Barry Herald

I* WAH IN SOUTH AFtflCA. BULLER'S FORCE SAVED BY A BALLOONIST. ALMOST ENTRAPPED. LORD ROBERTS AT MODDER RIVES. MACDONALD'S RECONNAISSANCE. FIGHTING AT RENSBURG. ROBERTS AND THE PRESIDENTS. THE LOOTING PROTESTS. KIMBERLEY EATING HORSEFLESH. OFFICIAL DESPATCHES. The following telegrams from the General at Cape Town have been received at the War Office CAPE TOWN, February 11, 8.30 a.m. Kekewich reports February 8 that a native statei he accompanied the Boers who have left Mafeking and come down to Kimberley, bringing with them a a 6in. gun and quick-firing field guns. A 6ih. gun opened fire on Kimberley February 7, otherwise situation unchanged. 12.2 p.m. Clements reports from Rensburg that or February 9 the Boers tried to turn right Hani but they were beaten off and position was maintained. Casualties were small. Kimberley reports thai fighting force has apparently increased and that Oil February 7 the Boers commenced construction ol trenches to the east and nearly parallel to (?) glacit 4000 yards from Premier Mine. GENERAL MACDONALD'S RECONNAISSANCE The retirement from our position on the Moddei was carried out (says the special correspon- dent) on the 8th and 9th inst. after a desultory skirmish in perfect order, and after the intention of the reconnaissance had been effected. Nine bodies of Boers were found on the kopje, and it it estimated that considerable loss was also caused among the Boers who were driven from Painter'a Drift, The need is emphasised of mules for <arrying water tip kopjes, water-carts needing too large a proportion of fighting men to be detached. Intentionally, the whole expedition north and east of the drift was carried out by cavalry and horse artillery. The Boers have evacuated the neigh- bourhood but hold a piece of narrow rising ground, stretching north-east of Camels Hoek. They can easily be reinforced from Megersfontein. Our with- drawal was effected in a workmanlike manner. General Macdonald especially praised the recon- noitring work of the 9th Lancers round Koodoes- berg; the information they obtained was sound and extensive. LORD ROBERTS AT MODDER RIVER. Lord Roberts arrived at Modder River on the 9th inst., and was enthusiastically cheered by the men. Early on the morning of the 10th he visited the camp of the Highland Brigade, which returned here last night, and congratulated General MacDonald and the brigade upon their steady conduct during the operations at Koodoesberg Drift. It may safely be said that the Boer losses in the fighting at Koodoesbenr outnumber ours considerably. Twelve dead were found whom the enemy had left in the hurry of their retreat, and it is known that other* were buried. Early on the morning of the 10th inst. our naval gUllS shelied the enemj's position. It appears that the Boers brought all their heavy guns from Mafeking for the purpose of Bhelling Kimberley. The strange silence of the Boer guns at Magersfontein Ridge leads to the supposition that they had retired their guns altogether, and the fact that they havo most thoroughly blewn up the railway permanent, way beyond Merton siding is re- garded as evidence that the enemy prefer to destroy rather than to defend the line. Although the Boeri still man the trenches at Magersfontein, they are apparently present there in reduced numbers, the bulk of their force having either gone to Kimberley mr towards the flank. THE SIEGE OF KIMBERLEY. The Boers at intervals have latterly fired shells into various parts of the town of Kimberley. One exploded inside the water tank at a house at Kenil- worth, and the inmates had a narrow escape. The jnemy's shells have been falling rapidly about the itreets. Our gun Long Cecil" has been firing in reply. The women and children are bearing their hardships very bravely. Horseflesh is being eaten. OPERATIONS NEAR RENSBURG. Lieutenant Smith's section of the 37th Field Howitzer Battery at Rensburg (according to the Times correspondent) on the 9th inst. silenced the Boer quick-firer intrenched at the north end of Horseshoe Kopje. The range from Porter's Hill was 4000 yaras. The Boer parapet waa breached and one shell is believed to have burst right inside their works. The garrison were probably protected by casemates. The effects of the lyddite were tre- mendous among the rocks a large boulder was lifted 60ft. and thrown over 100 yards. Gunner Walton, who laid the howitzer, is the same man who laid the first successful shot at the Mahdi's tomb at Omdur- man. The fact is (says Reuter) that we have in no sense lurronnded the enemy at Colesberg, but simply hold them in check by means of a series of camps forming a half-circle round the south from east. to west. The enemy hold the whole of the northern half of the circle from east to west and are in full possession of their lines of communication with the Free State. They have strongly protected these lines, and also bold strong positions around Colsberg and along a front extending from 20 to 30 miles. Meanwhile, their patrols are exceedingly active and go far afield. The enemy appeared in force threatening our right flank on the 8th inst. They shot one of Rimington's Guides. So aggressive were they that it was deemed advisable to stop our waggon traffic until the line had been oleared. About 50 Australians and Tasmanians, who started on a reconnaissance on the 9th inst., had a warm day's work and were obliged to retire before the overwhelming nambers of the enemy. The force consisted of an advance party under Captain Cameron, of the Tasmanian Contingent, supported by a detachment under Captain Stevenson-Hamilton, of the Inniskilling Dragoons, with whom was Captain Salmon, of the Victorian Mounted Rifles. The advance party halted on a farm belonging to Coetze, where the guide was shot on the preceding day, and examined the kopjeø in the vicinity. The remainder of the force moved to the right and were soon engaged with the enemy, who opened fire from several kopies at the Australians as they advanced across the plain. The Australians sought shelter from the rain of bullets en other kopjes and returned the fire. Meanwhile, Captain Cameron, continuing his ad- vance, came upon the flank of the Boers who were riding towards the kopjes, and his men poured in a few volleys. The Boers quickly dismounted and replied, and Captain Cameron sought cover on high rocky kopje, which he held for quite an hour and a-half, but the enemy, who were in considerable numbers, worked round to his rear and fired On his horses. The Colonials rushed down, secured their horses, and got away under a hail of bullets. They took up a second position and again held the enemy in check for some time until the-Boers again got round to the rear. Our next retirement was across an open plain, and was olosely followed up by the enemy, who maintained a furious though somewhat wild fire. They pursued us over the open country to within two miles of outposts at Jasfontein. None of the advanced party were hit. The sup- porting party, after similar experiences, arrived in camp. One Tasmanian, named Peers, was wounded diehtly in the neck and several horses were hit during the day. Mr. Walea and Mr. Lambie, both Australian news- paper correspondents, are missing. On several acca- sions some of the enemy were seen to fall from their horses before our volleys. The wounded man claims to have accounted for three. Though obliged to retreat, our men showed true grit throughout the engagement. The men who visited the kopjes on which the enemy was shelled by J Battery report that about a dozen bodies of dead Boers were lying there. The enemy on the 9th inst. (according to a Reuter's message) also outflanked us on the west and occupied Bastard's Nek. They placed a gun there this morn- ing, then came southward to Hobkirk's Farm and fired on the guard, killing one man. The Hobkirk family left in haste under fire. The guard then retired, and the enemy occupied the farm, driving off Mr. Hohkirk's cattle and taking, possession of 1000 sheep. All this occurred within five mile" of our outposts. Our picket near Hobkirk's Farm stuck to their post. They had good cover and gave the Boers a hot time whenever they approached within range. i Beyond Coles Kop the loyal residents along the Zekoe River are much alarmed. Captain Cameron, who commanded the Tae- manian contingent, was conspicuous in the recent fighting for his coolness and conmge, always leadmg the advance and coming in last from the retreat. Captain Salmon, of the Victorian Mounted Rifles, who was in his first action, showed exceptional skill in the handling of his men and won much com- mendation. Corporal Whiteley; of the Tasmqniana, pluekily rescued a dismounted comrade under a. neavy fire and brought him safely out of danger. We took two prisoners, and afterwards two more i burghers, belonging to the Johannesburg contingent, ) came in and surrendered. While the reconnaissance from Rensburg was pro- ceeding, another reconnaissance was made from Slingersfontein by the Inniskilling Dragoons and 20 Australians under Captain Moor. They discovered the enemy in considerable force attempting to get a gun into position in order to shell our camp from the south-east. The Australians came into closest contact and sought cover on an extensive hill about 9000 yards from camp. The Boers took up a position preventing the retirement of the Australians. Some of the burghers got within 200 yards of them and called out to them to surrender. They replied with a show of fixed bayonets and shouts of defiance. Sergeant Edwards with two men — Troopers Hutchinson and White—made a dash, galloping past a number of hills held by the enemy under a hot fire, and took intelligence to the commanding officer that their comrades were safe and confident of being able to keep the enemy at bay so as to get out after dark. This they eventually did. The Inniskillings meanwhile took up positions in which they were able to prevent the enemy from getting their guns into position. The Australians lost one man killed. He was shot through the head while binding up the wound of a comrade. Three others were wounded. Some of the enemy were at very close quarters with our men during the day. and one Boer waa shot at a distance of only nine yards. The conduct of the Australians is specially praised by the officer commanding. A reconnaissance was made on the 10th inst. from Rensburg under Lieutenant-Colonel Page- Henderson. The force employed consisted of one section of the Royal Horse Artillery, one troop of the Inniskilling Dragoons, and 50 men of the New South Wales Mounted Infantry, the latter being under Lieutenants Holmes and Logan. They followed the waggon track, scouting widely, until they met the enemy in the hills near Slingers- fontein. The small force shelled the Boers out of their position and cleared the road, enabling a large convoy to get through. There were no casualties ob our side. THE BOERS IN ZULULAND The Boers have taken the Inkandhla Magistracy in Zululand. The magistrate, Mr. Knight, had pre- viously blown up the magazine and escaped with his staff and police to Eshowe. LORD ROBERTS AND THE BOER PRESIDENTS. The following letter has been addressed by Lord Roberts to Presidents Kruger and Steyn: In continuation of my telegram of February 5, I call your Honours' attention to the wanton destruc- tion of property by the Boer forces in Natal. They have not only helped themselves freely to the cattle and property of the farmers without payment, but also have utterly wrecked the contents of many farm- houses. As an instance I would specify Wood's Farm, near Springfield. I would point out how very different has been the conduct of the British troops. It. is reported to me from Modder River that farms within the actual area of the British camp have never been entered nor have their occupants been molested. The houses and gardens have been left absolutely untouched." GENERAL BULLER'S FORCE. THE VAAL KRANTZ POSITION. Our position at Vaal Krantz was not, perhaps (says a Times correspondent in a message dated Frere Camp, Feb. 8), so strategically advantageous as was at first supposed. It projects too far south- ward, and too far in front of Brakfontein to outflank it, with the result that it could be raked on the western face from Brakfontein, also from a large donga running from Brakfontein to the river. On the eastern face it was under heavy fire from another line of kopjes, and beyond there was also much broken ground giving cover to sharpshooters. The Boers were also able to mount guns in the gullies of Doom Kloof and Spion Kop, commanding Vaal Krantz, while they were themselves completely invisible to our artillery. By Tuesday morning the Boers had several guns in position on Doom Kloof, which defied all our attempts to silence them. Notably, a 6in. Creuzot on the very summit was easily distinguished by the cloud of black-powder smoke, but it was impossible to damage it, owing, probably, to its being mounted on a disappearing carriage. There is reason to believe that we exploded an ammunition waggon, but the gun continued firing all day. There was also a Maxim-Nordenfelt, whose shells dropped on the crest of Vaal Krantz and raked the western side. Lyttelton's Brigade held about half a mile of the ridge under fire all day, but suffered little damage. About fcur o'clock the enemy, after shelling us heavily, made a vigorous attempt to recapture the position, advancing across a bare kopje, joining Brakfontein and Vaal Krantz. The grass on this kopje had been set alight by shells in the morning, and was still smoking. The enemy poured a heavy fire into the advanced line of the Durham Light Infantry and the Fusiliers, causing them to retire temperorily, but reinforcemeuts of the King's Royal Rifles and Scottish Rifles quickly arrived, and the Durhams retook with the bayonet the schansje previously occupied, taking several prisoners. The whole affair only lasted half an hour. In the afternoon the engineers were shelled while making another pontoon bridge close under Vaal Krantz. In the evening Lyttleton's Brigade was re- lieved, too, by Hildyard's Brigade, which was shelled by the Boers during the night. Our position was less favourable on Tuesday than on Monday night. A further advance was impossible without attacking Brakfontein at a point where a network of large dongas and small kopjes gave a great advantage to the Boers. The position was cramped there was no room for the guns, and little shelter against the cross fire, which was continual, though only occasionally heavy. The enmey were evidently developing their already naturally strong position on Doom Kloof. The situation on Wednesday morning of last week (according to the correspondent of the Times at General Buller's headquarters) was unchanged, except that the Boers had mounted another gun on Doom Kloof. Our force at Vaal Krantz intrenched itself as well as it could, but nevertheless it continued losing men. No advance was made, but the artillery fire was in- cessant, especially from the 100-pounder on Doom Kloof, all attempts to silence which were fruitless. As the day went OQ, it became increasingly ap- parent that although the infantry might by a very determined assault force their way through the centre of the Boer position it would become impos- sible during the subsequent operations to maintain the security of our lines of communication. There- fore, it was decided to evacuate Vaal Krantz. The retirement commenced at nine o'clock on Wednesday night, the pontoon being taken up after General Hildyard's force bad crossed the river. In the morning the whole force retired beyond the range of the Boer guns, which continued shelling them. DEADLY BOER TRAP. IMPORTANT DISCOVERY BY A BALLOONIST. The fighting on Wednesday of last week (said the Central News special message from Springfield Bridge, in a message sent off on Friday afternoon) was for the most part confined to the opposing artillery, but this was very hot indeed. The Boers had got a 100-pound gun in an excellent position on the south-east ridge of Vaal Krans, and if we were to advance further with any degree of comfort or safety it was imperative to silence that weapon. Its range was tremendous, and its power would have been most destructive had the gunners serving it been allowed to work in their own leisurely way. Upon this Long Tom our guns large and small concentrated a terrible fire of lyddite and shrapnel ahelLthroughout the day. Our fire must have sorely tried the nerves of the Boer gunners, but beyond that it did not appear to have any appreciable results, for Long Tom continued to fire at fairly regular intervals. Other guns also bombarded Vaal Krans, but not a few of their shells fell upon the flat ground beyond. In the course of Wednesday afternoon a startling discovery was made from the military balloon. It was pretty well known that the Boers had mounted guns on the lofty sides and crest of Doornkloof on our right, and this had been taken fully into General Bullers's calculations, and adequately provided for. But the balloonist reported that the Boers had deve- loped extraordinary artillery strength on that posi- tion, having managed to drag up at least a dozen heavy guns, some of them fitted with disappearing mountings. All these powerful weapons had been most cunningly masked, and they would never have been discovered in time but for the glasses of the balloonist. This discovery was of the very first moment. The Boers had laid a deadly trap for us, and we were saved from falling into it. The great guns on Doornkloof commanded the road which we should have had to take to get to Ladysmith. They rendered our actual positions untenable, and they rendered a further advance impossible except at most terrible and useless loss of life. General Buller decided that it was extremely un- likely that his artillery would be able to overpower these guns of position, and in any case our gunners .1 ™«ld have had to advance from cover before they could get into position to shell the enemy on Doom- kloof. It was therefore decided to retire across the Tugela once more, pending another attempt under more favourable conditions. Vaal Krans was therefore evacuated during the I night, and on Thursday the whole force moved back upon the river. Ine -Boer guns maintained a heavy fire upon us from all their positions, including shell from "a heavy Creusot gun on Spion Kop, but little damage was done, although the bombardment was continued the whole length of the road to Potgieters Drift. The retirement was carried out in perfect order, reflecting the greatest credit upon all concerned. Our casualty list is surprisingly light. General Buller's third attempt to relieve Lady- smith, which opened with such promise, has re- ( ce;ved a serious check, but no one here imagines the effort has been abandoned. The best critics believe that, in view of the developments of the situation, the General adopted the wisest course. The entire force, with guns and materal, has now safely crossed to the southern bank of the Tugela. Some Drisoners were taken in the fighting. ANOTHER CORRESPONDENT MISSING. Mr. Hales, one of the Daily News correspondents at Bensburg, was reported missing after the fighting on Thursday of last week. RELEASE OF COLONEL EAGAR. Lieutenant Nickerson, Royal Army Medical Corps, left Sterksstroorn for Stormberg in an armoured train on Saturday to bring back Colonel Eagar, of the Royal Irish Rifles, who was wounded and taken prisoner in the earlier fighting. Colonel Eagar has since had his leg amputated. The Boers offered his release voluntarily, doubtless in return for our release of Commandant Pretorius, of the Boe. forces, who was similarly incapacitated. THE ALLEGED TREACHERY AMONGST RIMINGTON'S GUIDES. A correspondent says, in a letter home, dated Jan. 13, Major Rimington states There has been tOe unpleasant thing. Reports were set going about 11Y men having amongst them traitors. This was one in Methuen's camp after Magersfontein. They aid the guides led them into a trap. None of my men did guide them that day. There is absolutely no truth in the report." REPORTED SORTIE FROM LADYSMITH. A despatch from the Boer Head Laager near Lady- smith says: It is reported from the Upper Tugela that whilst driving the British across the river, with heavy loss to them, we had four men killed and eight wounded. On the kopje held by the British being retaken, ii was found that about 22 of our men had been killed. At about midnight on Thursday of last week the alarm was given that the Ladysmith garrison were trying to force a passage in the direc- tion of the Free State laager. Heavy firing was heard. VILJOEN'S SPLENDID FEAT OF ARMS. The Morning Post correspondent states that in the fighting on Vaal Krantz a Maxim-Vickers gun was abandoned by the enemy in a donga, and it was about to fall into our hands when the notorious ruffian, the fearless Viljoen himself, brought back a team of horses and escaped with the gun, threading his way between the red flashes and black clouds of the lyddite shells which the British artillery had concentrated. It was a splendid feat of arms. KAFFIRS FIGHTING FOR THE BOERS. Mr. Winstoe Churchill, in a despatch to the Morning Post, refers as follows to the fact that Kaffirs were found fighting for the Boers at Vaal Krantz: Seven armed Kaffirs were found fighting in the Boer ranks, one killing an officer of the Durhams. This is an absolutely authenticated fact, .and it re- I veals the Boer protestations regarding Khama in a. new light. PRINCE CHRISTIAN VICTOR'S NARROW ESCAPE. Prince Christian Victor, aide-de-camp to General Hildyard (states the Morning Post correspondent) was knocked down by the concussion of a 100-pound shell bursting on a rock by which he was sitting. The Prince behaved throughout with extreme composure. FAMOUS GOLFER KILLED. Lieut. F. G. Tait, of the 2nd Black Watch, the well-known amateur golf champion is numbered among the victims of the war. A Mortiing Post telegram from Modder River states that while de- fending a kopje in the engagement on February 9 at Koodoosberg Drift he was shot through the body and died of his wounds while oa the way to the camp. When he was struck Lieut. Tait said, They have got me at last." He had been previously wounded at the battle of Magersfontein, but had quite re- covered. Freddy Tait, as he tfras called in the golfing world, was the leading amateur of the day. In addi- tion to the victories which made him the amateur champion of the game, he won the silver cross, club gold, and George Glennie medals of the Royal and Ancient" for 1897, the club gold medal of the same club for 1898, the Leconfield medal for 1897, the Hope medal for 1898, and the St. George's Grand Challenge Cup (open) at Sandwich in 1898. WHY BULLER RETIRED. Lord Roberts has received and forwarded to the War Office a telegram from General Buller in which he states that it was necessary, after seizing Vaal Krantz, to intrench it as the pivot of further opera- tions, but it was found, after fciying for two days, that owing to the nature of the ground this was not practicable; it was also exposed to the fire of heavy guns from positions by which our artillery was domi- nated. It is essential to troops advancing on Lady- smith by Harding or Monger's Drift to hold Vaal Krantz securely, and as this cannot be done General Buller says he is not pressing his advantage by those roads. LORD ROBERTS AND THE HIGHLANDERS. Lord RoberL addressed the Highland Brigade at Modder River on Saturday, congratulating them on their conduct during the Koodoesberg reconnais- sance, and referring to his own long experience of the admirable qualities of the Highland troops in India and Afghanistan. He fully relied on their assistance in the serious work that awaited him. He referred to his past associations with their regiments in India, where, he aid, they helped to make him. He had never campaigned without Highlanders, and he would not like to be without them now. He was glad General Macdonald had reported well of them. He recalled how the 8eaforths once made a long and arduous march with him. They would have a shorter one now, he said, but it would not be a walk over." Nevertheless he did not doubt that it would be a successful one. The brigade gave three cheers for the Commander- in-Chief and another for Lady Roberts. Lord Roberts acknowledging the compliment said that Lady Roberts was doing for them at home what was perhaps better work than his, by helping the welfare of their wives and families BISKY WORK AROUND THE RENSBURG LINES. A picket of five Victorian Rifles after holding a post for some hours on Saturday was compelled to retire. The Boers got on to an adjacent hill and fired down on them. Three of the party were slightly wounded, one man is missing, and the fifth escaped unscathed. The missing man displayed con- spicuous bravery, helping his companions on to their horses before mounting himself. Of a patrol from Jasfontein under Captain Hamilton, consisting of eight Tasmanians and eight of French's scouts, only two Tasmanians and three scouts have returned to camp. The rest were cap- tured. Of the latter Bawtree and Bosanquet were slightly wounded. Dawson was wounded, while Canning and Reid did not receive a scratch. All of them belonged to French's scouts. Goslett, from Slingersfontein, went out with a party to obtain supplies. They knocked at a farrar house, and, getting no answer, opened the door. The house was found to be full of Boers. All the party escaped in safety. Bainbie (?Lambie), 0116 of the missing Australian correspondents, was killed. The other, Hales, was slightly wounded and was taken prisoner. Mr. William Lambie, who was killed in the fight at Rensbotg on Thursday, was representing the Mel- bourne Age, to which paper be had been attached for about 15 years. Mr. Lambie was one of the best- informed writers on military subjects in Australia, and he was at the time of his death serving in his eecond campaign. In 1885 he accompanied the Australian contingent to the Soudan as correspondent of the Sydney Morn- ing Herald, and at the close of the expedition he returned to Sydney with the distinction of being the only wounded man of the party. He leaves in Melbourne a young wife, two children, and a host of s rrowing friends. Mr. S. Hales (familiarly known as "Smiler" Hales), who is reported as wounded in the same engagement, is a particularly well-known Australian journalist, who graduated in the racy Press of the Eastern cities, and finally drifted with other journal- ists to Coolgardie. His book, The Wanderings of a Simple Child," earned for him the sobriquet of The Australian Kipling." THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE'S OWN. The Duke of Cambridge presided on Monday night at a dinner given to the Special Corps" of the Imperial Yeomanry. He said that whilst de- ploring that our troops had not got on better in South Africa, we must remember that they were en- gaged in serious and difficult operations. The spirit of the nation, he believed, would carry it through successfully, though it might be some time before it was accomplished. ACCIDENT TO GENERAL CLERY. On Monday Mr. John W. Clery, of Westboro, Cork. -recaiyed fnm his hrother. General Si r Franci. Clery, the foltowing telegram, in reply to an inquiry as to the ac-ei dent reported a fev days ago Mooi River, 9.55 a.m. Received 12.32 p.m. Clery, WestborbV Cbtk, Ireland. Slight injury leg, possibly tedious, but nothing." DUKE OF ROXBURGHE'S GALLANTRY. A hitherto unpublished story of the gallantry of the Duke of Roxburgbe in an engagement at Rensburg is contained in a letter from a private in the Blues tc his sister at Farnham. He says General French ordered one squadron of the Blues to go out on reconnaissance to find the enemv. Well, after some time we did find them, but they were in too strong a position, and we only numbered 80. The bullets began to whistle round and the shells to drop, and, our position becoming dangerous, we bad th< order to retire, which took a little time, as we were all dismounted on top of a big hill, and the horses Were a little way off. By the time we had reached the bottom of the hill someone had galloped off with my horse, so I was left without a mount. The firing was getting rather thick, and I thought my last day had come, for I had no chance of getting away alone. But the Duke of Roxburghe came back forme, and I got up on his horse behind him, and he carried me in safety away from fire. So I owe my life to him."

7 MILITARY PROGRAMME. SCHEME IN BRIEF. t ■ CENTRAL IDEA. ESTABLISHMENT OF THREE ARMY CORPS. FORCES AT HOMII AT PRESENT MOMENT. Regulars 98,000 Reservists 12,000 Yeomanry 7000 Militia 77,000 Volunteers 21.5,1)00 t;' h Total. 409,000 NEW REGULAR FORCES TO BE RAISED. Line 12 Battalions. Line (Reserve emergency) 17 Battalions. Field Artillery 36 Batteries. Horse Artillery 7 Batteries. Cavalry 4 Regiments. ROYAL ARTILLERY, ARMY 8ERVICH CORPS, AND ENGINEERS. Sumcient to be raised for two more Army Corps. MII.ITIA. Pay to be put on a par with that oftthe Regu- tars. The whole force to be embodied for three or four months, instead of one. Increased facilities for target practice., Greater transport accommodation. YHOMANRY. Each regiment te be invited to go under canvas for a month. Pay correspondingly increased. Each regiment to be invited to give a trOop apiece to form a brigade of mounted infantry for this year. VOLUNTEER ARTILLERY. To be provided with new guns, and to be én- couraged to train up to three months annually. VOLUNTEERS. To be armed with the most modern weapons. Any volunteer battalion may enlist up to 1000. Where in excess of or approximately 1000, a second battalion may be formed. Increased capitation grant. The whole force to be encouraged to train under canvas for a month annually. More ranges to be made available. Hired transport to be paid for by Government. A mounted infantry detachment of each battalion so be encouraged, where it will not interfere with Yeomanry recruiting. OFFICERS. Cominissions in the Army to be offered to Militia officers, the Colonies, the Universities, and some public schools. Officers to be taken^ffoth cfhef Reserve. t ■ MBN. A larger proportion to be taken on three years' engagements. NET RJE3UET IN FtOCEBB. A(lditiotis'to Re-tilar*Ariny -30,000 Additions to Auxiliary Forces 50,000 Total 80,000

—————————— I THE FAMINE IN INDIA. The Secretary of State l'or India has received the following telegram from the Viceroy on the subject Df the famine: Standing crops improved by recent rain in North-Western Provinces and Jubbulpur Division, Central Provinces. Elsewhere in Central Provinces yield of crops very poor, and scarcity of fodder and water increasing daily. In Central Provinces the decline in the number of persons demanding relief is due in part to harvest and partly to closer supervision. In. Punjab, cattle, where not dying, are weak and starved irrigated crops are good to fair, but unirri- gated crops the worst for years. Distress is steadily on the increase in "Bombay, Rajputana, and parts Central India. Harvest poor in Madras Deccan, and test famine relief work proposed for one district. Number of persons in receipt of relief: Bombay, 950,000; Punjab, 178,000; Central Provinces, 1,441,000; Berar,286,000; Ajmer-Merwara, 107,000; Rajputana States, 337,000; Central India States, 83,000; Bombay Native States, 333,000; Baroda, 63,000; North-Western Provinces, 3000; Punjab Native States, 3000. Total, 3,784,000."

LED BY THE WHISTLE. A sergeant in the Devons, writing to his friends at Bromley (Kent), describes the action at Colenso. He says: I took my stripes off to avoid being picked off by Boer marksmen, and led my men with the whistle alone. I instructed them to take advan- tage of every scrap of cover, to lie flat, and when they did run to go for all they were worth. We com- menced the advance, and at- once came under a heavy shell fire, but as soon as we came within rifle range the fire became terrific. I was struck in the leg with a spent' bullet, and lucky for me it was so, as instead of the bullet entering it glanced off harm- lessly."

TnE Swiss Department of Justice has prohibited the Sale of all journals containing illustrations in- suiting to England. THE Leyds Press in France has revived the old lie that the Englishing recruiting agents are offering Frenchmen large sums of money to join the British Army in South Africa. THE British Government have, it is reported, accepted the proposal tnade by the Pennsylvania Milling Company that th»y should purchase the flour seized at Lo'renco Marqfoez at its cost price, plus a fair profit. ¡' ANGLOPHOBIA has got such a hold of Antwerp that a little English girl at school at the Ursulines Con- vent was punished by the nuns for showing a copy of the Absent-minded Beggar" to her English school-fellows. THE Hon. C. H. Wyndham, who is Lord Lecon- field's eldest surviving son, Lord Rosebery's nephew, and a first cousin of the Under-Secretary for War, has joined the Officers' Reserve, and will shortly proceed to South Africa. THE British agent at New Orleans has made a con- tract for the supply of 1000 horses similar to the mounts used by the Roosevelt Rough-riders," at a cost of 84dol. apiece, for service in South Africa. Twenty thousand mules have already been shipped, and 2800 more are following. TnOMAS SPENCER, described as a jeweller, was found guilty, at the Old Bailey on Monday, of being in the unlawful possession of an electric battery in- tended to be used in counterfeit coining. The battery was found at the prisoner's lodgings in Grosvenor-street, Islington, and Warder Turrell proved four previous convictions against him, in- cluding two terms of five years' penal servitude each. In each case the conviction was for counterfeit coin, and the Common Serjeant sentenced the prisoner to seven years' penal servitude. AT Bow-street Police-court, on Monday, Bernard Abrahams, solicitor; Alfred Paget, company pro- moter; Blanchard Eccles, commission agent; John Haynes, mining agent; and Henry Morris, 32, inde- pendent gentleman, were charged, on remand, with conspiring to obtain a certificate of naturalisation from the Home Secretary by means of false declara- tions. The chaige against Morris was withdrawn. He was released, and subsequently called as a wit- ness. After a considerable amount of evidence had been given, the accused were again remanded for a week, Sir Franklin Lushington accepting the same bail. An application to release Paget on bail was refused. ON Monday, at the Marlborough-street Pelice- court; Hyman Silver, Frank Kujawski, and David Micelson were charged, on remand, with keeping, managing, and assisting in managing a common gaming house at No. 2, Meard-street, Soho. Thirty- seven other men were charged, on remand, with being found on the premises. Silver was fined JE50 and I five guineas costs, and Kujawski and Micelson E20 each. Three other defendants were ordered to find j sureties, and the remaining defendants to enter into their own recognisance in the sum ef £ 10 not to j frequent such place*. J

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS.—FEBRUARY 12. WAR QUESTIONS. Lord Bateman asked whether Sir Frederick Can ångton was destined for a command in South Africa, and whether Lord Methuen, was still in com- mand of her Majesty's forces on the Modder River. Lord Lansdowne replied that Sir Frederick Carring. ton had been designated for a command in South Africa. In answer to the second question he had tc say that Lord Roberts was now at the Modder Rivei and was in command of the whole of bar forces at that place. LAND CHARGES ANO LUNACY. The Land Charges Bill and the Lunacy Bill were. en themotion of the Lord Chancellor, read a second time. GOVERNMENT'S MILITARY PROPOSALS.—THE WAR SECRETARY'S STATEMENT. Lord Dunraven asked the Secretary of State foi War whether he was in a position to make a state- Sentas to the military measures which her Majesty'i overnment proposed to take. Lord Lansdowne, in reply, said he thought the pointa in regard to which their lordships desired to be informed were these: First, to what extent, the Government, in sending out of this country a largf military force for service in South Africa, had denuded the United Kingdom of its proper provision against invasion; secondly, what steps they had taken, or were takings to secure the safety of these islands during the absence of these large forces in South Africa and thirdly, what forces were or would be at the disposal of the War Office for the prosecu- tion of those military operations which they all de- sired to see carried to a decisive and satisfactory conclusion. Before the war broke out we had in the two colonies a force of about 23,000 men. To these it waa always intended to add, for the purpose •f taking offensive operations against the South African Rapublics, a field army of no fewer than 50,000men. After describing how the original plan of campaign, had to be altered in consequence of the military operations for the relief of Ladysmith and Kimberley, he observed that even if those operations had gone well they could not have been carried on with a central advance, but we experienced a check which retarded that central advance which was always regarded as the pivot of the campaign. These things led the Government to recognise the necessity of adding largely to the force. In addition to the troops now in South Africa, or on their way there, there were under orders for South Africa, at the present moment, 50,000 additional troops. Those troops were accom- panied by the ^colonial contingent of whose admirable behaviour all must have heard with the liveliest satisfaction, and they were followed by a certain number of Militia battalions. There were also local forces raised in both colonies. At a later stage we sent out the force of Imperial Yeomanry, and before long we should have in South Africa no fewer than 200,000 men, of whom three-quarters, roughly spea'king, had been sent out from this country. In these circumstances it was the first duty of the Government to make arrangements for the supply of what he might describe as the wear and tear of the South African army. The noble lord proceeded to quote the figures, which gave a grand total of 409,000 armed men serving in this country at the present moment. The question as to the size of the mobile army was inve-tigated 12 years ao, and it was then laid down that after provision had been made for the defence of India and the colonies it was desirable to have three Army Corps for home defence and two avail- able for service abroad. The Government now had to provide for a further field army of about. 130,000 men, from which they could draw if it should be necessary to send out further reinforcements. This army corps should have at lpllst a backbone of Regular troops. It was their intention to add to the perma- nent strength of the Army 12 new Line battalions of infantry in addition to the three Line battalions which they were now raising. It was proposed to add these new battalions to existing Line regiments, and in order to form them the War Office would draw upon the surplus men of the first and second battalions left behind, upon Reservists, upon ex- soldiers desiring to re-enter the Army, and, lastly, apon ordinary recruits. With regard to the field irtillery, the Government were convinced that a very large increase was necessary. The War Office pro- posal was to raise artillery for two more army corps —viz., 36 batteries of field artillery and seven batteries of horse artillery, making together 43 new brttteries. The guns for these new batteries had been ordered, and it was proposed to add to the usual 15-pounder guns a certain number of batteries of howitzers. In regard to cavalry for the force he had indicated 15 regiments would be required. There were eight regiments in the country, and the War Office proposed to form four regitrients out of -the reserve squadrons of regiments gone abroad, while remainder would be provided by a brigade of Yeomanry specially trained for this purpose. It was tiso intended to increase the Royal Engineers and the Army Service Corps. With regard to the Aux- iliary forces, his lordship remarked that 73 bat- lalions of Militia had been embodied already, and the remainder would be embodied as soon is climatic conitions rendered it possible to put them ander canvas. Large camps would be formed in which the whole of the Militia would undergo a course of training, and special attention would be paid to the musketry. The Militia was noW about 30,000 men below its establishment, but he hoped uhat by making the service more attractive they would be able to fill up the void. With regard to the Yeo- manry, they would endeavour to enrol it to its full jstablishment, or even beyond it if the men were forth- coming. The Volunteers had an establishment of 265,000, but their present strength was only 221,000. The War Office would encourage all Volunteer batta- lions to recruit up to their lull strength of 1000, and ffhen even more men were forthcoming they would sncourage the formation of a second battalion of a more moderate size. In some corps there was a jesire to equip some men as mounted infantry. The War Office would encourage this and would pay special rates to Volunteer battalions provided with k mounted compftny. As for the Volunteer artillery they had 98 batteries, which, however, were all armed with guns of an obsolete type. It was the inten- tion of the Government to re-arm the Volunteer artillery with modern guns. By these measures they hoped to add considerably to the popularity of the Yeomanry, Militia, and Volunteers; and they also hoped that a large number of men who had completed their full term of service in the Army and the Reserve would again enlist for one year and for home service only if a special bounty were given. One of the most serious questions which the War Office had to face was that of finding the large number of officers who would be required. They would offer commissions to the Militia and Volunteers, to the Universities, and to a small number of public schools. They also in- tended to offer commissions to the colonies, from whom they had already received many excellent officers. If the anticipations of the Government were realised they might look forward to 100,000 more men as being the gross outcome of the proposed changes. He had said little about organic changes because it could hardly be expected that they could be made in the middle of a war. Men were now coming forward spon- taneously and with great enthusiasm throughout the Empire, and in his view the present was not the moment for adopting the ballot or conscription. What was wanted was not compulsion, but only en- couragement. That encouragement the War Offica intended to give, and he believed they would be met half-way by the enthusiasm and patriotism of the people of the United Kingdom. Lord Saltoun, Lord Wantage, Lord Galway, and Lord Brownlow made remarks on various matters of detail. Lord Kimberley said he felt this was not the moment for discussing the details of the scheme. While he fully recognised the necessity for tem- porary arrangements to increase the military strength of the country he hoped that they would be such as to facilitate and not to stand in the way of well- considered changes of a more permanent character. Lord Wemyss gave notice that on a future occasion he would move a resolution to the effect that the ancient constitutional law of compulsory military service for home defence should be put in force in a modified form. After further discussion, Lord Lansdowne briefly replied to the criticisms which had been made, and mentioned that the Education Department and the War Omce werw already in correspondence on the subject of giving military instruction in the public schools. HOUflE OF COMMONS. SIR WILLIAM BUTLER. Mr. Balfour, asked by Mr. Bryn-Roberts whether Sir W. Butler warned the Government in the summer that in the event of a rupture with the Transvaal it would be necessary to abandon Northern Natal and to place a strong force on the banks of the Tugela, answered in the negative; adding that he did not intend to conduct any controversy respecting General Butler through the medium of questions and answers. WAR MATTERS. General Russell having asked whether the Govern- ment were prepared to consider the proposal to the death duties in favour of the relatives of officers kiHed in the war, the Chancellor of the Exchequer stated that he was prepared to consider the position ¡ of the widows and orphans of small means; but he l was not sure that the plan recommended for their relief in the question would be the best. Other ) questions of interest, relating to the war, were replied to by Mr. Powell Williams, and Mr. Brodrick I stated with regard to the reports of insubordination in certein Egyptian regiments that the latest infor- mation received on the subject was satisfactory. PUBLIC FINANCIAL BUSINESS. In submitting his motion for giving precedence to public financial business on Monday, Mr. Balfour ex- plained that it was absolutely necessary that the War Office should obtain without delay further powers to spend money. The ordinary supplementary esti mates of the year must also be disposed of before March 31. Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman, while not Opposing the motion, doubted whether it was neces- Ifery, and Mr. J. Redmond and other Nationalist members protested against the resolution, and in- sisted upon dividing. The motion was carried by 294 votes against 40. ACCIDENTS TO RAILWAYMES. Mr. Ritchie introduced a bill for the better preven- tion of accidents to persons employed on railways, and a bill to amend the Companies Acts, informing the House that it was a reproduction of ihe measure which the House of Lords agreed to last Session. SUPPLEMENTARY ARMY ESTIMATES. Mr. Wyndham, in Committee of Supply, then rose to urake his promised statement on introducing the Supplementary Estimates for the Army. In asking the Committee to vote the additional number of 120,000 men the hon. member explained in detail the steps which the Government purpose taking to in- crease the efficiency of our offensive and defensive forces, the facts and figures dealt with in his speech being the same as chose appearing in Lord Lansdowne's statement which is summarised in our report of the proceedings in the Lords'. Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman, after remarking that the Committee could not be expected to pronounce a tinal opinion upon the scheme of the Government without further consideration, said that the Opposi- tion were ready to agree to almost anything that the Government might propose for the purpose of rein- forcing our army in Africa or of providing adequately for home defence. At the same time they could not commit fhempelves at present to the acceptance of any great scheme for the reconstitu- tion, alteration, or extension of our armed forces. He was glad that the idea of conscription had _not been entertained by the Government, because it was foreign to the disposition of the people. As to the proposals with regard to the Militia and Volunteers, he warned the Government not to put too great a burden upon the auxiliary forces, lest they should fail to respond to the demands of the authorities. He recognised that it was desirable to increase considerably certain branches of our Army, but he held that the Opposition were entitled to ask the Government what were the reasons) for that great increase which they now proposed. The defects in organisation and deficiencies in material which the war had disclosed ought to be corrected and made good at once; but he deprecated any change which would convert this country into a great military Power. A policy of that kind he should regard as calamitous. The difficulties which con- fronted us in Africa ought not to induce us to under- take any great project of military deveiopmant. Oa the whole, however, he did not disapprove of the present plans of the Government, and he rejoiced that the War Office had not followed the extravagant counsels so freely tendered in the public Press. Sir C. Dilke thought that the scheme disclosed by the Under Secretary for War dealt too exclusively with home defence and the possibility of invasion. He regretted that nothing should have been said about India, whence troops had been withdrawn to serve in Africa. Mr. Gibson Bowles pointed to important omis- sions in the presentation of the case for the Govern- ment. He had hoped to hear that they intended to take steps to provide a considerable number of additional troops for immediate service in Africa. He was disappointed that no such statement had been made. Various other critieisms were passed on the scheme of the Government by service members and others, several of the former witholding unqualified ap- proval from the proposals made to the Committee. Sir A. Acland-Hood, for example, expressed the opinion that while the country wanted an army the scheme of the War Office was more likely to provide it with a mob, and Sir J. Colomb contended that the Department was merely tinkering with details instead of handling principles. Mr. Labouchere said that he should not oppose the vote, but that he should resist strenuously any endeavour to make a large permanent addition to the army. Mr. Arnold-Forsrer consented to support the Governm<nt on the condition that their measurei were regarded as merely emergency measures. In a scathing denunciation of the War Office he asserted that for a great number of years the Army had not been organised for the purpose of waging war with success. He knew that the Department had been eulogised for its action in connection with the present war, but its success was after all very mode- rate, if not mythical. It had been necessary in ordei to carry on the war to destroy our military organisa- tion in the colonies and India. The Committee ought, he held, to be still distrustful of the Depart- ment. Mr. Wyndham, in a general reply, gave reasoni for the retention of our Reserve system, which, he maintained, was sound and economical. With regard to home defence, he assured the Committee that he quite recognised the overwhelming impor- tance of the part which the Fleet must play in it. Giving particulars as to the sum which the Com- mittee was to be asked to vote, he stated that £420,000 would be required for expenditure in con- nection with home defence. The Government proposed to ask the Committee to sanction things which had been already done. The scheme of the Government for increasing the army he described as a scheme of invitation as opposed to a scheme of compulsion. Whereas in the past a maximum of three army corps was aimed at, the maximum now would be five. Replying to criticisms which had been directed against the use in Africa of troope from India, he declared that they would be replace. is soon as possible. He then answered some ques- tions which had been put to him with reference to the expenses of Yeomanry regiments and the Swiss system of Militia, and he had not finished his reply when the hour was reached for adjourning the debate.

A CHAPLAINJS LETTER. The Rev. T. H. Wainman, Wesleyan chaplain, writes from Chievely to the Methodist Times The rain is pouring in torrents. It has come down con- tinuously for 14 hours, and seems likely to continue for many hurs more. I am sitting alone in my closod-up tent, quite snug and dry. My furniture consists of a Teplitzer box for a table, a soap-box for my chair, a tinned meat-box for a washstand, and a milk-box to hold hymn-books, &c. My bedstead is a stretcher recently in use carrying the wounded and I dying from the battlefield but so soon as a move forward is made, I must he satisfied with Mother Earth to lie upon, which is comfortable enough in dry weather, but in wet is not luxurious. Looking out from the door Of the tent, everything and every- body looked woebegone. The tents of the different regiments, the horses and mules, the death-telling artillery cannon, and the world itself looked drowned. And yet the men are going about per- forming their various duties as cheerfully as though the sun was shining upon them. The British soldier is a brave fellow. We bad a very good time at last Sunday's six a.m. parade service. Having secured a number of hymn-books from Durban, our men showed what they could do in the musical line, and the singing of that old favourite, '0 God, our Help in ages past,' was an inspiration to all who heard it. On Monday I strolled into the open ground in full view of the Boer position on the Tugela hills. This ground is used by our Brigade for games, the two favourites amongst the Yorkshiremen being Rounders' and what we termed in Leeds 30 years ago 'Piggie." It is also a favourite spot for open- air services, there being four regiments in close proximity."

A WARM CORNER. Private Eade, who lies in the Field Hospital at Rondesbosch wounded, states that he got in a warm corner at the battle of Colenso. He says: I got a bullet clean through my helmet, one cut my mess-tin from my back, a third cut my rifle out of my hand, and the fourth went right through both hips. It was hard lines on our men to be knocked down as they were, and most of them didn't fire a shot. You could see nothing but trenches to fire at. I had the pleasure of having a few shots at them when they came out to take the artillery guns. Five of us let go at them, but they soon settled us. They killed two of us, wounded one, and took the other two pri* soners."

BIR DIGHTON PROBYN is well known as Controller and Treasurer to the Prince of Wales. Sir Dighton is now in hisJ67th year, but is still erect and soldierly in his bearing. He was a major-general when he entered the Prince's service in 1872, and had put behind him a great deal of very excellent military J service. During the Indian Mutiny alone he was seven times mentioned in despatches, and won the Victoria Cross, besides being thanked by the Governor-General. It was at Agra that he won his V.C. e He was aeparated from his men and beset by aix of the enemy, three of whom he cut down with his own sword. Then he saw a prominent standard, and sallied out single-handed, slew the bearer, and brought back the flag under a perfect hail of grape- shot and bulle

ENGLISH residents in Antwerp have been warned not to participate in the coming carnival festivities; VISCOUNT PBM/s youngest son, Mr. Sidney Peel, has gone out with the Oxfordshire Yeomany as a trooper. CAPTAIN H. F.. DAWBON, 78th Field Battery, who was wounded in the foot in the recent fighting, has had it amputated, and is now doing well.