Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-03
ATTACK DN3'MOLTENO
The Beers Take the Aggressive
Again This Morning.
FIGHTING YESTERDAY At COLESBERG
England, 1t is Said, viii Not
Seize DeIagoa Bay.
NO NEWS FROM BULLER

STERKSTROOM. Cape Colony, January
3. morning.-The Beers attacked Molteno
this morning. A brisk action is now in
progress.
NAAUWPOORT, Cape Colony, January
There was brisk fighting today in the
hills around Colesberg.. The Beers stub
bornly resisted the British at every point,
but gradually retreated.
The British hold the extreme position to
WILL NOT TAKE DELAGOA BAY.
British Policy Definitely stated to
Press Representatives.
LONDON, January IA representative
of the Associated Press has been Informed
on good authority that Great Britain will
not take Delagoa bay. The British govern
ment, 1t is added, does not contemplate any
such step, in spite of the clamor of the
press and public opinion upon the advisa-
bility Of so doing.
Lacking news from the main British
camps In South Africa, whose future ac-
ton can alone have an important effect on
the larger issues of the campaign the Brit
1Sh public Is making the most of Col Pill
chers miniature battle. Unbounded tribute
Is paid to the prowess of the Canadians and
Australians and graphic accounts are pub
hshed OF the enthusiasm in Douglas as the
VICTORIOUS troops entered that place
The representative of the Associated
Fress with the flying column says:
The immediate result of Col. Pitchers
success Is the entire dispersal of the rebels
VINO nave been governing the country for
the past six weeks
TOrOntOs Capture Boer Supplies.
After Sunnys!de was captured the To-
rontos occupied the lager for the night
ana Joined the main body the following
morning, bringing the whole of the Boer
tents, wagons and loot, and leaving the
CornWalls in garrison at Sunnyside. The
Brlt1sh force then started for Douglas, the
IorontoS bringing up the rear in wagons.
In the afternoon the troops entered the
town unopposed and amid extraordinary
scenes. The inhabitants Were oyerjoyed
and crowded about the soldiers shaking
hands with them. and when they learned
that their deliVererS We're Canadians and
Australians the enthusiasm became fren-
Zied. There We're deafening cheers as the
troops traversed the main street, and it
was almost impossible for them to make
progress. the crowds being SO eager to
shake hands with the colonies.
ut appears that the Landdrost and all
the mounted rebels evacuated the place
the previous night. The unmounted rebels
are reported to be entrenched in the vi
entity. Quantities of ammunition were cap
tured and destroyed"
A dispatch from the Modder river inti-
rot be treated as prisoners of war, but as
British subjects caught in open rebellion.
AT the Modder river camp the conduct
of the colonalS is greatly admired and all
are delighted that they have struck the
first blow on the western frontier since
the battle of MagersfCntein. 1t is believed
the relief of Kurun1an will quickly follow
Late Advices From Colesberg.
The latest advices from the Colesberg dis
trict tend to modify the estimates of Gem
eral French's success The predicted occu-
patton of Colesberg had not been accom-
plshed last evening, while the Beers guns,
announced to have been slenced, were still
active. The war office this afternoon is
sued dispatch received from General
French, under yesterdays date, saying his
position was the same as the previous
day: that with small achievements he
could diSlOdge the Beers from ColeSberg,
and, in the meantime, he continued ma
neuvering.
Butler BOmbnrds the Beers.
General Butler continues his night bonn
bardments and patrols surprises. AS the
Tugela river Is again fordabe and the
stretcher bearers have again been requisi-
toned at Durham and Pietermaritzburg
there is a disposition to believe that the
British advance will not be long delayed.
1t is reported at Durham that the cap
tured German steamer Bundesrath had on
board five big gurs fifty tons of shells and
$50 trained artillerymen
Nothing further has been heard from
Molteno, which was reported. from Sterk-
stroom, to have been attacked by the Beers
this morning So far as known here there
is only small force there.
A dispatch from Sterkstroom announces
that Swanelef, the Boer commandant at
Stormberg. has died of his wounds.
A special dispatch from Rensburg. dated
Tuesday, January 2, says a supply train,
without locomotive. was set in motion
within the British lines near Colesberg. and
proceeded near the Boer position that
it was impossible to recover it, and the
British guns therefore destroyed the trucks
1t is suspected that this was the act of
traitor.
The total British casualties about Coles
berg in two days were six men killed and
twenty wounded.
At Lord Chesham's headquarters a rep
resentative of the Associa ted Press was in
formed that the Duke of Marlborough's
offer to ompary the Oxfordshire Yeo-
many to South Africa has not yet been ac-
cepted. in spite of the published statements
to the contrary. 1t is further said that it
is quite likely he will not go to South Africa
as he already had a black mark against
him on account of being married, and his
successful passing OF the medical eXamina-
tor is doubtful.
The amateur golf champion. John Ball,
ir.. has been ordered to South Africa with
the Denbigshre Yeomanry.
The Pail Mall Gazette today announces
that Winston Churchill. the newspaper
correspondent who was captured by the
Beers in Natal and taken to Pretoria
whence he recently escaped and arrived
safely at Delagoa Bay. has been appointed
squadron leader in the South African
Horse.
Beers Poke Fun at Butler.
LONDON, Januarys 8.-The Daily Tele-
graph has received ir4,e following dated
January 9. from Frere camp:
1.-The weather is fnes The Tugela river
is now fordable.1cGen, Buffers army is in
fine form, ready and Confident for the
work before it. e
THE Beers ineairedtiiy heliograph today:
Why is Roberts: coming? What has
Butler done?
THE British replied:
How did yqa ilikel our lyddite in the
The Beers sigpaled in response:
Swiss Recruits for the Beers.
LONDON, january 3-The Berlin cor
respondent of tie Standard says: 1.-THE
British representative at Berne has lodged
a protest with the Swiss government, cali
Ing attention to the fact that recruiting for
the Transvaal is in progress in Swiss terri
tory MANY x-oupn man who bod a,ro,oa