The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-01-07

Ms little as possible of such things. put
/ ting them from rs with the light com
| ment that they happen daily elsewhere
| than in besieged towns and making the
| best we can of Il melancholy situation.
AN INVISIBLE ENEMY.
or the hard fight at Modder River. the
Globe correspondent says:
"On the plain were numerous white
| crosses which we subsequently, discov-
! cred were marked ranges set out by the
Beers previously. The fighting line on
both sides extended quite six miles. and
there was an incessant fusilade and cam
nonade for twelve solid hours. The
Beers were never seen by us; none of the
officers and men to whom / have spoken
since saw Boer. 1t is certainly mar
vellous how they always manage to hide
themselves.
The heat yesterday was terrific; no
wind, hot blazing sun all day. We
were all done and literally parched; our
only refreshment during the twelve hours
was water heated by the sun in our water
bottles"
OF THE same battle the Daily News
correspondent writes:
A SOLDIERS BATTLE.
''I'he historian who writes truthful
story of the battle of Modder River
will have Il strange story 10 tell, If all
one hears is gospel. Stories of guides
who reported Modder River to be held
by 600 Beers; of a regiment sent to
clear them out and finding 1000; Of
regiments thanking the enemy'S position
and within few hundred yards of his
guns having to retire because they were
shelled by their own artillery MOdder
River was an Alma. 1t was soldiers
fight. Grit. doggedneSs and pride of caste
made us masters of the trenches. For
sixteen hours the battle ragged. For
sixteen hours on plain as bare of
cover as the dome of St Pauls, the
infantry advanced by short rushes i'll the
SWeltering heat, to shoot and get shot.
For sixteen hours the artillery, innocent
of that shelter which tacticians in books
lay down as absolutely necessary.
pounded away at their invisible foe. The
wounded fell out and were i'll most cases
left, for the stretcher bearers did not
dare to enter the zone OF fire. Each
wounded man was made n mark for the
enemy's ritlemen. The wounded men
were useful for the Boers-they took
sighting shots at them. and got the range
perfectly"
Among the many criticisms of British
artillery none has attracted more atten-
ton than that written ON November 10Th
at Ladysmith by The Standards war
correspondent. Summing up, he says:
lBRIT1SH ARTILLERY POOR
The disadvantages under which we
have labored have been demonstrated re-
peatedly. At Elandslaagte two officers
and two men of the First field battery
were wounded at Il range beyond that at
which they could fire shrapne. Except
in reconnaissance our field guns are
useless as long oS the siege lasts. The
Boer shrapnel is fused for 5000 yards,
whereas our fuse ceases to be effective
ut 400 yards.
The meaning of this will be clear
when | say that for ,1O0 yards, or near
~ three-quarters of a mile. our artillery
are exposed to the fire of a practically
invisible enemy without being able to
fire a really effective shot III self-defense.
Already we have discovered that with
the aid of smokeless powder and long
ranges the enemy may be invisible and
that when he is raining shot and shell
upon us. and that days may pass without
disclosing the poSition of some of his
guns and Howitzers. The Boer has an
other advantage if not i'll his Mauser
ritle-which many experts in our army
now declare TO be more accurate and
trustworthy than the Lee-Metford-at
any rate i'll the possession of field
glasses. There is scarcely man in
their ranks who has not q powerful
binocular. by the aid of which he is able
to make good shooting at extraordinary
distance"
Cape Town, Jan. Ga dispatch from
Hersche, Cape Colony. reports that
Lady Grey has been deserted by the
Beers. whose families who will go to the
Orange Free State
The Beers, according to this dispatch.
are constructing entertainments between
Lady Grey and Barley West.
Is FRENCH IN COLESBERG.
London. Jan. "a special dispatch
from Cape Town. today, says it is ru
mored there that General French has en-
tered Colesberg
METHUEN BUILDS A RAILROAD.
London, Jan. 6.-According to special
dispatch from Cape Town General
Methuen is building a railroad around
the Beers position at Magersfontein.
FOREIGN OFFICE, ACTIVE
London Jan 6.-Lold Salisbury came
to London from Hatfield house at noon
today. somewhat contrary to his custom.
and proceeded direct to the Foreign
Office where he spent the greater part
of the afternoon. Not only Lord Sails
bury, but the entire department mani
Tested extraordinary signs of activity.
The Attorney General, Sir Richard Web
ster, was summoned from the country
and the Solicitor General, Sir X. +.
Finley. was also III attendance. The
Portuguese Minister, Senior De Several.
called at the Foreign Office during the
While no announcement was made re-
garding the subject Of the meeting, it
was understood that the subjects dis
cussed included the international law
points raised by the stOppage of German
steamers on their way to Delagoa Bay
and the supply of American provisions
TO the Beers.
He FOOLED THE SURGEONS.
All doctors told Renick Hamilton, OF
West Jefferson, o., after suffering Is
months from Rectal Fistula, he wolll3