The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-18
ROBERTS RAPID MOVEMENTS.
UNCENSOREO COMMENT THAT HAS
REACHED LONDON.

brilliant work Done by the Com
mander-in-Chief in Getting Into
the Free State--OutIook Discusses
His Colonies at MOdder River.
Wanted Them to Charge ImpOs-
sible Positions.
Correspondence of the Associated Press)
London, March 10.-"Lord ROBBERS plan
has been magnificent. He seems TO have
solved all the knotty problems which puz-
zled other generals. He rendered the
mobility of the Beers useless; he has over
come the difficulty of transport he has
proved that the Beers can be outfauked
He has shown that secrets can be MAIN
tanned. He has used the resources of the
country in the shape of rivers for provd-
ing water. He has opened the eyes Of the
enemy to the fact that we can move when
away from'our railroad
This is the first uncensored comment
upon the active operations of Gen. Rob
erts that has been published in England.
II is contained in the Daily News CORE
spondence and is dated Jacobsda Feb. H.
He continues:
Tin the brief space of seven days Lord
Roberts has cleared British soil of the in
vaders and has occupied a portion of the
Free State larger than the Beers occupied
of the British territory.
'On Thursday Jacobsdal was occupied
by the Seventh. after some fighting,
wherein we had had two killed and twenty
wounded.
In the meanwhile the cavalry under
Gen. French left Drieput Thursday morn
ing and marched direct on Kimberley.
Bors were encountered four miles outside,
but they were already leaving. A sharp
fight took place, the Beers retired and
Kimberley was relieved. Every one that
night at Drieput was elated at our sue
cesses, but the full significance of all our
rapid movements was only realized the
following morning.
"At the break of day a great cloud of
dust was seen six miles from camp, NOV
ing in an easterly direction and extend
ing some eight miles in length. The Beers
were trekking."
Lord Methune's Troubles.
The Outlook publishes under the head
ing Lord Methuen and His Colonies; a
Case for Inquiry" what appears to be
the first authoritative statement of the in
ternal friction which occurred at Modder
river in the early part of the campaign
and was responsible for the frequently cir
culated rumor that Methuen was to be re-
called. The Outlook's correspondent
writes:
when the horses of the Ninth Lancers
were jaded and the men completely ex-
hausted after many hours fighting, Lord
Methuen expected them TO charge an alb
solutely impregnable position. Col Cough
sent a respectful refusal. Lord Me thuen
IN he haa of iS
and severely rebuked him. Col. Cough
again pointed the impossibi,ity of exc
cutting the order and Lord Methuen left
the regiment after uttering remarks which
made the ears of every man sting.
EARLY next morning Lord Me1huen sent
a note to Col. Cough to this effect: My
Dear Colonel: Please come over to my
quarters as quickly as YOU can. l wish
you TO spend the day with me-
Col. Cough answered: My dear Cen
eral: gu te see your meaning and as I
must decline to leave my reg men, please
let me know whether YOU wish to put me
under arrest or whe her you would prefer
that l should return to England
Lord Methuen replied indicating that
Cough had better return home.
col. Cough returned to England nomi-
nally on sick leave. He at once SOUGHT the
author ties at the war office and demand
ed a courtmartal. This was refused be-
Lord Methuen for the purpose of giving
evidence.
Another Instance.
Three days after his dispute with Col
Cough, Lord Methuen gave an order to
the Scots Guard which their commanding
officer, Col. Arthur Paget, declared ii was
impossible to execute. He absolutely re-
fused needlessiy to sacrifice his men In a
vain effort to take an impregnable kopje
However, he told Lord Methuen that he
would himself walk up to the position and
be shot. Lord Methuen declined to allow
this, but told him he might go back to
England. Col. Arthur Paget declined
point blank TO leave his men, except
upon the Instructions of Sir Redvers Bull
Ter, and he wrote to the latter to the same
effect Sir Redvers Butler is reported to
have written in reply that he hoped that
by the time his answer was received the
two old brother officers would have for
gotten their differences. There the mat
ter ended. and Col. Paget is still at the
head of his men,