The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-01-19
BRITISH FORCES MOVING.
A CONCERTED PLAN OF AGT!C;! APPAR-
EMILY BEGUN
FROM TUGELA RIVER TO MAFEKING
Butler Surprises the Beers at Potgfe-
ter's Drift Methuen's Demonstra-
tion-Gatacre Advances Beyond Mol
teno = French Shells the Beers at
Rensberg : Plumer Advancing to
Mafeking Detailed Account of the
Fighting Before Ladysmith on the 9Th

| Mafeking Detailed Account of the
Fighting Before Ladysmith on the 9Th
Modder, Cape Colony, January H.
under General Methuen yesterday,
| division being engaged, with the OBJ
| ject of ascertaining the strength and
disposition of the Boer force. and also
| in order to tryNto draw the Beers from
Kimberley, where, lately they have
been active. The British discovered
the Beers in great force and being re-
inforced from the direction of Jacobs
dal.
| AT 4:30 O'Clock the artillery opened
fire, the shells dropping in the Boer en-
trenchments with great precision. The
attack was directed against the Boer
| left. The firing continued until sun
| set mostly with artillery, although the
| guards. on the right, fired some long
range volleys. The Beers reserved their
| fire until the British were returning to
| camp in the darkness, when six shells
followed them There were no casual
ties among the British troops.
| London, January 1.-THE war office
| has received the followin dispatch from
| Lord Roberts dated Cape Town, JAM
! uary 18th, evening:
| ION the 18th the Beers made a de-
! termined attack upon F'rench'S ad-
| vanced post held by the New Zealand
mounted rifles and detachment of the
| first YorkshireS The Beers We're re-
pulsed, having twenty killed. Their
wounded are estimated not less than
| fifty. The attack was preceded by a
| long range fire from one gun. Other
| wise the situation is unchanged"
General Frenchs success, consolfns
| to the British, is recognized as being
only side issue. The country is CRATE
| full to learn that the British losses in
| this engagement were only six men kill
| ed and five wounded.
| The news that two transports with
| troops have been ordered from Cape
| Town to Port Elizabeth indicates that
substantial reinfOrcementS are ON their
way to General French.
| Renesburg, Cape Colony, Tuesday,
! January 16.-The Beers opened an ar
tillery duel this morning, using a cap
/ tured British 15-pounder which the
| British gunners ultimately silenced.
The British kept up a searching fire all
| day long on the Boer kopjes, and also
! dragged up another gun to the summit
of Coles kop.
| BULLER'S SATISFACTORY PROG
RESS.
| London, January 1S.-The Daily Mail
| has the following, dated yesterday,
| from PieltermaritZburg: News has
been received that General Butler is
| making satisfactory progress.
AN ADVANCE BEYOND MOLTENO.
| Sterksroom, Cape Colony, January
| 15, delayed in transmission) General
! Hotn - hoxy nn-
stration beyond Molteno in the drec-
ton of Stormiberg, in the belief that
| the Beers intended to seize Molteno
The burghers We're not sighted and
the British remained ait Molteno.
Arrivals from Stormberg estimate
| that there are $500 Beers at that place,
| mostly revolted colonists and Free
the landdrost there.
Sterksroom, Wednesday January IL.
General Gatacre has warned the
| Boer commandant that if the women
are not removed they must take their
chance of being shot in the event OF an
lowing the wives and daughters OF the
Boer soldiers to reside in or near the
camp. All is quiet here.
THE BOERS SURPRISED.
London, January 1S.-The Times pub
fishes the following dispatch from
Spearmans farm, dated January 18th,
9:20 D. M: The force marched west
ward on January 10th. Lord Dundon-
aid, by a dashing movement, occupied
the hills above Potgieters drift, fifteen
miles west of Colenso, taking the Beers
completely by surprise. The same even
ing the infantry followed. General
| Lyttleton's brigade crossed the river
yesterday and today shelled the Boer
| trenches beyond with howitzers. Cen
| eral Warren's force is now crossing
| Trichardte drift, five miles above. He
! is not opposed, although the Beers are
holding a position five miles from the
| river
A Pietermaritzburg dispatch to the
Mail late Wednesday evening, the 18th,
| says arrivals from EStcourt report tnat
| there was a fight on the Tugela TO-DAY.
| General Lttleton after crossing the
/ drift seized ridges a mile beyond and
effectively shelled the Beers. Warren
| also lodged two miles beyond the 1u-
gela toward Sproen kop.
| A Durham dispatch says smallpox rs
reported to have broken out among the
| Beers
THE FORWARD MOVEMENT.
| General Buffers complete surprise
lf the Beers on Potgieterz's drift NILS
tends greatly to restore commence III
his tactics. It is shown his forces are
concentrated. Methuen has mace a
demonstration in force, shelling tne
Boer works. Gatacre is skirmisning g
around Molteno. French
Beers at Rensberg. Colon~ ser Is
moving to the relief OF Mafeking from
Bechuanaland with less than 2.OOo men,
Mafeking is in bad way: the seage -
being pressed with determination an
the Kaffirs are deserting. Piumer On
January 11th was 100 miles nortn OF
Mafeking.
THE NIGHT ATTACK ON LADY
| SMITH.
The first detailed report of the as
sault of Ladysmith is given in dis
patch from there published today ny
The Standard. II is dated Ladysmltn'
January 9Th, via Frere, January itn,
and makes the first mention OF the cap