The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-01-05
.B0ERS ATTACK M0LTEN0
SHARP FIGHTING THEEE AND IN THE
HILLS ABOUT GOLESBERG.
BOERS' STUBBORN RESISTANCE
To the British Attacks on Their Posi-
tions-Confiicting Reports as to Gen.
eral French's Position - Methuen's
lsr'. Preparations for Renewed Ac-
tivity Boers' Firing at Ladysmith
Effective supply Train Destroyed.

Sterkstroom, Cape Colony, January 3.
-Morning-The Beers attacked Molte-
no this morning. A brisk action is now
in progress.
Naaumpoort, Cape Colony, January
3.-There was brisk fighting today in
the hills around Colesburg The Beers
stubbOrnly resisted the British al
every point but g-2IHaiiy re,reated.
/ TIE British hold the extreme position
TO the south and east, overlooking the
town The hills around COlesberg are
numerous, not in ranges, but in groups,
making IT very difficult to hunt the
Beers our. Sixteen wounded have ar
rived at Arundel.
London, January 3.-A special dis
patch from NaawpOort, dated Tuesday,
! January End, says the British command
! Norvals Pont bridge with two guns
! and also command the Colesburg
! bridge and that the Beers have no
| way to retreat, except by way of Norm
! berg.
! The dispatch adds that big develop
ments are expected tomorrow.
! Kimberley, December 26.-The Beers
! last night evinced considerable inter
! est IN the Premier mine, using their
! searchlights. This morning they ac-
| lively shelled the fort. The royal ar
ssIlery replied. Our shells were well
! placed. and dropped amid the smoke
! of the enemy's guns. Last night 5
| storm ignited some of our military
mines, but there were no casualties.
! Cecil Rhodes has supplied the Boer
prisoners with new clothing.
| METHUEN'S PLAN OF ADVANCE.
! London, January 3.-From a source
! which has many facilities of gaining
! inside news from South Africa, a rep
/ resentative of the Ass- tiated Press
| learns that Colonel Pitchers occupa-
| ton of Douglas is regarded as merely
/ the first step of General Methuen's
| carefully matuTed plans to outfiank
! the Beers.
! According to- this authority, it is
! probable Colonel Pitcher, in conjunction
with General Babington's force from
! the Modder river will proceed to the
| rear Of those intrenchments which now
prevent General Methuen from pro-
/ ceeding to Kimberley. Colonel Pitcher
| has only about forty miles travel before
! he achieves this end, and, if this un-
! derstant ing is correct, an attack by
| General Methuen and determined eff
fort TO relieve Kimberley may be ex-
| pected any day.
! FRENCH'S PECULIAR POSITION.
| London, January t. 4:30 a. m.-There
! is a complete absence of anything new
! from the seat of war. The report of the
! Boer attack upon MoIteno is not yet
| confirmed. Apparently General French
| holds nothing within five miles of
| Colesburg junction. HIS request for re-
| Inducements dispels any present hope
| that he will be able to seize one of the
| Of -1,nn nro rixr
| 1t is probable that when Lord Rob-
| erts arrives General French will be
ordered to quit his present unsupported
| position and to concentrate his COM
mand at De Aar, or Orange river
AS the Daily Telegraph says, Cen
| eral French seems to be in the posi-
tion of q man having a tiger cat in a
| trap and unable to kill it for want of
| a stick
| A dispatch from Dover farm an
nounces that Lieutenant Colonel Pill
! cher has returned there safely from
| Douglas.
BOER SMELLING EFFECTIVE.
| Since Copmandant General Joubert's .
| return to the front the canrOnade of
! Ladysmith by the Beers >&has been
| much liyelier. Between December 10th
| and December 29th, four shells killed
! one officer and thirteen men and
men.
The war office Acknowledges the in
feriority Of the regular artillery by au-
| thoriZing the equipment of the rev
battery attached to the London volun-
teer corps with Vickers and Maxims,
some of which the Beers use, and by
ordering 100 of the 12R-poun er quick
| firers built Immediately. The officers
and men of the new battery will be
supplied from the Honorable Artillery
Company.
Eight additional militia regiments
have been called out Seven of these
will serve in Ireland. replacing the reg
ulars sent TO South Africa.
London. January Sat Lord Ches-
hams headquarters reporter Of the
Associated Press was informed that
the Duke of Mariborough's offer to ac-
company the Oxfordshire yeomanry to
South Africa has not yet been accept
ed, in spite Of the published statement
to the contrary. 1t is further said that
it is quite likely he will not go to
South Africa, as he already had black
mark against him on account Of being
married and his successful passing of
the medical examination is doubtful.
The Pail Mall Gazette today an
nounces that Winston Churchill has
been appoinei a squadron leader in the
South African horse.
A SUPPLY TRAIN LOST.
London, January 3.-A special dis
patch from Rensburg. dated Tuesday,
January 2nS, says supply train, with
out q locomotive, was set in motion
within the British lines near Colesburg,
and proceeded so near the Boer posi-
ton that ii was impossible TO recover
II. and the British guns, therefore, de-
stroyed the trucks. II is suspected that
this was the act OF a traitor
The supply train, says another dis
patch from Rensberg. ran into broken
culvert and was wrecked. The Beers
began looting it and another Rensberg
train was dispatched to the spot in an
aEtemp1 10 recover the provisions. The
Beers opened fire ON the trnnns and ma