The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-28
Began Throwing Syddite Shells Into
Boer Position,
THE MAFEKING RELIEF FORCE.
Is Progressing Slowly ON Account Of
the Necessity Of Repairing Bridges.
Royal Canadians Ordered To
Sail on January 10th 10
South Afria-Escapc
or Churchill.

KIMBERLEY. Dec. 0-wodnesday.-
At 2:3O this morning detachments under
colonel Peakman, with three MaXims and
three .soven-pounders. under Major May
rcconnoitcred. Leaving the ontrench-
lnents. the British advanced on Toli Pan.
The Boer pickcts fired and our Maxims
replied. the Beers disappearing over the
ridge
Our guns then began 10 shell Toll Pan
at a range of 200 yards A Boer gun
dropped four shells near our men. but
did no damage. As the Beers were
strongly entrenched we withdrew.
Their guns are well placed.
CHuEVELY CAMP. NATAL Dec. o.
Although the two armies were in sight
of each other with the temperature l02
degrees in the shado, the British to-day
enjoyed characteristic Christmas cheer
Glenfell and KirkwOoj, of the South Az
r.can Light Horse. left here yesterday TO
inspect the patrols along the eastern
hlls. Their h1rses returned AT hisnl
alone
Colonel Donald of the Royal Fus'liers,
has had his collarbonc broken by being
thrown from his horse while on outpost
duty
CHuEVBLY CAMP - Friday. our
scouts having reported Beers in force ON
this side of the Tugela river, three resi-
ments Of regulars. supported by artillery,
and an the available mounted volunteers,
under the command of Lord Dundonald,
advanced The Beers retired across the
river The British captured five nun
dred cattle
CHIEVEIY CAAIP-Tuesday. Dec. %
The naval guns began sheling the Boer
position at o'clock this morning, using
lyddite shells The Smelling continued
about two hours.
Ever since the engagement at Coionso
the enemy have been emergeticaliy IN
proving the defensive works. They can
be seen galloping freely from Hill TO Hill.
Ladysmith had also a busy morning
q day. shelllng the Boer position ON
Umbulwana mountain. The bursting
shells were plainly visible at Chievoly
PROGRESSING SLOWLY.
LONDON. Dec. g7.-The Rhodsiau-Mafe-
king relief force. according To dispatch
from Mochudia Bochuanaland. dated Sat
uiday. December 18th. was progressing
slowly. on account of the necessity Of re-
pairing the bridges. averaging one per
mile.
An intercepted Boer mail bag, it Is add
ed shows that twenty Beers were killed
and many wounded during the British
attack on tho Sequani Lager.
LONDON. Dec. 1.-The Privy Council
held meeting az Windsor Castle to-day,
az which Queen Victoria proclaimed
warning to an British subjects not to as
sist the inhabitants of the Transyaal or
Orange Free State. or 10 sell or trans
port merchandise thereto under penalty
o., the law The proclamation was ga
zcttod tonight
QUEENS MESSAGE
LONDON, Dec. 27.-The War Office
here has received the following dispatch
from Cape Town. dated Tuesday, Decem-
ber 25th:
There IS no change in the situation.
Melhuen reports that the cnemy's force
has increased and Is engaged in entrench-
ing three and a half miles from his out
lying pickets.
.Methuen reconnoitercd with two squad
rors of mounted infantry Ton two miles
along the line and drew the fire of four
guns and two Vickers machine guns
Four horses were hit
"The queens Christmas message was
received with enthusiasm.
"Gatacrc is endeavoring to reopen COM
municatlon with the lndwe cOllieries"
HALIFAX. y. S. Dec. ga cabiegram
received from England to-day by the
Military authorities here orders the
leicester Reoiment known as the Royal
canadians. now doing duty ON this station
to sail on January 10. for duty in South
Africa
GIBRALTAR. DC. 2l-Thc British
steamer Dun0ttar Castle. having ON
board General Lord Roberts. -of Kan
dahar. commander-in-chief Of the Brit
ish forces boz South Africa. arrived here
yesterday evening. General Sir u. kitch-
cner. Who came from Egypt 20 join GEN
elal Roberts as his chief OF star en-
barked ON board the punottar Castle
and The vessel sailed early this morning
Tor Cape Town
CHDRCHlLI.S ESCAPE.
LONDON, Dee g-Mr winston Spencer
Churchill has cahled and The Morning Post
publishes to-day an account OF his escape
from captivity with the Beers after hav-
ing been made prisoner IN the recon-
naissance Of an armored train at Est-
court.
The dispatch which is dated Lorenzo
Marquee. December 2lsf SAYS. 'In tine
evening ! concealed myself i'm a railway
truck under q great pile of sacks 1 had
"a small store OF good water 1 remained
hidden So. CHANGING discovery. The Roers
searched the train at Komaupoort. but
did not search deep enough
VERY WEAK.
After some sixty hours OF misery
came safely here. l am very weak. hut
am free have lost many pounds in
weight but am Hight in heart shall
avail myself Of every opportunity hence.
forth 10 urge earnestly the uuhinchlns |
and uncompromlsing. prosecution OF the
war. /
''On the afternoon OF December 18TH the
Transyaals secretary Of war informed me
that there was little chance VI my re-
lease / therefore resolved 10 escape aud
The same night 1 left the State Schools
Prison In Pretoria by climbing the wall
when the sentries backs were turned mo-
mentarily I walked through the streets
Of the town without disguise meeting
many burghers bat was not challenged
ir the crowd { cot through Tho nickcis ,
o. the town guards and struck the Della
aaa EaA ral-rnad Malkad Along N