The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-05
Decisive Battle May BE Fought Next
Week IL Buffers Preparations
Are Completed.
MORE FIGHTING AT M0LTENo
BUT REGARDED AT LONDON As OF
LITTLE IMPORTANCE.
Artillery Duel Reported at Bensberxs
but No Details Forwarded Cat
acres Movements.

LONDON, Jan. b, a. m.-Tnis morning
news throws no further light on the war
situation. The exact position at Molteno
and Cyphergat is not yet clear, but In any
case these little engagements are Of small
Importance beyond proving that the British
forces are beginning to attain great de-
gree OF mobility.
1t is fully expected that next week will
see heavy battle on the Tugela river.
which is now the real pivot Of the cam
paign. The Beers appear TO be working in-
cessantly with shovel and pick
A vigorous shelling OF the Beers trenches
on the plain near F'rere camp yesterday
forced the burghers to shift their position
after their horses had stampeded:
The traction engines have arrived at
Frere and have been successfully tested
They pulled trucks over the rougn AMI
most sandy ground without dif1iculty.
Lord Methuen's cavalry scouting has de-
veloped the fact that Boer intrenchments
extend some forty miles. far overlapping
the British positions and making flank at
tacks exceedingly difficult
Military analysts affirm that the Boer
trenches confronting General Butler
stretch away some seventeen miles and
that work on them is pushed unremitting-
ly. While the advance is delayed flank
movements are rendered most difficult be-
cause long marches are not done with ce-
lerity and 1t is hard to time an attack with
certainty.
The extent Of the Dutch rising may now
be measured by taking line from Prieska,
on the west. to Herschel or Barkly. on the
east. On the whole of this line. except at
points actually occupied by the British. the
population seems for the most part hostile.
Intelligence has been received at Cape
Town from the Free State TO the effect
that President steyn has issued a proclas,
nation declaring that every white man. IN
respective of nationality. is to be consid-
cred burgher and is liable to be COM
PEELED to fight for the defense of the coun-
try.
New redoubts are being built at Rimber-
ley, and seventeen miles Of works now
encompass the town.
The Admiralty programme will embrace
the stationing Of small sQuadrons at Dur
ban, Simon's bay. Port Elizabeth. Lou
renzo Marques. st. Vincent. in the Cape
Verde islands, and Cape Town. and send
ing an additional ship or two to Alden.
1t is announced that the British have
agents and detectives secretly watching all
Italian ports.
1t now appears that IT Is John Churchill.
second son Of Lady Randolph Churchill.
and not Winston Spencer Churchill. who
has been given command OF a squadron OF
the South African Light Horse.
Lord Rosslyn has thrown up his engage
ment at the Court Theater in order 10
join the Yeomanry. The offer OF Lord
Iveagh tc provide. at his own expense. q
completely equipped hospital. for use In
South Africa, has been accepted.
The War Office has invited Sir William
Thompson TO accept the post OF chief sur
geon to the forces in South Africa, instead
OF consulting surgeon.
William Waldorf Astor has sent E5.0oo to
| the fund for equipping the City OF London
Volunteers. in a letter accompanying tho
check he suggests that the gift be devoted
to the purchase of quick firers for the new
battery TO be attached TO the corps. This
brings Mr. Astor's total war contributions
up to el20O0.
An army order has been issued directing
the embodiment OF sixteen additional bat
talions OF militia.
The American hospital ship Maine ar
rived at Las Palmas, Canary islands.
Wednesday. and reported all on board well.
The British Foreign Office knows moth
ing about the report that the Berne arbi-
traitors have made their award in the Dela-
goa Bay Railroad question. and. so far an
the Foreign Office officials are able TO as
certain, IL has not yet been made.