The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-01-04
.iM0LTEN0 ATTACK
IS .l!I!NCOQF:.IRMED ] |
French Not Within Five
Miles Of Colesberg.
UNABLE TO PUSH ON.
His Request for Reinforcements Dis
peIs All Hope Of That.
CANNoNADE MORE LIVELY.
UNABLE TO PUSH ON.
CANNoNADE MORE LIVELY.
Since Jouber,'s Arrival Bombardment
of Ladysmith has Been Doing
Greater Damase-A British
Supply Train Lost and
Treachery Suspected.
New Artillery.

New Artillery
LONDON, Jan. 4-i:s0 a. M.-Thege is
a complete absence of anything new from
the seat of war. The report of the Boer
attack upon ALolteno is not yet confirmed
Apparently General French holds moth
ing within five miles of Coissberg juno
ton. His request for reinforcements DIS
pels any present hope that he VIII oe
able to push on the crossings of the
Orange river.
1t Is expected when Lord Roberts ar
rives General French, will be ordered to
quit his present unsupportabie position
and to concentrate his command al lie
Aar or Orange river.
AS the Daily Telegraph says: General
French seems to be in the position OF
man having tiger cat IN trap and un-
able to kill it for want of a stick
A dispatch from Dover Farm announces
Lieutennant-Colonel Pitcher has returned
there safely from Douglass
Since Comma ndant-General Jouberts
return to the front the cannonade of
Ladysmith by the Beers has been much
hvelier.
Between December 18th and December
Goth four shells killed one officer and u
men, and wounded 13 officers and IL men,
ARTILLERY INFERIOR.
The War Office acknowledges the in
fsriority of the regular artillery by au-
thorizing equipment of the new battery
attached to the London volIh-rer Fps
with V.ckers I'D Naxinls, sorae Of which
the Beers use. and by ordering 100 OF
these 12-pounder quick tirers built. The
officers and men of the new battery will
be supplied from the Honorable artillery
Company.
Eight additional militia regiments Eave
been called out. Seven of these will
serve in ireland, replacing the regulars
sent to South Africa.
SUPPLY TRAIN LOST.
LONDON. Jan. S.--A special dispatch
from Rensberg. dated Tuesday. January
Cd. says a supply train without locomo-
tive was set in motion within the British
lines near Co!esberg, and proceeded SO
near the Boer position that it was i'm
possible to recover it. and the Boer guns.
therefore. destroyed the trucks.
1t is suspected that this was the act Of
a traitor.
The total British casualties about
Colesberg in two days were six men killed
and twenty wounded,
The supply train, says another dispatch
from Rensberg, ran into q. broken cu!-
vert and was wrecked. The Beers be-
gan looting it and another RensberS
train was dispatched to the SPOT in an
attempt to recover he provisions. The
Beers opened fire on the troops and ma
tiEes accompanying it, forcing the second
train to return after several OF the ma
tives had been killed.
LONDON, Jan. 3.-From a source which
has many facilities of gaining inside news
from South Africa, it is learned that
Colonel Pitchers occupation of Douglass
is regarded as merely the first step of
General NIethUenS carefully -latured
plans to outflank the Beers.
According to this authority. it is prob
able Colonel Pitcher, in conjunction with
General Babington's force from the Mod
der river, will proceed to the rear OF
those intrenchmentS which now prevent
General Nlethuen from proceeding to KIM
berley.
Colonel Pilcber has only about forty
miles travel before he acconlplishes this
erd, and ii this understanding is correct,
an attack by General Methuen and de-
termir.ed effort to relieve Kimberley may
be expected any day.
ATTACK MOLTENO.
sTERKsTRCOM, CAPE COLONY. jan
s-Alorning-The Beers attacked Molteno
this morning. y brisk action is now IN
progress.
NAUUwAPOORT, CAPE COLONY Jan.
2-There was brisk fighting to-day 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 the south and east overlooking the
town.
The hills around Colesbers are num-
erous, not in ranges, but in groups, max
ing it very difficult to hunt the Beers out.
Sixteen wounded have arrived at Arundel-
LONDON, Jan. 3.-A special disIt,tch
from Nauuwpoort dated Tuesday
January ., says. the British command
~ nd
also command the Colesberg bridge and
that the Beers have no way to retreat,
except by way of NormberS.
The dispatch adds that big develop
ements are expected tomorrow.
Kimberley Dec. a6.-The Beers last
night evinced considerable interest in the
Premier mine. using theicb. .searchlights.
This morning they actively shelied the
fort The Royal Artillery replied. Our
shells were well placed, and dropped amid
the smoke of the enemy's guns.
Last nights storm ignited some of our
military mines. but there were no cas-
! ualties.
Cecil Rhodes has supplied the Boer
! prisoners with new clothing.
| NOT ACCEPTED.
LONDON, Jan. 3.-At Lord Chesham's s
Headquarters reporter was informed that
the Duke of Mar.borough's offer to ac-
company the Cxfordshire Yeomanry to
South Africa has not yet been accepted.
| in spite OF the published statement to the
| contrary.
| 1t is further said that 1t is quite Likely
he viii not go to South Africa, as he al
ready had o black mark against him on
account OF being married and his success
full passing Of the medical examination is
doubtful.
The Pail Mall Gazette to-day announces
that Winston Churchill has been appointed
a squadron leader in the South African
Horse.
RERLIN, Jan. Sit IS seni-ott1ciaiiy
announced that Germany has not pro-
tested against the seizure OF the Bundes-
rath. but has merely requested that the
matter be investigated and settled as
speedily as possible, Friendly nesotin-
i&tions In this direction are now proceeding
here