Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-01-04
Brisk I i Is Action d Said Id to Be In Pro
gross at MaItan0.
PRO Missed FOR TO-DAY
Fighting insho NH. around coles
bnrs. wncroihe Formation OF the
Hills Make 4, Dinicuis 10 Hun,
tho nosrs Oat-B,E Deve,opmcnt.
Expected Today - Smelling ni TX im.
bcrlcy = hi o,huen's rians.

VI (Ry Telegraph to yirginian-Pl
Starkstrom, Cape Colony. Jan. g..
tMorning). The Beers attacked Mol
iSteno this morning, A brisk action Is
now In progress. E
Naauwpourt. Cape Colony. Jan. a.
s There was brisk fighting to-day in the
hills around Colesberg. The Beers.
& stubbornly resisted the British at every
point, but gradually retreatcd.
The British hold the extreme position
: to the south and east. overlooking the
town.
The hills around Colesberg are NUM-
erous, not In ranges, but in groups,
making 1t very difficult to hunt the
Doors out. Sixteen wounded have ar
rived at Arundel.
BIG DEVELOPMENTS IMMINENT.
London. Jan. "a special dispatch
from Naauwpoort dated Tuesday, jan
nary 2, says the British command
/ Norval's Pont bridge with two guns,
and also command the Colesberg bridge.
Z and that the Beers have no way to re-
treat, except by why of Normberg.
The dispatch adds that big develop
mef1ts are expected sto-morrow.
SMELLING KIMBERLEY
s. Kimberley, Dec. 26.-The Bocrs last
night cyinced considerable interest in
+ the Premier mine, using their search-
; lights. This morning they actively
shelled the fort. The Royal Artillery
replied. Our shells were well placed,
and dropped amid the smoke of the en-
semy's guns.
Last nights storm ignitcd some Of our
Will r,.1t
ualties.
Cecil Rhodes has supplied the Boer
N prisoners with new clothing.
METHuEN's PLANS.
London. Jan. 3.-From a source which
hns many facilities of ginning inside
news from South Africa. representa-
5 tive of the Associated Press learns that
s Colonel Pitchers occupation OF Douglas
+ IS regarded as merely the first step OF
General Methuenss carefully matured
plans to outflan1> the Beers.
III According to this authority, It is
probable Colonel Pitcher, in conjunc-
tion with General Babington's force
from the Modder river. will proceed to
the rear OF those entertainments which
now prevent General Methuen from
i proceeding to Kimberley Colonel
Pitcher has only about feptY--.niles,-
travel before he achieves this end, and
If this Understanding is correct an ut
:, tack by General Methuen and deter
mined effort to relieve Kimberley may
be expected any day
WON'T TAKE DDLAGOA BAY.
london, Jan. ga representative Of
4 the Associated Press has been Informed
on good authority that Great Britain
b will not take Delagoa Bay. The Brit
ash government, 1t is added, does not
Contemplate any such step, in spite of
the clanlor OF the press and public
& opinion upon the advlsiblity of so do
& Ing.
RUSSIAN NEUTRALITY.
London. Jan. a.-The Vienna CORE
spondent Of the Standard says:
Emperor Nicholas has assured the
British Ambassador at ST Petersburg
n (Sir c. S. Scott that Great Britain need
not fear. intervention OF any sort OF
difficulty from Russia in the present,
& South African complications. This may
fairly be interpreted as an assurance
including an Indirect promise that
$ France will abstain from creating diff
culties for Eng
FRENCH CALLS FOR HELP.
London, Jan. 4.-4:30 a. m.--There is a
complete absence of anything new from
" the seat Of war. The report Of the Boer
s5attack upon Molteno is not yet confirm
{ ed. Apparently General French holds
s nothing within five miles Of Colesberg
Junction. His request for reinforce
ments dispels any present hope that he
will be able to seize one OF the cross
ings OF the Orange river.
It is probable that when Lord Ro-
Il berts arrives General French will BIO
y ordered to quit his present unsupported
J position and to concentrate his COM
= mand at De Aar or Orange river.
As the Daily Telegraph says, General
I French seems to be in the position OF
! man having a tiger cat in trap and
unable to kill 1t for want Of stick"
a dispatch from Dover Farm an
Il notnces that Lieutenant- Colonel Pill
q cher has returned there safely from
Douglas s.
THE BoER ARTILLERY.
z Since Commandant General Jouberts
4 return 20 the front the cannonade Of
q Ladysm1th by the Beers has been much
sliyelier. Between December 18 and De-:
y oemberl 80 four shells killed one officer
and thirteen men and wounded thirteen
{ officers and eleven men. y 4
S;ss he War g nice acknowlodg es the In