Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1900-01-18
EXPANDING BULLETS.
Distributed to British Troops, for Tar
get Practice only.

get Practice only.
| London, Jan. l3.-Lee- Metford cart.
ridges are running short in the British
magazines, and, according to semi
official report, the war office proposes
to fall back temporarily upon 100, 00U,-
600 "Mark "" expanding bullets,
most OF which are already in storage i'll
south Africa. The war office, however,
has issued strict order to the volun-
teers that the 80 rounds of MARK W.
given them must be used in practice
at home, none being taken to South
Africa.
After the public announcement that
no such bullet would be used in this
war, it's employment the Daily Chroni-
Gle thinks. would be serious breach
of faith. especially as the British COM
manders have complained that tho
Beers occasionally use such projecties.
The newspapers were reconciled dur
ing the early days OF the war to cable
censorship, taking it for granted that
full narratives sent by mail would sup.
ply all detic iencies. For some weeks,
however, even the mail CORES pondence
that has arrived in London has shown
signs of habitual scissoring by the cell
sor. Pages are renumerHted without
chronological or logical connection,
leaving the happenings described quite
unintelligible in many cases. The ed
itors, acting possibly in concert, are
laying these facts before the public, and
insisting that they be permitted to
know and print the facts.
The Daily Mail formally accuses the
war office of "doctoring" in the editing
of official dispatches before their issu.
ance, and cites particulars. The Daily
Chronicle AYERS that there seems to be
an official conspiracy against letting
the truth be known. Although the
number of deaths from dysentery and
enteric fever at Ladysmith has been
published by the war office, since Sat-
urday's fight nothing has been given
out regarding the losses in the engage
ments, The war office asserts that 1T
has nothing to give out.
Armchair critics, who, in the alb.
sence of reportorial or official dis
patches from the seat OF war. pour
forth pages Of conjecture and opinion,
conclude that too much is to be expect
ed from the British hosts in South
Africa until Lord Roberts shall have
plenty of time to think and fresh levies
shall have arrived. Time is working
now for the Beers. Each day makes
more difficult the three beleagured posi-.
tions.
Although the war office declines to
confirm the report that Lord Methuen
has been recalled to England, inquiries
made by correspondent at Methuen's
home, in Wiltshire, brave elected the
information that when he received his
wound his horse threw him heavily and
spinal and other injuries supervened.
The theory is now advanced that the
seizures of the German mail steamers
Herzog and General, since released,
were made on purposely misleading in
foramtion supplied to British agents,
the design being to embroil Great Brit.
ain and Germany in quarrel.
Impatience in England.
London, Jan. 49,. Even the an
nouncement of the arrival of Field
Marshal Lord Roberts and General
Lord Kitchener at Cape Town has
failed to stem the growing Impotence
of the country at the prolonged mac
tivity in the main British camps and
the entire absence OF news giving an
adequate insight into the local situa.
ton. The public and press being UNI
able to form any just Judgment as to
the actual position of affairs, stories
are rife that the inaction is forced on
General Butler owing to the exhaus.
ton of reserves of ammunition and
there are even wild rumors OF she'll
famine at home.
But not so much Importance need be
attached to these rumors. 1t is al.
most universally assumed that with
the landing OF Roberts aud Kitchener a
prompt return will be made to the
original plan of campaign, namely, a
great central advance on Bloemfontein,
but the most impatient OF enthusiasts
admit that Roberts will be unable to
move before the end of the month.
There was a rumOr current in the
clubs today that a battle was progress
ing at Tugela river, but nothing could
obtained in confederation Of the re-
ort.