The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-01-28
IS RIFE in
BRITISH CAPITAL
Butler Forces Said to be.
in Full Retreat.
STORY DIsCREDITED.
No Explanation Received Of Abandon
ment Of Spion Kop.
SIEGE OF MAFEKlNG RAISED.
STORY DISCREDITED.
SIEGE OF MAFEKlNG RAISED.
This Report Comes from Delasoa Bay
on What is Said to be Good Trans
vaal Authority G neral
French Has Succeeded i'll
Getting i'll Touch
With Gatacre.

Getting III 81 IOuCn
With Gatacre.
LONDON, Jan. 2S.-i:45 A. M-Tne only
naws received by the War Office during
the night is a dispatch from Lord Roberts
dated yesterday Saturday stating tilat
the situation is unchanged and that Gen
eral French reports d reconnaissance OF
tie enemy's position on Thursday when
he found the Beers strongly posted at
Pietfcntein The maps do not show any
such place in the region of General
Frcnch,s operations, and it is probable
that Reitfonte:n, ten miles north OF Coles
b,irs is the place alluded to.
4 sLecifl Gisp;ltch from ColeHso. date1,
Wednesday,. January II. says that COM
l.iandanl Lucas Meyers commando sur
priscl and surrcunoed strong body OF
Gel erai Methuen's lnfs ntry, killing ana
wounding 90 and capturing 10.
DLSCRuDITED RUMOR.
LONDON, Jan. 27.-In connection with
the meeting OF the Defence Committee
of the Cabinet to-day the rulnor was relt-
Grated that the War Office is conceal.nS
the Sravest kind of news from the Upper
Tugela river
The reports even go so far as to say
the forces of General Butler are in full
retreat.
1t is impossible to confirm or deny the
reports as the officials maintain silence.
They say they have nothing for pubiica-
ton. 1t is evident, however, from the
War Office announcements that the cas-
ualties reported by General Butler occur
red in General LyttIeton's brigade, which
apparently was not engaged at Spion
Kop. that there has been severe fighting
not yet reported.
Lord NNolseley, the commander-in-chief,
of the forces. was also present at the
meeting of the committee.
There is no mention iere of the reports
ciTculated in the United States that Cen;
eral Clery has been defeated BY the Beers.
The last heard of General Clery wis that
he was participating ID General Watrca's
movements.
REPORTS DISCREDTTED.
LONDON, Jan. Fills P. M.-The War
Office has no news of the catastrophe to
General Buffers force reported from Ber-
lin and discredited the story. Neither has
the War Office any explanation at least
for publication of the abandonment of
Spion kop and there are no advices In
this connection from independent sources.
The disposition to-day is to regard the
evacuation as not so serious as at first
thought. and commentators gre abusing
the military authorities, both at the
front and at home, for publishing hasty
accounts of an ncomnlete half-under-
stood operation. thus alternately thrilling
and depressing the nation.
The afternoon papers describe
the general dispatches as unpleasant
reading for the British people. in
tenseiy 1nortifyns TO the national
pride and damaging to the couEtrys
prestige, and scathingly denounce the
gazetting at the present time of the re-
presentatives, who the St James Gazette
says:
Display academic frivolity not uncom-
monty found in combination with consid-
erabe practical incapacity, lapsinS into
sneerinS when they ought to rebuke, and
filled with the slang and humor of KIP
lings subalterns-"
PREVAILING FOLLY.
The St James Gazette sums up Its
opinion as follows: These dispatches
show the folly, which has prevailed
throughout the period the campaign has
covered and which has exacted its usual
1.-THE of lives and men.
There are signs Of important movements
developing in the north of Cape Colony
General French has succeeded in getting
in touch with General Gatacre possibly
presaging a combination of the two
columns and the commencement OF a
concentration of the forces which is be-
Iieyed to be the ground work of Lord
Roberts plan of campaign
The War Office announces that the
casualties reported by General Butler yes
terday occurred in the battallions OF Cen
eral Lyttleton's brigade which, so far
as known at the War Office. was not
engaged in the capture or defense of
Sion Kop. 1t appears, therefore, that
they are additional to the considerable
casualties which General Butler has re-
ported as having occurred at Spion-kop.
VOLUNTEERS LEAVE
The last detachment of the infantry Sec
ton OF the London Volunteers. number
ing 13i men were entrained this morning
for Southampton, where they will embark
to-day for Africa. The route from Well
ington Barracks to Nine Elms Sta uon
was thronged with cheering spectators.
but not in the same degree as on pre-
vious occasions SO the order OF march
was undisturbed. The Lord Mayor and
sheriffs accompanied the troops to South.
anpton. The battery section and ammu-
milton column completing the4resiment,
will leave February Sd.
There are Signs Of important movements
developing IN the north of Cape Colony.
fieneraFFrench has succeeded IN getting
In touci, with General Gatacre, possibly
spresa gings combination Cd the two
oolp-nns and the &C mix neerrentE OF n con-
centration Of the forces which IS believed
10 &c ltre grolndiwork OF Lord Ro5arts
plan of campaign
MAF'EKING RELIEVED-1
LORENZO MARQUES, DELAGOA5
BAY, Friday, Jan. 2G.-It is reported on
good Transvaal authority that Mafekins
was relieved TUESDAY, January 23d
BERLIN. Jan. 2I.-Some OF the papers
here claim to have q. telegram from Pre-
toria saying that General Warren was
senticed into Spinn Kop. where the Beers
fell unon him that seventeen Of his
cannon were captured and that Buffers
hasty retreatso over the Tugela river alone
can save him
The alleged Pretoria telegram adds that
.ths Eritis.ss ,osseE were 500 men killed and
100 wounoed &
The dspatch comes through Brussels
and does not FeceIve much credit In rhis3
city.
RnER8c ndppnER RsPRu1r.s UP
PHR RTuGELA5R RIVER, Ipesday. Jan. q. .