The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-10
GEN. BUTLER |. | / / ; ]. HAS
FAILED AGAIN
Abandoned Position and
Recrossed Tugela.
MCDONALD RETIRES.
Under Order Of Methuen He Fell Back
10 Modder River.
MILITARY EXPERTS PUZZLED.
Tho Theory Finds Acceptance That
Both IacDonald's and Buffers
Operations Were by the Direc-
ton of Lord Roberts to Oc-.
cupy Bocrs During 2
Central Advance.
: .
MILITARY EXPERTS PUZZLED.

BOER HEAD IAAGAR, LADYSMITH,
Thursday, Feb. S.-The British, WHO We're
in possession Of THE kopje at Moiens
Drift. abandoned it after a bombardment
by Boer cannon this morning, ana re-
tired across the Tugela river 10 their
former position.
A desultory cannonade is proceeding at
Tugela this morning, but otherwise every
thing is quiet.
LONDON, Feb. 1870 a M.-London
accepts. as true the Boer statement that
General Butler has failed again. Ihese
statements were passed by the Brltlsh
censor at Alden. End are READ III tile
light of Mr.. Eaifour's announcement IN
the Commons that General builer ID Io'
pressing his advance.
Mr.. Winston Churchill wires tnat
=Vaalkrantz was iInpracticable 1or me
guns which were needed to support
further advance.
His cablegram leaves General Buiier
on Tuesday night sending L fresh pri-
gade to relieve the tired holders oil saal-#
krantZ.
The descriptive writer's with General
Buller were allowed rather free hand
again in explaining the ugly position
which the British held and the natural
obstacles which had to be overcome.
So it is easy to infer that with Boer
rlemen and artillery defending them,
these Lhills. ravines md jungles have not
been overcome and thus the public is
prepared in advance for bad news.
HOPE RAN HIGH.
Kilograms from Ladysmith, dated
Monday, describe the effect General Bull
lers cannonnde had on the worn garri-
son. Hope ran high that the long
period of inactivity and tedium was draw
ing to a close. The crash of guns was
almost continuous for ten hours, and MT
times it seemed as MANY as twenty
shells burst in a minute.
The Beers, preparing always for the
possibility of defeat, were driving herds
and sending long wagon trims toward
the Drakensherg passes. Intense dark
ness and silence followed, broken only
by frogs croaking and the occasional
blaze of star shells, surrounding the
town with II circle of light to prevent
the unobserved approach Of the enemy.
A series of British mines, laid for the
Boers, exploded accidentally, shaking
and alarming the city and camp.
General MacDonald's retirement puzzles
the military commentators. The theory
that finds acceptance is that 1t was or-
dered by Lord Roberts. and that both
operations were by the direction of the
commander-in-chlef, in order to occupy
the Beers at widely separated points, so
they would be unable to transfer any
portion Of their forces to oppose the pro-
jected central advance.
FORCE LINE AT ORANGE RIVER.
Mr.. Charles Williams, military writ
er, who is understood to be in confiden-
tial relations with Lord Wolslcy, says
that beyond doubt the most authorita-
tive opinion in London regards it as
probable that an endeayor would be
made TO force the line of the Grunge river
before Wednesday next, possibly by Mon
day.
Mr. Henry w. Lucy says that the health
OF Sir Alfred Miner, Governor of Care
Colony, is suffering from the prolonged
strain, and his friends fear he will break
down.
Lord Salisbury's son, Lord Edward
Cecil, is responsible for Mafelzing being
so we'll provtsioned. At the outbreak OF
the war he learned the amount of army
stores about to be sent to Mafeking, and
Oh his own initiative pledged his private
He is now i'll Mafeleing, and one of its
boIdest defenders.
BOER sREINFORCENENTS
A dispatch to the Times from koodooes-
berg, dated Thursday, February Sth,
says:
1T is reported that Boer reinforce.
ments are arriving from Magersfonten
Cur position is easily tenabie, but the
entire force has been orae..sd to return
to dodder River Tomorrow
Tine Times has the following from
Kimberley, dated February Sih:
1.-The Boer big guns sheiled us all day
yesterday, but nobody was killed.
The correspondent of the Times a
Lorenzo Marques under date of Feb
ruary Sth. SAYS:
Recent visitors to Inhalnbane repor
that the Portuguese customs authoritie!
there seized a quantity of arms and am
munition consigned under a false descrip
ton
The First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr.
.Geo. ]. Goshen, is preparing estimates fol
a large increase in the navy. 1t is though
not improbable that Parliament will BIZ
asked for 10000 900 pounds for new ships
The War Office has reduced the mini
Mum standard of height again-this time
to . feet g inches for infantry. and fee
2inches for artillery.
OWING. TO GROSS FIRE.
DR.. Leyds has issued in Brussels /
statement for publication in England, il
which he says he IS convinced the wa.
will continue as long as the two repub
lies have arms and ammunition. If tn,
alauser cartridges give out the Beers
he asserts. will fall back upon Martini
Henri rifles. for which they have a sup
ply of ammunition that is practically in
eNhaustible
a s,yeeial dispatch from spearman'
Camp dated yesterday Friday) noon
says that owing TO the Boer cross fir,
and the inlpossib!S of entrench!n:
vaalkrantz, General Buffers force with
drew.
this dispatch. suggests that General Bul
lers has not yet actually recrossed tn
TuEela river.
LoNDcS, Feb. IA parliamentar.
paper issued this evening estimates tha
s65. GOO. coo additional will be required 70
the war expenses for the year endin:
March 31st.