The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-01-17
ARE TIRED OF WAR.
Said That Free Skaters WilIAbandon
the Struggle.
The BRIDGE NEARLY COMPLETE.
~ Brisk Exchange of Shells at Modder
River Tuesday, the Beers Return
ing the Fire for the First Time
in Several Days-NIcthucn
Has Lost Confidence
of His Men.

oA-AI 1tASiis ~
LONDON, Jan. 17-4:i5 P. M.-Even
rumors arc no longer telegraphed from
Natal. The military experts, therefore,,
conclude that no decisive blow has been
struck either way
The War Office announced early to-
night nothing would be given out to-
night
:Ihe South African Cancellation Com
mission quietly formed TO. represent me
peace minority, announces itself to the
country to-day and asks for support.
Among the members are many notable
persons.
LONDON. Jan. 1G.-Dispatches rom
Pictermaritzburg to both the Times and
the Daily Mail reports, very heavy ar
tillcry fighting in .lle dircctoa Of sp,llis-a
field and Er"rc Monday.
The Mail dispatch says the=Eoers prob
ably are contest;rss Gaae:ll Buffers pas
sage of the Tugcia rive Ho"itz:rs arc
evidently very busy
The Exchange reie.'r1p, Company DIS
patch from the same place 'na ii SIC says
it probably means General Butler IS
engaging the enemy ana that rumor IS
current that a portion OF the Eti.lsh
force is near Ladysmith
The Times dispatch says: The Delagoa
Bay correspondent of the Natal Times,
asserts that six big Creusot guns and
fifty tons of shells were landed from the
French steamer Gironde about the mid
die of last month under the noses OF two
British warships and were dispatched TO
Pretoria. causing much rejoicing at the
ease with which contraband can be gotten
through.
The Swazi Queen Mother since the death
of King Bunu, has killed all the chiefs
who were in England or Cape town and
is now plotting with the Beers.
The situation may fairly be considered
grave, and it would be we'll to send
regiments of Guerkhas to Swaziland
Immediately
HEAVY RAINS.
AODDI1D RIVER, Tuesday, Jan. 10
There was a brisk exchange Of shells
this morning, the Beers returning our
fire for the first time in several days.
The British entrenchments are being
continually strengthened and extended.
The railroad bridge is almost completed.
Heavy rains have fallen in the hills
recently and the fOrdS OF Relt River. are
all impossible.
It is reported that it will be necessary
TO relay the rails over almost the entire
distance from AIodder River to Kimberley,
the Beers having used the rails and Sleep
ers in building their Notifications.
Stories still reach camp that the Free
Staters desire to end the war The latest
report is that a council was held re-
Gently at Blomfenten, at which Presi-
dent Steyne and General COME We're
present 1t was then stated that unless
the British began the attack by January
18th the Free Staters would return nome.
The difficulty. the Beers must cXpe-
rience in provisioning their Speitfontein
far from the railway is given as the
reason.
TIRED OF WAR.
LONDON, Jam 1.-THE Durham CORE
spondent Of the Standard discusses reports
that the Free Staters nave tired of the
war and will abandon the struggle as soon
as the British cross The border. He lnell-
tions an extraordinary story with refer
ence to a journey Of President Kruger
son-in-law, Elofr, to Deiagoa Bay in a
German war ship.
According: to this, Eloff has been making
arrangements for President Krugers es-
cane through German Damaraland in the
event Of the capture of Pretoria.
LONDON. Jan. 16.-Evidence accumu-z
lates that General Metheuns blunder-- a
Magersfontein has lost him the contl-
dence Of his entire force, to such an
extent that, it is declared it is do'!bt-
full if the troops would follow him IN
another attack on the Beers.
The War Office is understood to be in
possession of letter written. by General
Wauchope the night before the battle,
saying that it would be the last letter
he would ever write, as he had been
asked to perform an impossible task,
and he had either TO obey. or TO surren-
der his sword.
An immediate change in the command
of the force may, therefore, be expected.
It is anticipated in some quarters that
Lieutenant General Tucker will succeed
General Methuen.
WEREREPELsED.
RENSBURG.C CAPE COLONY, Monday,
Jan l5-The Beers this morning attempt
ed to rush a. hill held by a company of
the Yorkshires, and New Zealarders, but
they were repulsed at the point of. the
,bayonet. The Beers had -c1 men killed and
about 50 wounded.
The hill commands a. tract of country
east of the main position OF the Beers.
They advanced cautiously. directing their
fire at a small wall held by the y York-s
shires and compelling the latter to, keep
close under cover. When the Beers rush.
ed the wall the Yorkshires fixed bayo-s
nets and charged. ~
install that moment plain A1oddocks
with a small party of n ewz Iealanders,
came up and the combined force ieapsd
over the wall and charged straight! for he
enemy, who fled, followed by a whitening
fire at close range. Isl
Tho Beers literally tiHnbled over each 4
other in their hurry TO escape. but the 1
persistent fire of the British infantry in
ticted a heavy loss.
Desultory fire continued for some time,
but the attack was an utter failure. and
the Beers retreated to the shelter of the
small kopjes at the Sa-e of the hill.
PRETORIA. Saturday. Jan. 13--As<sa a
result OF the bombardment# of aIafeking
yesterday, the British fort at Eastwood.
was demolished and the British retireG:
One Boer was wounded.
Advices from the head laagars atELadySg
smith report that the attack on that
place January 9Th ws disastrous to the
British and that Ladysmithf appears tozbe
in sore straits.