Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1900-02-14
|ONLY A RECONNAISSANCE.
London Takes Comfort in the Report
That Butler Did Not Intend Push
ing on to Ladysmith.
WAS RESPONDING TO ROBERTS ORDER
The Field Marshal Had Commanded Sys-
tematic Activity ON the Part of All the
Forces-Methuen May Attempt an Early
Move on KimberIey-Great Britsin's
Latest Estimate for War Purposes.

London, Feb. 11.-Gen. Butler is
once more south of the Tugela river;
Gen. Macdonald is back at the Mod
der river, and apparently the Beers
have lost none of the ascendancy
they have held SO long. Yet the news
by no means causes the acute disap-
pointment attendant upon the other
failures to relieve Ladysmith. This
can be attributed to three causes
First, there is a strong belief that
Gen. Buffers last attempt was only
demonstration on a large scale;
second, the wiser critics had warned
the public not to expect the immedi-
ate relief of Gen. White; third, the
nation has settled down to the reali-
zation that the war will last a long
time, and they are not swayed as at
first by minor reverses and victories
The second and third reasons are
self-eXplaining. The first requires
considerable elucidation. In favor of
the opinion held by Spencer Wilke-
son, the military critic of the Morn
ing Post, that Gen. Butler did not in
tend Immediately pushing on to La
dysmith, there is overwhelming evil
dence to show that Field Marshal
Lord Roberts ordered systematic ac-
tivity on the part of all the forces.
On this basis, Gen. Buffers move may
only be a repetition of Gen. MacDon-
AIDS and Gen. French's reconnois-
sances.
The latest news from the Modder
river shows that MacDonald's retire
ment from KooIoesberg was effected
in complete order. The most reason
able explanation of his movement is
that it was undertaken more to re-
store confidence of the Highland
brigade, still nervous from their ter
rible experience at Magersfontein,
than to gain any important object
i've.
With this important unit Gen. Me-
thuen's force is rehabilitated for a
vigorous attack on Gen. Cronie and
an attempt to relieve Kimberley may
be looked for, more than likely su
perintended by Lord Roberts, while
the seventh division and part of Cen.
French's cavalry are occupied in a
turning movement east of Jacobsdal.
Latest Army Ultimate.
London, Feb. 1.-THE supplement-
ary army estimate shows that in
consequence of the war the amount
now wanted is e13,O0O,0O0 (S65.OO0,
00O), and the number of additional
men to be provided for 100000. The
| original estimate for men for the
year was 1S4,S53. In October last 35.-
600 more were voted and 10000 are
now provided for. This makes the
| total 339,S53. Owing to the fact that
| the labor market is generally good
and volunteers for service in South
| Africa are growing scarce, the war Of
flee has issued an order reducing the
| standard of height. 1t is a case of
either lowering the height, start in
creasing pay or drafting.
Irish Soldiers Desert.
London, Feb. 11.-When the South
military battalion of Royal Irish ri
fles paraded in Sheffield, 176 men out
of the Ala intimated that they were
| not willing to go to the front. A
week ago practically every man in the
battalion volunteered. No definite
reason foc' the change is assigned.
| Special Cabinet Council.
| London, Feb. 11.-An extra cabinet
council was held Saturday afternoon.
| The council lasted over two hours
| Several members of the defense COM
mittees were present and Lord Sails
bury presided.