Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1900-02-10
iHE BRITISH navy.
Some Vessels Poorly Equipped for
Successful Fighting.
THEY HAVE OLD GUNS
Sixteen Batileshlps and Eight Cruisers
Depend on MuzEleloaders- Bul.
ler's Relief Of Iadysmlth Is
Being Doubted.

London, Feb. 8 Since the war has
strained the resources Of the military
system Englishmsn have been troubled
BY the possibility that sea fighting
might show naval defects which would
weaken the first line Of defense in which
the country has placed such completes
trust This apprehension has suddenly
found expression During the last two
or three days in half Of the newspapers
In England the governments attention
has been directed 10 the muzzleloAdinE
guns Even public men have been
painfully surprised 10 learn that IS bat
ilsships and eight Armored cruisers de-
pend on muzzleloAders. This means
that smaller, but faster ships with mod
srn guns would be able 70 stay one or
two thousands yards out Of range and
70 disable in leisurely fashion about
one-third Of the vessels which appear in
the navy A. first class
The admiralty Is understood 70 De
preparing TO remedy this defect and to
propose Also considerable additions that
will preserve the present ratio Of Great
Britain's naval strength 10 that Of
France and Germany.
A supplementary army estimate 10
March 81 was laid pro forma before the
house Of commons Thursday. but was
not made public II is reported that
the call il for 500 900 900. which would
make the cost Of the war up to that
date f3O OOO. 900 The maintenance %
200 900 men At the front Ia estimated to
cost between a.. 900. 100 and $40. 900. 900
per month
All the messages from the observers
with General Butler throw In a phrase
or two about the strength Of the Boer
positions aud the difficulties Of Gen.
Buffers work" but they don't carry
event. beyond Tuesday evening
Their last slender narratives leave the
British advance on Vaal Krautz in the
center Of semicircle. where the troops
are exposed 10 the Boer artillery on
both sides and in the center
The fighting continued until 0 o'clock
Tuesday evening. and almost without
doubt continued Wednesday. a. the
Beers would not leave this wedge into
their lines unmolested II il also In.
ferred that General Butler must either
continue his advance or retire.
The heaviest fighting appears to have
been on Tuesday and as General Bal.
ler's 233 casualties are mentioned a. hAv-
ing occurred before noon Tuesday. large
lists are consequently expected for the
rest Of the day.
The casualties already reported bring
the total British losses during the war
10 10 ga killed. wounded and captured.
The disposition here is rather 20 min
imize the importance Of the lighting in
Natal and 10 suggest that this l. only
an incident anyway, placing hope upon
expected decisive engagements in north.
ern Cape Colony and upon the invasion
Of the Free Safe by Lord Roberts.
AT all events this is the official view.
rhe public does not like these new
waits and there is sharp anxiety for
further news
In Cape Colony General Macdonald
has had a skirmish with thousand
Beers at Koodooborg.
This was on Monday The Beers have
been taking tho offensive against Gen
French near Rensberg as we'll As against
General Gatacre in the Siormberg hilla