The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-02-13


ter tho hattie 70 q safer position. the
force has been divided between chieve-
ley ana Frere. General Hildyard's and
Genera Barton's brigades Of infantry
With tine mounted infantry, the naval
guns ana two field batteries, remained
at chtepelcy-; the rest marched through
% Frefe. II is on that part Of the force
that remained At ChleVeles that most
Of the work Of tho Inst fortnight HAS
fallen. The Beers emboIdpned by their
succeSs, sent large taidlng parties
across the 1'nsela, both TO the east and
west 81 ocoiens6. which, on several oc-
casionk pushed 50 far south that 1t was
thought they intended striking at our
iInes Of communication. In reply,
strong patrols were sent ous along the
southern bank. occasionally going IS Ear
as Weenen To the east and Springfield
to the west Almost every day they
came in touch with the Boers. but the
tangible results were very small. II Is
in this kind Of warfare that the Boer Is
at his best A natural instinct, UNI
known in The British soldiers, leads him
always to move through country where
he can best combine his powers Of de-
fense with his extraordinary mobility.
Day after day patrols:returned with the
same Disappointing newR A few shots
exchanged at long range without any
damage done. and then the Beers either
retreated out Of reach or attempted to
draw our men under FIRE, their own sup
ports occupying. position far too
strong for. our men to risk an engage
ment. Then the following day a strong
Or force would be sert out with per-
haps couple Of guns. but only to lind
no Boerb In the neighbothood, and
would return again with tired horses.
our mounted men did we'll especially
the trregulsrs, who from their knowl,
edge. of the country ana the habits Of
the enemy. and also because their coll
onlai PONIES are far better suited to this
kind Of work than English horses could
more nearl: meet the Boers on their
own terms than was posslblS In the
case of English cavalry. Aistriklng ex-
ample OF this occurred on. the afternoon
OF December co. when a strong party Of
Beers stalked cessack post consisting
Of seven iHussGrs who were stationed
some way outside the line Of the pick
cls. Creeping up unnotlced, they cut
them on from their horses. all Of which
were shot, and then killed two Of the
Hvssara as The latter retired. The fol-
loving AFTERNOON The same post was
held by live Natal carbineers, and the
Beers tried to repeat their success. The
CiLrblneers. however; had seen them, and
holding their IRE till the Beers came
within easy range killed three and
wounded several more. There IL no
doubt thar lack Of discipline is ar ad.
vantage TO the Beers in this kind of
Diminishing. First. 1t makes them
more mobile. The moment that news
Is; brought that men are wanted at
certain point each man saddles his own
pony and goes straight there as fast as
his pony will carry him.
No Waiting for Orders.
There is no waiting to start till the
last man is ready, no waiting till the
and advance in column, which, through
ia rpadless country, is a source Of con-
Sstant small delays. Each man goes for
himself, and when he reaches the point
where he Is wanted, uses his own pecul-
iarly instructive knowledge in taking up
his position. Then, again, when i'd
vancing each man acts as II he were his
own scout, with the result that it is al
most an imposSibllity do draw a body
Of them into an ambush.
Despite their activity. however, the
condition Of the Beers does not seem to
be very prosperous. The week after the
battle 100 KafirB. who had been work.
ing for the Beers, deserted to US, many
OF them being in a starving condition.
They said the Boer loss had been heavy,
almost entirely owing to the effect Of
the lyddite in the trenches. The follow
ing week some more Raflrs came in,
telling the same story. on January 3,
twelve Beer deserters came In. All this
points to the fact that the long waiting
here is telling heavily on the Beers.
Where Mistakes Were Made.
The Daily News correspondent at
Cape Town. reviewing the campaign up
to January s, declared that "our leader
ship has Ngnaily failed in detail. At
Graapan, II time had been given suf-
ilciently strong and fresh force Of cav
airy could have been got up-thrty
hours would have done ito cut of the
snemy's retreat; another regiment Of
cavalry and another battery, and we
might have netisd the entire CONF
mando defending Graspan. At Mayors.
fonttIn twenty-four hours delay would
haze given US the b9l.oon and a pre-
ilmlnary examination Of the Boer posi-
ton and bye saved US the Highland
brigade. At s.ormbcrg the rules which
guide suba:tern playing soldier ut
Al6Crrhot may be set aside by general
who has On empire for q stake. cUien-
so seemE but to repeat the universal
laundering"
Cape Politics,
The political outlook in Cape Colony
comes in for a good deal Of attention.
The Cape Town correspondent Of the
Daily Telegraph declares that some
curious and foreseen results will fol-
lon, sht. erS,roJ0,, In thn v,ntI1tcu ~