The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-16
A MILITARY SCHEME E
Adopted by House Of Commons by
Vote Of 239 to "a.
FEELING OF QUIET CONFIDENCE.
Lord Roberts Plan of Operations
Gives Intense Satisfaction i'll Eng
land Boers Reported to be
Dammins Kip River, the
Source Of Ladysmith's
Water Supply.

.
LONDON, Feb. l6.-l:3O A, Mas the
wires are closed to correspondent with
Lord Roberts, and as nothing further
from him has been communicated to the
public, the military adopts spend their
time in studying maps, topography, ana
figuring out the possibilities of Lord
Roberts communications and what there
is left. for the Beers TO do.
General Comics communications with
Bloemfontein have already been cut: Ihe
best news England could hear would
be that he elects to give battle among
the low hills and ridges west OF kimber-
ley. Should he determine not to do this
he must raise the seige of Kimberley ana
retreat 10 point where he would prefer
to fight.
This retirement could be a Ions detour
along the head of the British advance
to Bloemfontein, or as seems to mlhtary
students more practical, he could Will
draw to the north, using the railroad
for his guns and heavy baggage. moving
to Fourteen Streams Station, and thence
into Transvaal territory. The Beers
have made no preparation to defend
Bloemfonten, and there is no particular
reason why General Cronje should risk
a battle to protect the capital of the
Free State.
OPERATIONS ELSEWHERE.
Operations elsewhere are apparently sus-
pended A correspondent, writing from
Chieveley, February 18th, says:
I'VE are still hopeful of relieving Lady
smith,"
Colonel Baden-Powell. in dispatch
from Mafelling, dated January 18th, after
mentioning matters already sent out pE
correspondents, gives his total casualties
up to January 18th as: Killed, officers
and 60 men; wounded, o1ncers anu 10
men; missing, "a men.
No word has been received regarding
General Gatacre's l2,0oo men at Storm
berg. The impression is that these
forces are on the way to Lord Roberts
Mr. Chamberlains announcement in
the House of Commons of the intention
Of the government to encourage inc
zZulus to defend themselves from the
Beers is a contingency the Beers seem
to have anticipated, as they have bien
doing everything in their power to win
the good will of the Basutos, who have
thousands of good rifles. THIS Beers gave
1000 Basutos safe conduct. II the
British let loose one tribe. the Beers
will probably let loose another.
The War Office has issued orders for
the formation of twenty-one new bat
teries and three tattalions of infantry.
The Cabinet Council was in session
yesterday for two hours. 1t vii! meet
again to-day. This is quite unusual.
LONDON. Feb. 16.-The Cape Town
correspondent of the Daily Chronicle.
telegraphing Wednesday. says:
'It is reported here that the British
have evacuated ,Rcnsburg and retired at
Arundal."
LONDON. Feb. 1G.-The Daily Mail has
the following from Lorenzo Marques,
dated Wednesday:
"a prominent Pretoria citizen Just
from Ladysnit!l informs me that the
Beers are rapidly damming I<lip river.
Two thousand Kaftirs are employed in
the work, and they have deposited 10000
sand bags already. They are only able
to work at night, as they would be un-
der British fire.
'"rhis citizen, however, believes that
the operation will be futile"
ROER HEAD LAAGBR. LADYSAIITH,
Feb. l2.-Since Friday everything has
been quiet The English with their
cannon. have moved towards Chieveley.
They found the Boer position unassaila-
Bile on the Upper Tugela-
, BOER LAAGBR NEAR I4ADYSNIITII,
Tuesday, Feb 13.-Yesterday General
Botha. with small force, crossed the
Tusela TO a deserted British camp, where
he encountered fifty Llncers, Of whom
thirteen were killed. five wounded, and
nine taken prisonrs.
One of the prisoners was sent to tell
the British TO fetch their wounded.
MILITARY SCHEME ADOPTED.
LONDON, Feb 15.-The House of Com
mons this evening adopted the govern,
ments military scheme by vote of 23s
1s ~ ,,s} cictf tfrcr
of Irish members.
In the House of Lords the Earl Of Dun
raven raised a question on the govern
ment military proposals. and expressed a
doubt as to whether these were suttl-
cient.
The Earl Of Rosabcry said he fully rec
ognized the gravity of the ton. and
agreed with the previous speaker IN
thinking that the measures adopted were
inadequate in the circumstance. i5e
also doubted whether the '-,aoer -force
Of 100000 men In Great Britain.'*to which
the Secretary OF State for war had re-
ferred. would stand analysis.
THE crisis in South Africa Is urgent >
continued Lord Rosebery. 1.-The govern
ment made urgent overtures to Germany
and the United States for an alliance,
but those overtures were not received
Cordially II does not appear that the
friendship of France would bear any
great strain. and, as to 5Russia, events
have recentl:, been witnessed In Persia
about which Great Britain formerly would
nave had something to say, but now she
passes unnoticed. It becomes the gov:
ernn!ant to take large grasp Of the
situation and to make adequate Dronos
ais. q
The Earl of Kimberley. :l-e Lgbe-a
| leader, said he felt the danger of tn
! situation equally with Lord Rasehe-v.
The Marquis of Salisbury, thu premier
in the course Of his reply for the gov
ernment. said:
Il cannot enter upon the springs tha
| guide the Russ an government or ttt
course it is likely 10 take, mr. can S
discuss the health Of the Asneer 0
lSAfghanistan TIE. pre- tsnt troubles az
not due to the expansion Of the Empire
but to mis- a!cuea tons made IN 1881 an
1854. Our forecathe1s were not ddzcour
aged by bad beginning. and we should yfo'