The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-12-24
METHUFN WON'T RETIRE
Believed that He VIII Hold Ills Ground at
the Moddcr River.
ROBERTS HAS NOT YET ASSUMED COMMAND
lie WIN Have Nothing TO DO with
the Fright Until He Has Looked
Over the situation.

New York. December ga dispatch to
the Tribune from London says: The
Paris correspondent OF the Mail says that
DR.. Leyds waited on NJ. Delcasse and
asked his services In the cause OF peace.
The French minister, It is understood,
gave an equivocal reply. asking, in fact
for time for consideration.
A fact which may DO safely inferred
from tho admiralty reports of the move
ments of transports is that the battalions
OF the Fifth division, as they arrive in
South Africa, are divided between Natal
and the western border, some going TO
Durham and others to Deaar. This seems
clear indication that General Methuen
viii hold his ground at Modder river and
not retreat to the orange river, as many
timorous military writer's for the press
nave been clamoring to have him do
/ leaving Kimberley to It's fate. The moral
| effect OF such a retreat would be exceed
! lngly bad since it would be a confess
sion of failure OF one OF the first objects
OF Buffers campaign With the corps. MILF
tary men now assert that If General Me-
thuen's retirement had been contemplated
All the achievements arriving at Cape
town would have been hurried forward TO
| Natal to complete the work OF relieving
Ladysmith. since they would not have
been needed nj Deaar or Belmont. Thcy
also venture TO assume tina, Modder river
will be made second hnse for ultimate
operations across the country to Bloem-
rontain. when the auxiliary transport with
mule train and carts has been organized
THIS, however is posching upon Lord
Roberts preserves.
The gallant veteran who VIII start to-day
FOR tho Cape viii plan his own campaign
after he assumes command. 1t Is general
iy understood from hints dropped at this
war office that he has declined to assume
any responsibility for the campaisn unit
his arrival on the ground, and that he
has not embarrassed General Butler Wiz
any suggestion or advice from London
Butler viii have free hand until Lore
Roberts reaches Capetown aud will ther
command the troops In Natal,
= Among many rumors current before mid
night was one based on an alleged state
utent by the manager of the Creusot COM
pany that the Boer ammunition was rum
ming low and that urgent dispatches haC
4 been received from Pretoria asking fo
. the immediate shipment of large supplies
= These reports were too unirnStworthy e
o meri, serious consideration. There VA
2. no apparent lack or Bocr ammunition
,. either at Mneersfoutein or Colenso o
n Storinherg, and whatever delay there ha
,, heen in replying TO the British artilier
y is explained too easlly by the strateg
le and admirable tactics of the Dutch IN con
N ccaling their positions until they cou'
un,nask them with deadly effect
es Verincation of these Paris rumprs is les
important than accurate information ri
" speciing tho facility with which milltaT
w supplies can he landed The nelagoa BIZ
y door seems to be ajar, If not wide ope
~ prominent Englishinnn remarked yes
n terday that II would have been better
at the British government had allowed u
ie Transvaal 10 acquire Delagon bay instcf
Of opposing its purchase, FOR In that Gus
III the British fleet could have hlocltaded
- and the army could have landed with q
shortest and mort direct road To Pretor
ID open to II.
y, Tldings OF winston Churchills arrivi
J. at Delagoa bnv have arrived barely
re time 10 cheer hls mother before her d.
y, parture today In tho hospital ship Mar
IN for the Cape,
:" The Daily Mail. having nearly recoI
n structed the cabinet by displaoing ,
RI Michael Hicks. Beach AT the TREASURY WI
a MIR Chamberlain, dismssing Lord Ian
doNne from the war office and urgii
IL Lord Salisbury and the other ministers
retire In order TO make room FOR young
men. turns its guns upon the arulle
service. 1t IL operating on the gch'F
principle that England needs tbotaul
r. shaking up Meanwhile England cohu
ues 80 display patriotism OF the hlEne
F.. and most practical order. volunteers a
on vconanry 10 the number OF 100000 are
ready al the service Of the governmel
80 mr. TEN times as many as the war ON
to has asked for The STOCK EXCHANGE
at providing horses for the LORD Mayo