good Marksmcn-News from
south Africa Scarce.

LoNDoN, December 20-4i5 A. NJ
Inc government has at last consented to
mobilize a force which General Butler Is
credited with having demanded all along
as an essential Of success in South Az
rica--namely, 1000 mounted infantry
This morning the War Office issued an
order to the effect that the government
had decided 10 raise for South Africa a
mounted infantry force to be called I'm
poriai feomanry," and TO be recruited
from yeomanry, volunteers, and civilians
possessing the requisite qualifications.
The enlistment Will be for one year, or
during the continuance of the war. The
men must be between 20 and 50 years or
age. and Of physique equal to that Of the
| ordinary cavalry soldier. Officers and
men are to provide their own horses, and
TO wear neutral-tint cloth shooting jack
cts, not necessarily uniform. felt hats,
breeches. and CATERS. All must be good
| riders and maTksmen.
The same order invites every volunteer
regiment that is linked with regular
! battalion serving at the front to supply a
| fun company, which will take the place
OF the mounted infantry of the regiment.
PRESENT YEOMANRY FORCES.
These arrangements are expected TO re-
suit in considerable force. The enroll
: ed strength of the Yeomanry forces,
which originated in the troublous period
| Of the French revolution, is now 1898.
| Their services have never before been
| called for in war.
The enthusiasm of volunteer enlistment
continues, and promises 10 give the gov
| eminent ample material.
! Rudyard kipling addressed a meeting
at Nottingham last evening, called for
the purpose of forming volunteer COM
pany.
The British second-class cruiser Iris
will convey Lord Kitchener from Egypt
| to the Cape She has been ordered to
steam at sixteen knots.
THE FIGHT AT THE TUGELA.
Special reports regarding the fighting
at the Tugela river are still filtering
through, but all the newspapers complain
that they are severely censored, and it
is still impossible to get an accurate idea
of the battle. From the latest accounts
| however il appears that General Butler
was in personal command.
A correspondent of the Associated Press
! at Cheyeey Camp says the Beers
! excuse themselves for nring upon the
stretcher- bearers by asserting that two
SQUADS Of the Connaught Rangers took
cover under civilian bearers of the Red
cross, ana tnbl TINS at uiS" eHc DoSi
fire. three being killed and several
wounded.
Much anxiety is caused by the fact that
the War Office has not yet received a
full list Of the casualties at the Tugea
river
PORTUGAL MAY BE CALLED TO AC-
COUNT.
The Standard hints. editorially, this
morning that II Portugal continues TO
allow supplies Of war material and for
elgn volunteers to reach the Transvaal
through peagoa bay, England will have
something to say In the matter.
KRUGER READY FOR PEACE?
Statements are published from Boer
sources in Brussels and Berlin, that Pres
ident Kruger is willing to conclude peace
on the basis Of the status quo, but that
otherwise he will call upon the Beers in
Cape Colony TO join in proclaiming the
independence Of the Cape Territories Of
/ Great Britain.
BRITISH ADVANCE FROM CHIEVE-
LEY.
| CHIEvELEY CAMP, Friday, Deem
Der 1.-THE relief column continued It's
advance from Chieveley early to-day, In
tending TO assail the Boer positions,
which were known TO be very strong. to
the westward and northwest of Colenso.
! During the two preceding days the Beers
| had allowed themselves to be bombarded,
without condescendng to reply with a
single gun. They further gave half an
hours opening this morning without an
| exchange, when suddenly they belched
| out a stream Of fire from all their en-
! trenchments, besides opening a fearful
cannonade with all their quick-fire, field,
and siege guns. which were posted from
end TO end of their positions. When their
/ presence and actual positions had been
/ determined. the British naval brigade
commenced Smelling all the ridges north
of the town, with marvellous accuracy.
/ At this time the artillery attached TO
! General Harris division was busy among
/ the entertainments on the hill on the Bril-
! fish left. under cover Of which the Bril-
] fish infantry brigade marched out In eX-
/ tended order to cross the river and al
! tack. Undoubtedly aiming at this bat
| terv the Beers sent several shells near
/ the ambulance train, which was forced TO
| change It's position. While this was trans
hiring the field artillery, on the right,
were busy shelling the ridges of the Boer
left flank. their excellent practice at
tracing the attention Of the Beers, VINO
retaliated with a scathing fire, almost de-
molishing all the guns, and stampedinS
the gun and timber horses.
THE BUTLER AND METHUEN NE
PORTS
LONDON. December 20.--The War Or
Ace declines either 10 confirm on contra
dict the report sent by a correspondents
~ the Daily Mail that General Butler mas
crossed the Tugela river and Senerai
NTethuen's communications have been cut
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