The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-01-17
LOST TWENTY-0NE KILLED
BUTLER BELIEVED TO BE EN-.
GAGGED on THE TEGELA.
HEAVY ARTILLERY FIRING HEARD THERE
The Beers Probably Contesting Buffers Pas
sage, A British Fort at Mafeking Demol-
ished by Boer Shells Confidence
in Methuen Now Dead.

KenSDurg. cape Colony, Monday, Jan.
15.-1'he Beers this morning attempted
Ia rush Il hill held by a company of the
Yorkshires and New Zealanders, but
ahey were repulsed at the POINT of the
bayonet. The Beers had u men killed
and about 30 wounded
The hill commands a tract of country
east of the main position of the Beers.
They advanced cautiously, directing
their fire at Il small wall held by the
1orkshires, and compelling the latter to
keep close under cover. Then the Beers
rushed the wall, the Yorkshires fixed
bayonets and charged. Just at that mo-
ment Captain Maddocks. with Il small
party Of New Zealanders, came up and
the combined force leaped over the wall
and charged straight for the enemy. who
fled. followed by whitening fire at close
range
The Beers Literally tumbled 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 retreatd to the shelf
or of tie small kopjes at the base of the
hill.
OANAI AS1I Il OIN1 lJIJbD Law l%D'
Pretoria. Jan. 13-(Saturday)-A a
result of the bombaldpenlt of Mafekil4g
yesterday the British font eastward was
demolished and the British retired. One
Boer was wounded.
.Advices from the head laager at Lady
smith reported that the attack ON that
place january 9th was disastrous to the
British and that Ladysmith appears to be
in sore straits.
AIETHUEN'S DAY PAST.
d4ondon, Jam. 16.--Evidence accumu-
Bates that General Methucn's blunder at
AIagersfortein has lost him the confidence
of his entire force to suCh an extent that.
it is declared, it is doubtful if the troops
would follow him in another attack on
ahe Beers. The War Office is under
stood to be in possession of letter writ
ten by General WauchOpe the night be-
fole the battle SAYING that would be the
last letter he would ever write. as he had
been asked to perform an impossible
task ard he had either to obey or to sur
render his sword. An immediate change
in the command of the force may there
fore. he expected 1t is anticipated Ill
some quarters that Lieutenant General
Tucker will succeed General Slethuen.
AN EXCHANGE or SHELLS.
Modder River, Tuesday, Jan. 10
There was a brisk exchange of shells
this morning, the Beers returning our fire
for the first time i'll several DAYS.
The British Entertainments are being
continually strengthened and extended.
The permanent railway bridge is almost
completed
FIGHTING ON THE TUGELA.
London. Jan. 17.-Dispatches from
pietermaritzburg to both the Times and
the Daily Mail report very heavy artil-
lery firing in the direction of Springfield
and Frere Monday. The Mail dispatch
says the Beers probably are contesting
General Buffers passage Of the Tugela
river. Howitzers are evidently very
busy
The Exchange Telegraph Company's
dispatch, from the same place and date,
says it probably means General Blller
is engaging the enomy and that IA rll-
NOR is current that a portion of the
. British 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 ste2Hner
Gironde about the middle of last month,
under the noses of two British warships
and were dispatched to Pretoria, causing
much rejoicing at the ease with which
contraband of war can run the blockade.
The Swat Queen Mother, since the
death of King Bunu, has killed all the
chiefs who were ever in England or
Cape Town, and is now plotting with
the Beers. The situation may fairly be
considered grave. and it would be well
10 send regiments of Gurkhas to Swat
land Immediately"