The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-02-13
EARLY AFRICAN WAR NEWS
BULLER EXPLAINS HIS RETREdT
 FRO1L TAAL KRANTz.

Unable to Intrench It us a Basis for
 Further Operations-Decisi Not to
 Press the Advance by This Route
 London, Feb. 12-4:12 p. m.-The war office has received the following dis patch from Field Marshal Lord Roberts dated from the Modder river, Sunday February Il:
 T have received telegram from Bull Ter as follows, dated Friday, Febru- ary 9:
 Tt was necessary after seizing Vaal Krantz to intrench it as the pivot of further operations. But found after trying two days that, owing to the na- ture of the ground, this was impracti- cable. It was also exposed to the fire of heavy guns in positions from which our artillery was dominated. It is essential to troops advancing on Ladysmith by Harding or Mongers Drift to hold Vaal Krantz securely, and accordingly we are not pressing the advance to these roads, as I find we cannot make it se- cure '"
 The public feeling here is much more confident than at the opening of last week in consequence of the widespread belief that the hands of Field Marshal Lord Roberts and General Kitchener are now firmly gripped at the helm and that, whatever happens, the campaign will now be waged under careful com prehensive plans, in which al the forces will cooperate.
 Both sides seem to be collecting themselves for attack. The left horn of the Boer army is creeping through Zu- Inland and threatening the British right and at Cheveley General Joubert,e with 5000 men, is reported to be endeavoring to attack General Butler.
 Boer aggressiveness has already de- veloped, and has been repulsed at Rens- burg, while from what now becomes the most. important point of the campaign, the Modder river, comes the news of ceaseless activity and redoubled vigil lance.
 These reports create hopefulness in Great Britain rather than anxiety for the impression exists that the Boer ag- gressiveness will give the British troops their long -yearned-for opportunity and tend greatly to assist the broad plan of campaign which Lord Roberts may soon be expected to set in motion at the Mod der river. In the meanwhile Ladysmith must await the exigencies attendant up- on the more important military move ments now on foot. It is said positively that General Macdonald's withdrawal from Koodoosberg was ordered by Gen. eral Lord Methuen under Lord Roberts instructions.
 Frank Harris, former editor of the Saturday Review, in a pamphlet pub 1ished to-day, reiterates the view which the St. James Gazette has been insist l ing on, that Equality and not quantity is what England needs to beat the Boers," and that England always fails to learn by experience" MT. Harris | adds
 ''The battle of Saratoga should have I taught every Englishman the true the ory of war, There the American militia | not only defeated the English troops, | but forced them to an ignominious sur l render, and, mark it, those same Eng | fish troops were the best soldiers of their | time. Or take a still clearer case. Well l lington's veterans were beaten at New | Orleans by half their number of raw | militia, but even New Orleans taught | the English nothing. The British, in | their turn, play savages to the Boers, l and advance across the open to be swept | away by rifle fire. They don't seem to | see that their bravery is just as useless l and just as stupid as the bravery of the | Hadendowa Arabs. If you will read the | history of the American navy you will | find that in the war of 1912 her ships | beat yours wherever they met them, | simply because the Americans had | sights on their cannon and your sailors | had none. In 1874 some of the cannon | of the American ships were already ri- | fled and their balls went through the | English ships as a knife goes through | cheese. Get up your corps of marksmen now! Give them telescopic sights and the best rifles. Train them as sharp shooters, not as pugiists, and you will beat the Boers yet, and not otherwise"