The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-13
will llIY''!lAlDl|IE
THEFRI|'El: I'E.
This lis Said to be the Intention 81
Field-MarshaI Lord Roberts.
THE MODDER RIVER CAMPAIGN,
Now Holds the Centre OF the Stage
and is the Scene OF Ccaseless Ac-N.
tivity and I,edonblcd visi-
lancc-Both Preparing.

erts has gathered 80, 900 men, with whom,
according to the best military opinion in
Z London he purposes turning the left OF
the Magersfontein lines. near Jacobsdai,
entering the Free State, compelling Cen
eraI Cronje to raise the siege OF hImber-
ley, and thus making his first. step to-
ward Bloemfontein.
Yesterday Lord Roberts announced the
appointment of General Sir Henry Col
vile, hitherto commander of the Guards
Brigade, to the command of the Ninth
Division, which is being formed, and will
consist probably to a great extent, OF
colonial troops.
General Colville will be succeeded by
General Reginald Pole-Carew.
Lord Roberts tells the correspondents
that when he gets down to business they:
shall have ample opportunity to send
news. His chief press censor yesterday
issued new rules, and in future all writ
ten communications are to go unchecked.
Kimberley, twenty miles away from the
A1odder River position, Is in sore straits.
"Details of the December death rate show
that in population OF 1900 whites and
1909 blacle.- the mortality was 60 whites
and 13S blacks per thousand. The infantile
the whites, and 3l2 per thousand among
the blacks. Enteric fever was prevalent
BOMBARDMENT.
Meanwhile the bombardment by the
Beers has increased, and there is immi-
nent danger Of the town falling under the
very eyes of Lord Roberts. 1t is believed
in circles close to the War Office that he
will move at once
Scouts have approached within a thou
sand yards Of the Boer entertainments at
Nragersfontein. They have found these
strong and aScertained that they are
used as dwelling places Naval >gunners
are constantly watching the enemy's
lines with strong glasses, and they declare
that there is an appreciable illumination
in the Boer forces.
In Natal the Boer commands south OF
the Tugela occupy Bold's Farm and sew
eral mines west of Cheveley. Two thou
sand Beers. with three guns, are ad-
vancing through Zululand toward Natal.
WAITING ANNIOUsLY.
LONDON, Feb. 12.-Great Britain re-
mains waiting anxiously to learn which
side will succeed in striking hrst. The
widespread belief that the hands of Field
Marshal Lord Roberts and General Kitch-
ener are now firmly gripped at the helm,
contributes to a feeling of more conf
dence that whatever happens the c:m-
paign will now be H7aSed under care
fui, conservative plan, in which all the
forces will cooperate. Both sides seem
to be collecting themselves for attack.
1.-The left horn OF the Boer army Is creep
ing through Zuzuland and threatening
the British right, and at Chieveiey Cen
eral Joubert, with six thousand men, is
reported to be endeavoring TO attack
General Butler. Boer aggressiveness has
already developed, and has met with a
rcpulse at RensburS. while from wi,at
now becomes the most important point
in the campaign, the Modder River, comes
the news of ceaseless activity and redou-
Died Vigilance.
These reports create hopefulness in
Great Britain rather than anxiety, for
1.-THE impression exists that the Boer aS-
g1,esiveness will give the British troops
their long yeafned for opportunity and
tend greatly to assist the broad plan OF
campaign which LORD Roberts may short
" be expected to set in motion at the
Mcdder River.
meanwhile LadysnitHl must await the
exigences attendant upon the more i'm
portant mdlit5-y movements now on foot.
1T Is said positively that General Mac
Donald's withdrawal from koodooesberg
was ordered by General Methuen, under
LORD 6OnertS INSTRUCTORS.
AT LEAST $1,000 MEN.
LONDON, Feb. 12-In a notable speech
in the House of Commons to-day Parlia-
mentary Secretary Windham, of the War
Office, said the Government proposed to
have soon at least SIT 900 men, and posi-
bly, 100000. by expanding the existing
cavalry by seven regiments and offering
commissions to militia officers, the colo
MES and universities. The whole militia
was to be embodied and coast towns gar
risoned.
Lord Lansdowne explained similar plans
to the House Of Lords.
LONDON, Feb. 13.-The Peitermaritz-
burg correspondent of the Daily Mail,
telegra phing yesterday, says: "a dispatch
from Eshowe asserts that large COM
mando of Beers is encamped near Ngutu,
with eighty wagons and nine guns. 1t is
rumored that this force intends to be-
siege Eshowe, the intention probably be-
ing to fortify the Insult hills in order to
prevent the British traversing Zululand to
relieve Ladysmith. :"
KIMBERLEY, Friday, Feb. 9.-There
was heavy bombardment yesterday and
to-day The fire of the Boer big gun at
Kampersdam has been very trying.
CONDITIONS AT COLENSO.
LONDON, Jan. 3O.-Writing from Frere
on January 4th, the Times correspondent
thus describes conditions in the Colensc
localities: Since our retirement on the
night after the battle to a safer position
the force has been divided between
Chieveley and Frere-
General Hildyard's and General Bar
tons brigades Of infantry. with tne
mounted Infantry. the naval guns, anc
two field batteries. remained at Chieve.
ley; the rest marched through to Frere
It is on that part Of the force tina re-
NAMED at Chieveley that most of the
work Sof the last fortnight has fallen
The Beers, emboldened by their success
sent large raiding parties across the
Tugela, both to the east and west Of
Colenso. which on several occasions push
ed so far south that 1t was thought they
intended striking at our lines of com,
munication. IN reply strong patrols
We're sent out along the southern bank
occasionally going as far as Weenen tc
the east ard Springfield to the west
Almost every day they came in touch
with the Beers, but the tangible results
were very small. It Is in this kind Of
warfare that the Boer IS at his best.
NATURAL INSTINCT.
A natural instinct unknown in the Brit.
ish soldiers leads him always to move
through country where he can best CON.
bine his powers OF defence with his ex.
-traordinary mobility. Day after day