Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-02-10
(By Telegraph 10 virginlan-Pilot.)

(By Telegraph 10 Virginian- Pilot.)
London, Feb. 10.-4:20 a. m.-London
accepts as true the Boer statement that
statements were passed by the British
censor at Alden and are read in the
light OF Mr.. Balfours announcement in
I. the Commons that General Butler is
not pressing his advance.
Mir. Winston Churchill wires that
Naal Krantz was impraetieable for the
guns which were needed to support a
General Butler Tuesday night sending
fresh brigade to relieve the tired
hoidcs OF Vaal Krantz.
The descriptive writer's with Cen
cral Buller were allowed q rather free
hand again in explaining the ugly po-
sition which the British held and the
natural obstacles which had to be over
come. So 1t is easy to infer that with
Boer rifilemen and artillery defending
them, these hills, ravlnes and jungles
have not been overcome, and thus the
public is prepared in advance for bad
news.
MINE PREMATURELY EXPLODES
Kilograms from Ladysmith, dated
Monday describe the. effect General
Buffers connonade had on the worn
garrison. Hope ran high that the long
period OF inactivity and tedium was
drawing to a close The crash of guns
was almost continuous for ten hours,
and at times 1t seemed as If as many
as twenty shells burst in a minute.
The Beers, preparing always for the
possibility OF defeat, were driving
herds and sending long wagon trains
toward Drakenberg passes. Intense
darkness and silence followed, broken
by frogs croaking and the occasional
blaze of star shells, surrounding the
town with a circle of light to prevent
the unobserved approach OF the enemy.
\ series OF British mines, laid for the
Beers. exploded accidentally, shaking
and alarming the city and camp.
MACDONALD PUZZLES COMMENT
ORS.
General MacDonald's retirement puz-
zles the military commentors.
The theory that finds acceptance Is
that it was ordered by Lord Roberts,
and that both General Buffers and
General MacDonald's operations were
by the direction Of the COMMANDMENTS
chief in order to occupy the Beers at
widely separated points, so they would
he unable TO transfer any portion Of
their forces to oppose the projected cen
trail advance.
WILL FORCE ORANGE RIVER.
Mr.. Charles Williams, military
writer. who is understood to be in con-
1dential relations with Lord Wolseley.
says that beyond doubt the most au-
thortative opinion in London regards
it as probable that an endeavor will be
made to force the line of the Orange
river before Wednesday next, possibly
by Monday.
Mr.. Henry w. Lucy Says that the
health of Sir Alfred Nilner, Governor
of Cane Colony. is suffering from the
prolonged strain, and his friends fear
he will break down.
SITUATION OF MAFEKING.
Lord Salisburys son. Lord Edward
Cecil is responsible for Mafeking be-
Ing so we'll provisioned At the out
break of the war he learned the
amount of army stores about to be sent
TO Mafeking. and on his own initia-
tive pledged his private means and had
the stores quadrupled. He is now in
Mafeking and one of it's boldest de-
tenders.
a dispatch 10 the Times from Kood-
oosburg, dated Thursday, February s,
says:
1T is reported that Boer reinforce
ments are arriving from Afagersfon-
tein. Our position is easily tenable,
but the entie force has been ordered
to return to Modder River to-mor-
row.
AT KIMBERLEY.
The Times has the following from
Kimberley. dated February 8:
The Boer big guns shelled us all day
. yesterday, but nobody was killed."
The correspondent OF the Times at
Lourenzo Marques. under date Of Feb
ruaryiS, says:
Recent visitors to Inhambane re-
port that the Portuguese customs au-
thorities there seized q quantity of
arms and ammunition consigned under
n false description"
BRITISH PREPARATIONS.
The First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr..
George J. Goschen. IS preparing esti-
mates for a large increase in the navy.
IL IS thought not improbable that Par
lament will be asked for 6 90, 600, 900 for
new ships
: The War Office has reduced the mini
mum standard of height again~this
time 20 five feet three inches for In