The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-01-02
. RICHMOND VA.,7TUEsDAY, ,JANUARY7 2, 1900.

Town, where a meeting of the Afrikander5
Ebund was held yesterday.
Il a similar meeting was held at zRtchrnond5
& on December 18th. and it is reported tnat.
the members of thezbund in sthese#tWo
towns are acting IN concert.
S The members of the bund in w iEtnston2
and the Dutch in liam district, are
said to be armed with Nausers and to be
anxious t6: use them in behalf OF the
Boers.
Although the stories of a rising are dis.
credited, the police and military are tax tax;
ing ample precautions.
DIFFICULTIES INCREASED.
IS LONDON Jan. The Standard cor
respondent at Freres Camp, telegraphing
on January J.. say S.,
..sir Charles Warren,s division is now
nearly complete. / sSheadquarters will be
at Estcourt. It is rnmored here that the
guns which were captured from General
Butler, at Colenso, have been mounted
in the hills commanding the drift over
tle Tugela river, Sat Springfield: The
Beers, IT appears captured six hundred
and twenty rounds of shrapne1 when they
took the guns.
General Bulier's6 difficulties have been
Eimmeasurably increased by the enforced
delay since2the Ia ST engagement He now
has before him a$sseries of walled and
fortified hills. running sixteen miles along
the line. of the Tugesa. These are swarm
ing with<the enemy. posted in positions
of great strength and bristling with guns;
while the river ss,ont is in full flood.
The coming battle ygill certainly be the
stiffest and probably the most momentous
of the entire campaign"
LONDON. Jan. !. Alleged Boers spies,
it has been discovered, have enlisted in
the Teomanry. a report of LORD Ches-
ham, who is in command of the leoHianry:
forces, says that the officials of this arm
s cf the service are being Epestered by agents
OF DR.. Iedys, the European plenipoten-
tiary of South African republics. He adds
that two of them were actually accepted,
but that'they were afterwards discovered.
He declares that the same thing occurred
. in Thornycroft's Horse. seven spies being
discovered in that body. He says, con-
tinuing: .5sE
1--WE have given word to all our COM
nlanding officers to slseep a sharp LOOKOUT
for traitors.
No steps have been taken thus far to
punish the alleged spies.
a ,RAYrOF5 LIGHT.
LONDON Jan. 2.-4:30 A. M.-The sue
cess Of General French in driving the
Beers from Colesberg has shot a welcome
ray Of light through the gloern of the
campaign in South Africa. Everywhere
it is commented upon as an example OF
sound tactics and as an illustration of
what may be done when the right meth
DDS are employed with the Beers. The
government is urged to take the lesson
to heart and to see that no stone is left
sunturned in the endeavor o get the largest
possible forces of cavalry and mounted
infantry to the front.
Now that General French has the Beers
on the run, the hope is expressed that he
will give them no rest, but viii harrass
them until, they have found their way
across the Orange river, which is twelve
miles distant. The old wagon route to the
Free State traverses Colesburg and
crosses the river by a fine bridge, 1.45o
feet long. It is believed that the Beers
retreated towards sNorvaEs Poin:, further
east and the question is whether Gen
eral French will be able to secure these
two bridges before the Beers destroy
them.
One important effect Of the success Of
General Frcncl, is that it will probably
have deterrent intence upon Dutch dis
affection. There is ssame disposition here
to exaggerate the Importance Of small
sSirmislles and *engagenents.
VIRTUALLY UNCHANGED.
It should be borne in mind that General
French has only 2,coo men and SO far IS
the important points of campaign are
concerned, the situation is virtually un-
changed
st Modder river the Beers appear to be
modifying sonsewheat their line OF. de-
dence. General Buffers scouts have dis
covered a Boer camp established in the
vicinity of Springfield, southwest of
Colenso, by Free State commando a
similar movement has been made at Mod
der river.
A large force of Beers, it is reported,
has formed a new Laaser about fifteen
miles down the stream at Kameelnoell.
Heliograph messages from Ladysmith
show that all was well on December 31st
Tie bombardment was being continued,
but its Intensity had. relaxed.