Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-17
HEAVY ARTILLERY FIRING
Heard in Direction of Position Occupied by
Butler.
Rumor That Part of British Army is
Near Ladysmith-German At
titude Grows Hostile.

LONDON. January 1.-THE Times pub
fishes the following from Pietermaritzburg
dated Tuesday:
Very heavy artillery firing was heard
yesterday in the direction of Springfield
A dispatch to the Daily Mail from Pet
ermaritZburg. dated Tuesday. says: There
was Very heavy firing to the north yester-
day. | believe the Beers are contesting
General Buffers passage of the Tugela
Howitzers were evidently busy. the fir
ing is described as the heaviest yet heard
in Natal
The Exchange Telegraph Company has
received the following dispatch, dated Tues
day. January Ii. from PietermaritzburS
There is no news from the front. but
heavy firing was heard today in the direc-
ton of Frere- 1t is probable that General
Butler is engaging the enemy.
"A rumnr is current here that portion
of the British force is near Ladysmith.
The war Office announced at midnight
that no news would be issued tonight. The
conclusion deduced from this silence by the
military experts generally is that no de-
cisive blow has been struck either way.
as in such an event there would be no
necessity for silence.
a dispatch from Modder river says there
was brisk exchange of shells Tuesday
morning. the Beers returning our fire for
the first time in several days The British
irtrenchments are being continually
strengthened and extended. The permanent
railway bridge is almost completed. Heavy
rains have fallen in the hills recently. and
the fords of Reit river are all impossible.
Railroad Completely Torn Up.
1t is reported that it will be necessary to
relay the rails over almost the entire dis
lance from Modder river to Kimberley, the
Beers having used the rails and sleepers
in building their Notifications.
Stories still reach camp that the Free
St,tT L, To-,
report is that Il council was held recently
at Bloemfuntein, at which President Steyn
and General Cronje were present. 1t was
then stated that unless the British began
the attack by January Il the Free Staters
would return home. The enormous diff
ticulty the Beers must experience in pro-
visoning their Spytfontein army, which is
far from the railway head, is very evil
dent.
The Durham correspondent of the Stand
ard deals today with the numerous re-
ports that the Free Staters have tired of
war and will abandon the struggle as soon
as the British cross the border. He mem
tons an extra ordinary story with reference
to journey of President krugers son-n-
law, Elotf. to pelagoa Bay in a German
warship. According to this Eloff has been
making arrangements for President Kru-
gers escape through German Damaraland
in the event of the capture of Pretoria
The war office has issued orders for the
formation of five new batteries Some idea
be drawn upon may be gained from the
fact, according to the statement of
military expert this morning. that an old
practice howitZer at I.ydd. in Kent, with
which II is impossible to do accurate
shooting. but which for some time has
been solely used to test shells, has been
laid under rcquiSition for the front Or
dcrS have been received at Lydd to pack
this venerabl" relic with as much dispatch
as possible for embarkation.
All the Regulars at the Front.
Seventeen more militia battalions will be
the regulars are now cut of the country
except fourteen infantry battaions and
eleven cavalry battaIious. The war office
has placed an order for 1000 900 car
trid-es in cases.
The yeOmaHry committee announces that
it has accepted 5000 out of the 10000 which
it wishes to raise. and still has 10000 APP
pliCations I" be examined
The Daily Chronicle asserts that the
committee was goadcd into this statement
by tn" reports that there was no hope of
getting the full number.
The war office has wired to countermand
the departure from Egypt of a number of
officers who We're previously ordered to
South Africa. The Daily Chronicle, com
menting upon this and upon other news
related to it. says:
There are some curious reports in cir
culation-apparently with some authority
behind them-which point to the stoppage
of the dispatch of further reinforccments
when the troops now mobiliZing shall have
embarked. The new cavalry brigade is
not to leave England at present