The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-01-23

PRICE FIVE CENTS.
/ lief is confidently expected. Merchants
there are ordering stores from Pleter-
maritzburg. While rumors that the
Dutch are preparing ~ retreat In con-
sequence OF defeat In their desperate
assault upon Ladysmith may be pre-
mature, there is at least evidence that
they are weakening their central posi-
tion at COlenso. and are concentrating
their forces elsewhere.
Methuen in Bad ordor.
LONDON. Jan. l6.-Evidence ac-
cumulates that General Methuen'r
blunder at Magersfontein has lost him
the confidence OF his entire force Co
such an extent that, It is declared. it
Is doubtful II the troops would follow
him in another attack on the Beers.
The War ofice Is understood to be In
possession OF a letter written by Cen
eral Wauchope the night before the
battle. saying that Il would be the last
letter he would ever write, as he had
been asked TO perform an impossible
Il AaAoh anu At Auh tAAlNI " oNtN OF I'D
surrender his sword. An Immediate
change in the command OF the force
may therefore be expected. II is an
ticipated in some quarters that Lieu
tenant General Tucker will succeed
General Methuen.
Has Spinal Trouble.
NEW YORK, Jan. ia cable 90 the
World from London says: Inquiries
made in the nelghborhoOd OF General
Lord Methuens home. near Chippen-
ham, show that the information re-
ceived by his friends subsiantiates the
stories that he is out of his mind The
reports OF his strange doings seem 10
have been substantially accurate.
His friends declare that when ne was
wounded his charger reared violently.
throwing his rider TO the ground. Sc
we're spinal and other troubles are said
10 have supervened. and his condition
in consequence. his friends insist, ac-
counts for his inaction and the dlssen-
sions in the Modder river column. The
truth Is that the London military ar
quaintances OF Lord Methuen declare
that he has not been himself since .ae
time he took up the command at Or
ange river, and he has not got on well
with his staff. except one or two who
Joined after the first fight. Lord Meth
uen has probably seen his last com
mand
Beers EepulEed.
RENSBERG, Cape Colony, Monday.
Jan. 15.-The Boers this morning at
tempted to rush hal he'd by com
pony of the Yorkshlres. and the New
IZealanders, but they we're repulsed AZ
the point OF the bayonet The Beers
had twenty-one men killed and about /
fifty wounded.
British Fort Demolished.
PRETORIA, Saturday, Jan. 1I.-As a /
result OF the bombardment OF Mafe-
king yesterday the British fort at East
ward was demolished and the British
retired. One Boer was wounded. Ad-
vices from the head laager at Lady
smith report that the attack on that
place January 10 was disastrous 20
the British and that Dadysmith ap-
pears TO be in sore straits.
NleWs OF war Expert.
NEW YORK. Jan. 16.-A dispatch tO
the World from London says: Mr..
Williams, the war expert OF the Morn
Ing Leader, writing for this mornings
paper with the best information OBJ
tainable, says this regarding the report
that General Warren had crossed the
TUgela river:
General Warren. with his division
and something more. was yesterday
FIVE miles to the northwest OF Spring
field. where General Butler then had
his headquarters. Consequently the
censor at Durham has been having a
little amusement with the local press
for the purpose OF deoeiving any spies
the enemy may have and then confus-
ing them.
"All the differences drawn from any
kilograms which have so far reached
us must be erroneous. once and for
all, Buffers movement Is by the left
There he has strength. His plan is to
turn The nights north and northwest
Of Colenso. and thus compel their evac-
uation. and then to attack any Beers
left between him and General White
anu viii
Whites force.
After that he may keep the Trans
vaalers on the run through Natal TO
Laing's Mex or Charlestown; OF he
may decide on separating the Free
Staters from The strong men OF war
and make, with his main force, for
Harrismi,a and Bloemfontein.
News Of the FIRST success OF these
-
Wednesday or Thursday.
All that can be said actually is thai
General Butler up to yesterday was
still at Springfield. General Warren
was on a hill nearly midway between
Springfield and Bethany. and General
Butler had assuredly one. and It Is
believed two, passages OF the river on
bis hands.
General Butler can spare a sum
cient number OF irregulars 10 send n
flying column % them into Zuluiand.