The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-01-31
BOHR VICTORY REPORTED
General French Said TO Have Beer
Badly Defeated.
His Advance in the Direction OF Riet-
fontein Checked With Severe Loss.
An UnsuccessfuI Attempt 10 Sur
rs>und the BurEhers-The Result at
sPiOn hOP known at LaJysmith.

LONDON. Jan. 31.-A eablegram from
Pretoria published this morning says that
General French has received a bad defeat
al the hands OF the Beers in the neighb0--
hood of Colesberg.
Delaray, the Boer commander, reports to
Pretoria that on January 25 French ad-
vanced with large body Of troops in the
direction Of Rietfontein Delaray attacked
The English, causing them to retire with
severe loss.
General Grobler with Commandant
Delsray. also reports severe fighting all Of
January %. lie says the British endeav-
ored TO surround the Beers. With the
assistance OF General Schoeman, they
drove the British back, innicting severe
losses on General French's column.
General French in a despatch from
Rensburg, January 2s. says he "reconnoi-
tired" on January p. with the Hussars,
the Inniskilings, four guns Of the Royal
Artillery, force Of mounted infantry, the
Yorkshire. Wiltshire, and portion Of the
Essex regiments. French says he eau
tiously" appeared and shelled the enemy.
who replied with artillery and infantry
fire. His losses. he declares were an Off
Ger and nine men wounded and three miss
ing.
"As the 3oers were in great force, -
General Fregoh continues. 4 discontinued
the attack ard returned 70 camp"
II will be noticed that for a mere re
connoissance'' General French took with
him a remarkably large force.
The War once has heard nothing from
Butler and the report that he intended soon
to make another attempt 20 relieve Lady
smith is discredited.
A heliogram from Ladysmith sent on
Sunday from Frere said: 1--WE know that
General Butler has failed. There is a nat
ural disappointment. but little desponden-
cy. From Observation Hill, many Of the
Boer movements are visible: also. some
times. she doings OF Buffers men.
After our men evacuated Spion K0p the
enemy quickly brought up guns and forti-
fled the position. The Boer Iaagers on the
plains beyond Ladysmith are again full Of
men who returned after the retreat Of the
British
a new laager was formed this morning
on the heights near Colenso. The Beers
have p great force on the plains there
abouts. 7e-eniorcements are apparently
coming ON the Transvasl The Brit
ish guns are stiH on Mount Alice There is
strrg rUmor in camp that General Bull
Ter 4 Idva icing along another line"
a desDatch 10 the Times" from Lady
Saith, dated Jsnuary q, says eve little
dreamed. when We received "a message
on January 25. that all is we'll. what the
night would bring forth. We can hold on
here
Another despatch to the Times, from
LadysmIth. dated January Is. says. The
garrison received the news with fortltude.
The privations or the siege will fall more
heavily on the sick. The garrison has ar
rived at healthier phase and disease has
been weeded out. The health Of the gar
rison was less robust during the first pinch
than now. There is no horse sickness and
the rains have given a supply of grass.
We can hear Buffers guns stin working -