Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-01-17
BAYONETS' POINTS
Check Attack of Beers on
British at Rensburg.
British Censor Holds Ra * All Reports
from Bliler's Advance.
Free Skaters Longing Tor Hore Arms Smaq-
gled 10 the Beers.

RenSburg, Cape Colony. Monday.
Jan. 15-'rhe Beers this morning. at
tempted TO rush a hill held by a com
pany Of the Yorkshires and the New
Zealanders but they We're repuIsed at
the point Of the bayonet The Beers
had II men killed and about 80 wound
ed
The hill commands tract Of country
east Of the main position of the Beers
and they had determined to make an
attempt TO seize the heights. They adj
vanced cautiously. directing their fire
at small wall held by the York
shires and compelling the latter to
keep close under cover. When the
Beers rushed the wall, the Yorkshires
fixed bayOnets and charged
Just at that moment, Captain Mad
docks, with a small party of New Yea
landers came up and the combined
force leaped over the wall and charged
straight for the enemy who fled, fol-
lowed by whitening fire at close
range. The Beers literally tumbed
over each other in their hurry to escape
but the persistent fire of the British
inflicted a heavy loss.
Desultory firing continued for some
time but the attack was an utter fail
ure and the Beers retreated to the shell
ter Of the small kopjes at the base Of
the hill.
London. Jan. 17.-123O \. M.-The
Warofiice announces. at midnight that
no further news would be issued, to-
night
London, Jan. 1.-THE Exchange and
Telegraph 40. has received the following
dispatch, dated Tuesday, Jan. Is, from
Petermaritzburg: There ~ 10 news
from the front. but heavy firing was
heard. today. III the direction If Frere.
It is probable that Gen. Butler is engag-
in4 the enemy.
a ruln0r i current here that a portion
XII the British force il near Ladysmith."
y dispatch to the Daily Mail from
Pietermartizburg. dated Tuesday. says:
There was heavy firing to the north,
yesterday. | believe the Beers are con-
testing Gen. Buffers passage of the Tu-
gela. Howitzers We're evidently busy. as
the firing is described az the heaviest yet
heard in Natal"
Modder River, Tuesday. Ian IL
There was a brisk exchange of shell.
this morning. the Beers returning our
fire for the first time in several days.
The British entertainments are being
continually strengthened and extend
ed. The permanent railway bridge is
almost completed. Heavy rains have
fallen in the hills recently and the
fords Of Reit river are all impossible.
1t is reported that it will be necessary
to relay the rails over almost the en-
i-tp
the Beers having used the
rails ana sleepers in building their for
tifications.
Stories still reach camp that the
Free s5taters desire to end the war
The latest report is that council was
held recently a Bloemfontein. at
which President Steyn and Gen. Cron-
jee We're present. 1t was then stated
that, unless the British began the at
tack by Jan. Il, the Free Staters would
return home. The enormous difficulty
the Beers must experience in provis-
Joining their Spytfontein army, which
is far from the railway head, is very
evident.
London, Jan. 1.-THE Durham cor
respondent Of the Standard deals. to-
'AHs' " LII llIt numerous ItIJOIlS lIdl
the Free Staters have tired Of the war
and will abandon the struggle as soon
as the British cross the border. He
mentions an extraordinary story with
reference to Il journey Of President
kruger's sOn-in-laW, Floff. to Delagoa
Bay i'll German warship. According
to this, k,loff has been making arrange
ments for President Kruger's escape
through German Demaraland in the
event Of the capture Of Pretoria.
The Times publishes the following
from Pietermaritzburg. dated, Tues
day: Very heavy artillery firing was
heard yesterday, in the direction Of
Springfield
The Delagoa Bay correspondent of
the Natal Times, asserts that six big
creusol guns and 50 tons Of shells we're
landed from the French steamer
-iionde about the middle Of last month
under the noses of two British war
ships and We're dispatched to Pretoria
causing much rejoicing at the ease
with which contraband Of war can run
The blockade
Continued on page 80
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