The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-10

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day, says that Generals acDona,--.'s 2 I'd
.Bapingtons forces will return shorty.
and adds that initiative to the reconnois-5
ance emanated from headquarters.
IMPOSSIBLE STosADVANCE.
LONDON, Feb. e.-A dispatch dated
Frere Camp yesterday, probably written
within the advanced lines "Wednesday,
says:
..The forces of the enemy are on both
our thanks and continue to render our
position extremely difficult to maintain.
This makes it evident that General
Butler, utter devotiEg Wednesday to
bring more artillery ind troops across
the Tugela, was badly in need of rein
forcements. It is still more potent that
it is Impossible for him to advance un-
til the artillery has been enabled to tnke
up forward positions for the purpose
of subduing the Boer guns on both
fanks.
Upon the length of time occupied in
this operation depends the duration of
General BulleI's maintenance of the de-
fenSive.
Almost all the critics now point that
the mere pushing through 10 Lndysmith
without securing a decisive victory on
the way there would only add danger
to what is already a critical situation.
Another Frere Camp dispatch snys a
Boer prisoner asserts that the BCrghers
expected General Butler to cross at
Skiot's Drift and that thousands of Beers
were being posted at Dornkoof to op-
pose such a passage, while on the
captured hill there were only a few
hundred Jonannesburghers. This tends
to increase the anxiety of those who
believe that General Butler hns scarcely
begun the serious part of his advance,
though encouragement is cleaned from
the news that the heuyy naval guns
after repeated attempts during which
the mules rolled down the hill have sue
cecded in reaching the summit OF Swartz
Nop. whence they are doing excellent
practice.
ONLY A soRTIE.
General Hector NIacDonald's retirement
from Koodooesberg has created disap-
pointment. but the operation was ap-
parent!y only intended as 2, sortie and
its success or failure could scarcely have
resulted in any material effect on the
campaign.
Military attaches will leave tomorrow
Their destination is not given .out, but
presumably they will join General Roberts,
whose whereabouts have not yet been
made public.
1t was said to-day that one of the first
steps to increase the home army would
be the raising of thfrty-seven new horse
and field batteries with barracks on Sails
bury Plain, and the addition of third
battaliOnS TO numerous regiments, which
are at present without them.
Up to GAO this evening the War De-
partment had evidently heard nothing of
General Buffers retreat as described in
the dispatches from the Boer Head
Laager, Ladysmith, February 6th. When
shown the Boer dispatch, the officials ap-
peared utterly duTbfounded. Apparent
ly, they had not the least suspicion of
the possibility Of such an outcome of the
opera tons
While nothing has been given to the
public, the War Office has had reports
from General Butler on the situation for,
at least, the earlier days of the week.
EXCEEDINGLY BITTER.
It is said on reliable authority that
General Buffers dispatch announcing
Mondays and Tuesdays movements was
particularly hopeful. He described the
position gained as effective, SO the news
Of another retirement is exceedingly bit
ter to the British, and, though it comes
from Boer sources, there is little .dispo-
sition to discredit it.
A War Office dispatch from Lord
Roberts, dated Thursday. February Sth
confirms reports that General Gatacre
has repulsed the Beers at Pen Hoek and
Birds river. and that the security OF
both outposts IS established.
In regard to General MacDonald's ope-
rations, Lord Roberts does not mention
the formers retirement to the A1odder
River. He says:
macdonald was dispatched to prevent
the Beers blocking the main drift al
KoodooeSberg, and successfully establish
ed himself at I<oodooesberS, in spite OF
the determined efforts of the Beers tt
dis!odge him. At MacDonald's request
Darlington was sent with reinforcements
Wednesday, February 1th. Babingtor
threatened the Beers north of Koodooes-
berg north while another force drove of
the Beers southwark
The dispatch concludes with the state
ment:
.The enemy have now evacuated theil
position land none is in sight
DETERMINED ATTEMPT.
KOODOOESBERGs DRIFT. Feb. S.-Tte
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