The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-09
MUST ADVANCE
OR ELSE RETIRE
British Exposed to Fire on
Three Sides,
FIGHTING TUESDAY
Appears to Have Been Heaviest and
Large Loss is Expected.
THE POSITION AT VAALKRANTZ.
Is Key to the Lower Ridge But Scye-
raj Days More Of Hard Fighting
is Before Gcnl Bullcr-E'isht-
ing Supposed TO Have
Continued on We'd
nestiay.
THE POSITION AT VAALKRANTZ

LONDON, Feb. 9.-4 A. M-All the mes
sages from the observers with General
Butler throw phrase or two about
the strength OF the Boer positions
and the difficulties OF General Buffers
work" bur they do not carry even this
beyond Tuesday evening.
Their last slender narratives leave the
British advance on Eaalkrant2, in the
centre OF eemi-circle, where the troops
are exposed to the Boer artillery on
both sides and in the centre
The lighting continued until . o'clock
Tuesday evening, and. almost without
doubt, continued Wednesday, as the
Beers would certainly not leave the
wedge into their lines unmole~ ed.
1t is also inferred that General Butler
must either continue his advance or re-
tire.
The heaviest fighting appears to have
been on Tuesday General Buffers e333
casualties are mentioned as having oc-
Cured before Tuesday noon. Large lists
are consequently expected for the rest
OF the day. The casualties already re-
ported bring the total British losses
during the war to 1924 killed. wounded
and captured
The disposition here is rather to mini
nlize the importance of the fighting in
Natal and to suggest that this is only
an incident anyway placing hope upon
expected decisive engagements in north
ern Cape Colony and on the invasion of
the Free State by General Rot erts. At
all events this is the official view.
Tho public does not like these new
waits, and there is sharp anxiety for
further newS.
In Cape Colony General Macdonald has
had skrmish with Il thousand Beers at
Kuodebborgh. This was on Monday. The
Beers have been taking the offensive
against General French near -Rensburg,
as we'll as against General GItacre IN
the Stormsberg hills
Since the war has strained the resources
of the military system. Englishmen have
been troubled by the possibility that sea
fighting might show naval defects. which
would weaken the first line of defence in
which the country has placed such com-
pletc trust.
FOUND ENPRESSION-
This apprehension has suddenly found
expression. During the last two or three
days, in half the newspapers in England,
the Governments Intention, has been
specially directed to the muzzle-loadinS
guns. Even public men have been pain
fully surprised to learn that sixteen bat
tlcships and eight armored cruisers de-
pend upon muzze-loading guns This
means that smaller but faster ships with
modern guns would be able to stay cne
thousand or two thousand yards out of
range and to disable in leisureiy fashion
about one-third of the vessels which :p-
pear in the naval list as First class.
The Admiralty is understood to be pre-
pairing to remedy this defect and TO pro-
pose also considerable additions tnd: viii.
preserve the present ratio of Great Brit
aims naval strength to that of France
and Germany.
A supplementary army estimate to
March 81 was laid pro-forma before the
House of Commons yesterday. but was
not made public 1t is reported that the
call is for S1D0,O0O,0Qo, which would make
the cost of the war up to that date
$50. COO COO The maintenance of $50 men
at the front, it is estimated costs be-
tween S40OO0.O00 and $5000O,O00 per month.
SECOND DAY.
LONDON. Feb. a.-The Daily Telegraph
has received the following dispatch.
dated Tuesday, February 9Th, from
Spearman'S Camp:
..rhis is the second day of the battle.
and the fighting has been fiercer than
it was yesterday At dawn the Beers
began the action by shelling our bivouac
with their Long Tom and ponpon guns
from Doom kloof. Their siX-nch shells
fell near the spot where General Butler
and his staff were watching the engage
,nent. One shell burst amid a squadron
of the Thirteenth Hussars, but not q soul
was touched
Our guns from warts kop and on the
plain soon silenced the enemys artillery,
but repeatedly the Beers brought back
their guns, popped them into work over
the hills, fired few rounds, and then
again changed their position.
During the morning our gunners. sue
ceeded in blowing UP the enemys am
munition wagon upon Doom hloo1. zen
eral lLvttleton's brigade was shot at from
three sides, and had q warm time upon
Vaalkrantz.
desperate efforts were made by the
Beers TO recover the smoking hill. Dur
ham Light Infantry, the Royal Rifles and
the Scottish Rifles gallantly charged and
cleared the position. General tt1idyard' s
brigade relieved General Lyttleton's br1-
Gade toward sunset.
Fighting continued until nine SeVeral
prisoners have been taken They declare
that the Beers yesterday lost heavily. The
enemy suffered severely to-day. 1t is re-
ported that among their dead in the
trenches armed kafIirs were found.''
DURHAM, Feb. S.-A large force of
Beers attacked Nordweni, in ZuIuland,
DESTROYED the public buildings and took
numerous prisoners.
A force of volunteers, with artillery,
has been dispa tched there to support the
scouts and to oppose a further advance
by the Beers.
WrTHtERAW BIG GUNS.
LONDON, Feb "a dispatch to the
Morning Post from Ladysn1ith dated
Tuesday. February 9Th, says:
..I4ittle can be seen of General Buffers
action owing to the haze 1t appears
that the Beers have withdrawn their big
guns from the hills here southwark.
a large force of Beers still remains
and the garrison is prepared for a nigh
attack.
RENSBURG, Feb. S,-The Boer posi-
ton was vigorously shelled with lyddite
for. an hour early this morning eastward
from opposite Slingeriontein and west
ward from the top at Coles Kop, a fifteen
FOUNDER shrapnel gun paving special at