The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-01-18
GREAT FORCE FACES HIM
EFFORTS TO DRAW THEM FROM
KIMBERLEY FAIL.
THE BRITISH FORCE RETURNS TO CAMP
The Beers at Rensburg Pound Away at the
British With Captured Gun Which
Britons Finally Silence. Rein
forcement For French.

Lomdon, Jan. Thursday a.
m.-General Buffers complete surprise Of
the Boers ON Potgier's Drift hills tends
to greatly restore confidence in his tac-
tics. 1t is shown his forces are con-
cantrated In Cape Colony Methuen has
made a demonstration in force shelEng
the Beers works. Gatacre is skirmish
ing around Molteno. French is shellins
the Beers at Rensberg. Colonel Plumer
is moving to the relief of Mafeking from
Bechuanaland with less than 1000 men.
iMafeking is in a bad way: the siege is
being pressed with determination and the
KaffirS are deserving. Pblmer ON Jam
mary 18th was 100 miles north CT Maze
king.
BRITISH MARCH UNOPPOSED.
London. Jan. Thursday THE
Times publishes the following dispatch
from Spearman's Farm. dated 18th. 9:20
y. m:
The force marched westward on Jan
nary 10Th Lord Dundonald by a dash
ING movement occupied the hills above
Potgier's Drift. II miles west Of Cs-
lenso. taking the Beers completely hy
| surprise.
The same evening the infantry fol-
|
| crossed the river yesterday and today
shelled the Boor trenches beyond with
howitzers.
General Warrens force is now
crossing Trichardte Drift. live miles
| mboyc He is not opposed, although
| the Beers are holding a position five
| miles from the river
FIGHTING ON THE TUGEI4A.
l II.
! dispatch to the Mail late "Wednesday
! evening the 17th.. says arrivals from
| EScourt, report there was fighting on the
| Tugela today.
General Iyttleton. after crossing
| potsieters Drift. seized ridges "a mile
| beyond and effectively shelled the Beers.
| Warren also lodged two miles beyond
the Tugela toward Sproen kop
A Durham dispatch says smallpox
is reported to have broken cut among
| the Beers
BTLLER MAKES PROGRESS.
| London. Jan (Tnursday)-T
Daily Mail has the following DATED yes
| terday from PietermaritzLurg:
| News has been received that General
Butler is making satisfactory progress y
MBTHUENlS DEMONSTRATION.
| Modder River Cape Colony, Jan. IL.
| There was a demonstration in force.
under General Methuen yesterday ,li-
vision being engaged with the object of
| ascertaining the strength and disposition
| of the Boer force and also in order to-
Try to draw the Beers from Kimberley,
| where. lately they have been active
| The British discovered the Beers in
| great force and being reinforced from
the direction of Jacobsdal.
At 4:30 the artillery opened fire, the
shells dropping in the Boer cntrench-
ments with great precision. The attack
was directed against the Boer left. The
firing continued until sunset mostly with
! artillery, although the guards, on the
right, fired some long range volleys. The
Beers reserved their fire until the Brit
ish were returning to camp in the dark
ness, when six shells followed them.
There were no casualties among the
British troops.
A BATTLE WITH CANNON.
Rcnsburg. Cape Colony, Jan. 49,
Tuesday)-The Beers opened an artiI-
lery duel this morning, using captured
British 15-pounder. which the British
gGnners ultimately silenced. The Brit
| i1'i iNNP' u' +" NVui'iiiHS hit uii Nsts
long on the Boer kopjes. and also drag
ged up another gun to the summit of
| Coles kop.
TO REINFORCE FRENCH.
London, Jan. 17.-The War Office has
received the following dispatch from
Lord Roberts. dated Cape Town. jan
uary 10Th, evening:
''On the 18th the Beers made a deter
mined attack upon F'rench's advanced
post held by the New Zealand mounted
J rifles and a detachment OF the First
Yorkshires.
THE Beers were repulsed, having
ltwenty killed. Their wounded estimated
not less than fifty. The attack was
preceded by long range fire from one
gun.
"Otherwise the situation is nm
changed"
General French's success consoling to
the British. is recognized as being only
a side issue. The country is grateful 70
learn that the British losses in this en-
gagement were only six men killed ana
five wounded.
The news that two transports WITH
troops have been ordered from Cape
Town TO Port Elizabeth. indicates that
substantial reinforcements are on their
way to General French.