The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-13

NAL ponies are far better suited to this
kind of work than English horses, could
more nearly meet the Beers on their OWL
terms than was possible In the case OF.
English cavalry A striking example OF
F this occurred on the afternoon of Decem-
Der Goth, when strong party of Beers
sstalked Cossack post, consisting Of
seven Hussars, who were stationed some
way outside the line of the pickets.
Creeping up unnoticed, they cut them Off
from their horses, all of which were shot,
and then killed two of &,the Hussars as
the latter retired.
ROERs WoRsTED.
Following afternoon the same post was
held by five Natal carbineers. and the
Boers tried tto4repeat their success. The
carbineers. however, had seen them, and
holding their fire till the Beers came
within easy range, killed three and
wounded several more. There is no doubt
that lack of discipline is an advantage to
the Beers in this kind of s1irmishing.
Despite their activity however, the
condition of the Beers does not seem 10
be very prosperous. The week after the
battle 120 kaffirs-men, women, ana cIil-
dren-who had been working for the
Beers deserted and came over to US,
many Of them being in a starving con-
dition. They complained OF getting
neither food nor money, and, above all,
of the loud lamentations of the Boer Wo-
men in camp for their husbands and re-
la atoms who had been killed in battle.
All Kaffirs have a surerstltious horror
of illness or mourning in any form. They
said the Boer loss had been heavy, al
most entirely owing to the effect OF the
lyddite in the trenches.
The following week some more hafhrs-
came in telling the same story On jan
uary Sd twelve Boer deserters came in.
They; too complained of food and i'll
usage, and said that the Beers were
short of both food and forage. All this
points to the fact that the long waiting
here is telling heavily on the Boers. Many
of them are without tents-a serious nara
ship now that the heavy rains are begin
nine-and the supply Of rations to q con-
stantly- force must be exceedingly
difficult.
vAALKRAlNTz IN1PRACTIcABLE
LONDON. Feb. 12-:12 p. M-The War
ONCE has received the following dispatch
from Field Marshal Lord Roberts, dated
from the Modder River, Sunday. Feb
ruary 11th:
II have received a telegram from Bull
Ter as follows, dated Friday, February
9th:
LIT was necessary. after Selling Wall
krantz to entrench it as the pivot OF fur-
ther operations. But found after trying
two Gays that, owing to the nature of the
ground, that this was impracticable. 1t
was also exposed to the fire of heavy
guns In position from which our artillery
was dominated. 1t is essential to troops
advancing on .,Ladysmith by Harding or
Nongers Drift to hold Vaalkrantz Sc
curely. and accordingly we are not press
Ing the advance by those roads, as find
we cannot make it secure.
DENIED THE STATEMENT.
LONDON, Feb. 12.-In the House of
Commons this day, Mr.. A. J. :Balfour,
lab'st Lord Of the Treasury and Govern
rent leader, denied the statement recent
~ published that Sir Edmund ]. Mon
SON. the British Ambassador to France,
ha; been temporarily ordered to with
draw from Psris, owing to the offensive
attitude of the French press with r.sa.l
to the war in South Africa.
ROBERTS AT NlODDER RIVER
LONDON, Feb. Fin the House of
Lords to-day. replying to question as to
whether Major-General Sir Frederick
Darlington was destined for a command
in South Africa and whether General
Methuen was still in command at the
Modder River, Lord Lansdowne, tho Sec
rotary of State for War. answered that
portion of the query referring to General
Darlington in the Affirmative, and added:
!. General Roberts is now at the Modder
River. and in command of the whole
forces there"