The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-01-17

London, Jan. 1.-THE Times pub
fishes the following from Pietermaritz-
burg, dated Tuesday: Very heavy ar
tillery firing was heard yesterday in
the direction Of Springfield"
The Exchange Telegraph company
has received the following dispatch.
dated Jan 16 from Pietermaritzburg:
There is no news from the front. but
heavy firing was heard today in the
direction Of Frere. II is probable that
General Butler is engaging the enemy.
A rumor is current here that a portion
Of the British force is near Ladysmith.
A dispatch to the Daily Mail from
PieteTmaritzburg. dated Tuesday, says:
There was very heavy firing 10 the
north yesterday. I believe the Beers
are contesting General Buffers passage
of the Tugela. Howitzers are evidenlt-
ly busy. as the firing is described as
the heaviest yet heard in Natal"
War Office Is Silent.
Even rumors are no longer tele-
graDhed from Natal to the war office
The conclusion deducted from this ST
lence by the military experts generally
IS that no decisive blow has been
struck either way, as in such an event
there would be no necessity for sdlenre.
There is no indication that such an
would be tolerated by any
considerable portion Of the public. Ma
tional emotion is now in q. state Of dis
quletUde over the reversss of British
arms; dissatisfaction with the conduct
of military business is intense, and
there is an almost universal detelmina-
ton 20 see the thing through.
I he war office has issued orders for
the formation of FIVE new batteries
SoTe idea of the extent Of the artH-
lery Resources to be drawn uDOn may
pc gained from the fact, according 10
the statement Of a military expert this
that an old practice Howitzer
at Lydd, in Kent, with which il is i'm
possible to Go accurate shooting but
which for some time has been SOLELY
uSae TO test shells. has been laid under
IequisluOn for the front Orders have
been received at Lydd to pack this VEN
cradle relic with as much despatch as
possible for embaTkatiOn.
More Troops Wanted.
Seventeen more militia battalions will
be enlisted in the course of a fortnight.
All the regulars are now out of the
country except fourteen infantry bat
.alions and eleven cavalry battalions.
The war office has placed an order for /
1900 600 cartridges in cases
Inc correspondent of the Times at
10urenzo Marques, telegTaphing Mon [
say, Jan. Is, says. Il am Informed |
ID the best authority that six days
60 Mateklng was holding out as
lluckily as ever There was then no !
likelihood Of capitulation. The garri- /
TaNa Of l.
meats, Il - openly stated at johann !
lesburg that twenty field guns were |
ecently smuggled through Delagoa |
Bay"
me PletermaritZburg correspondent !
# the Times, telegraphing Tuesday. |
an 10, says. THE DeiagOa Bay cor 4
Of the Natal Times asserts
hat six big CrousOt guns and fifty tons
u smells were landed from the French
teamef Gironde about the middle of
asst month under the noses of two
British Warships and were despatched /
o Pretoria, causing much rejoicing at
he ease with which contraband of war
an run the blockade.
Plotting With the Beers.
The Swat Queen mother, since the
eath of King Bunu, has killed all the
hief3 who were ever in England and
ape Town and is now plotting with
he Beers. The situation NAV fairly
'e considered grave; and it would b.
seIl TO send regiments Of GueThaS to
swaziland Immediately
Refugees from Swaziland. living in
he LebOmbO district, recently brought
eWS 10 LoUrenzO Marquee that Hha
ueen of Swaziland was dead Her
eath, following so soon upon that of
King Bunu, was looked upon with sus-
icion. According to their story. how
yer, not the queen mother but NecOco
sum- brother, was acting as head of
ne Swat nation, and he in eoniunc
ION with TCcUbs. Umbandines old
rhine minister, was carrying on a reign
I terror, killing of whole kraals an
Yer The country.
Inc Durham correspondent Of the
'tancard deals today with the nurnar-
us reports that the Free Staters have
lIed Of the war and win abandon The
tfugsIe IS soon as the British cross
ne border. He mentions an extraor-
mary story with reference to a iour-
ey Of President. Kruger's son-in-law.
lloh to Delasoa Bay in a German war
MP. According to this ElOf has bsan
laklng arrangements for President
,ruger's escape through German pa
laraland in the event Of the capture
f Pretoria
METHUEN IN BAD oDoR.