The Morning Post from London, Greater London, England • 7

THE MORNING home what was perbaps better work than his, by helping the welfare of their wives and families. Before leaving Koodoesberg yesterday we buried the bodies of 14 Boers. The expedition prevented the projected attack of the Boers on our communications between here and Enslin. OPERATIONS IN NATAL. MAJOR DOVETON'S CONDITION.

PIETERMARITZBURG, FEB. 12. News has been received here from Ladysmith that Major Doveton, of the Imperial Light Horse, is seriously ill. General White has cbtained permission from General Joubert for Mrs. Doveton to join her husband, and he has provided her with a to pass through the Boer lines.

Mrs. Doveton left here last night. CAPE COLONY. INCIDENTS NEAR COLESBERG. SPECIAL RENSEURG, FEB.

11. A picket of five Victorian Rifles, after holding a post for some hours yesterday, was compelled to retire. The Buers got on to an adjacent hill and tired down on them. Three of the party were slightly wounded, one man is missing, and the tifth escaped unscathed. The missing man displayed conspicuous 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 captured. Of the captured men Bawtree and Bosanquet were slightly wounded. Dawson was wounded, while Canning and Reid were unhurt. Goslett, from Slingersfontein, went out with a party to obtain supplies.

They knocked at a farmhouse and, getting no answer, opened the door. The house was found to be full of Boers. All the party escaped in safety. Bainbie Lambie), one of the missing Australian Correspondents, was killed. The other, Hales, was slightly wounded and taken prisoner.

Trooper Bosch, of French's Guides, distinguished himself to-lay by taking two prisoners. He left Jasfontein with Jones and Christopherson to join the main body towards Slingersfontein. On their way they suddenly found, themselves near a large number of Boers on and rode off in all haste under tire. Bosch, who was some distance ahead, met a solitary Buer. The two men rode up to each other, each being under the impression that the other was a friend.

When they discovered their mistake both raised their rifles. Bosch was the quicker, and dispossessing the Boer of his rifle took him prisoner. Shortly afterwards seven Boers came leisurely across the plain. The three scouts opened. fire, and the Boers fled with the exception one, who was only 30 yards off.

He surrendered. The outpost at Jasfontein sent a mule cart to Modderfontein. On its return it was captured, but the driver and two natives escaped. POSITION IN BASUTOLAND. SPECIAL MASERU, FEB.

10. Small-pox is spreading with rather alarming rapidity in the Berea district. It is particularly ditticult to cope with at the time, when everybody is disappointed with progress present, of the war. The Government is securing large numbers of Basutoland horses for use in the Imperial transport service. Large quantities of wheat are being sold by natives.

In Maseru the supply of provisions is running short, and the advance of prices is keenly felt. THE REPUBLICS. DR. LEYDS'S POSITION IN RUSSIA. OUR CORRESPONDENT.

ST. PETERSBURG, FEB. 12. Dr. Leyds has apparently abandoned at any rate for the present his intention of visiting St.

Petersburg. It appears, indeed, that his agents here, at the head of whom is Mr. Gillot, the pastor of the local Dutch church, were by no means sanguine that such a visit would be productive of good results. Dr. Leyds, it may be mentioned, is described in the official list of the Corps Diplomatique accredited to the Imperial Russian Court as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the South African Republic, a somewhat remarkable designation for the representative of a State whose claims to sovereign independence Great Britain has alway refused to recognise.

The appearance Leyds's 1 name in the official list of the Corps Diplomatique has always occasioned a certain amount of comment in St. Petersburg owing to the fact that Dr. Leyds has himself never visited the Russian capital to present in person, in accordance with diplomatic usage, his credentialsto the Emperor. In 1898, by specialfavour of the Russian Foreign Office, he was permitted to send his credentials by his secretary, Mr. Van der Hoeven, an ex-clerk from the Government offices in Pretoria.

At the present time Dr. Leyds ranks twelfth in the list of the nineteen Ministers accedited on behalf of the minor Powers to the Russian Court, and as a Minister would presumably during any temporary absence of the British Ambassador take precedence of a British d'Affaires on any official occasion. A proof of the activity in Russia of Dr. Leyds and his friends at the present time is furnished by the recent publication in the important Moscow paper the Moscorskiia Vicdomosti of certain extracts from the German Press with the intimation that these extracts, which contain a series of the vilest charges against British officers and soldiers in South Africa, are published the request of Dr. Leyds," conveyed through Mr.

Gillot. These charges have been emphatically denied by the German Consul in Natal, and that denial has been duly published in many of the German papers. Dr. Leyds and Mr. Gillot, however, apparently consider it consistent with their respective positions as the representative of a so-called civilised and a clergyman of the Dutch church to spread broadcast these calumnies, which are unsupported by a shadow of evidence.

HOLLANDER "SLIMNESS." NEW YORK, FEE. 12. Sume immigrants who have just arrived at Halifax, N.S., from Rotterdam, say that they were approached at that port by a Boer agent who offered each of them a bouuty of 200 roubles if they would enlist to serve in the Army of the South African Republics. One of the men took the bounty but eluded the agent and sailed for America. FOREIGN OPINION.

SPANISH COMMENT. FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT. MADRID, FEB. 12. The Epoca, in commenting on the comparison which has been made in some quarters on the Continent between the Transvaal War and the campaign in Cuba, denies that the deduction drawn in such quarters that the Boers are certain to be victorious is in any way justified.

Spain, it says, did not lose Cuba merely because her Treasury was exhausted, nor, because her 200,000 soldiers were incapable overcoming 20,000 insurgents, but she had to relinquish the island on account of the constant hostility of the United States, a country far stronger than Spain and only some seven hours' journey distant from Cuba. If, the Epoca adds, the war is to continue, an event which it would greatly regret, the forces (Continued on Page 5) POST, TUESDAY, THE GERMAN REICHSTAG. DEBATE ON SAMOA. reading. THE BUBONIC PLAGUE.

BERLIN, FEB. 12. Count von Lilow to-day made a speech in the Reichstag in reference to the recently concluded treaties on the subject of Samoa, Tonga, and Zanzibar. Addressing the House the Foreign Secretary said the honour to submit to the approval of your honourable House the draft of a law whereby we are authorisel abrogate the treaties of friendship with Tonga of 1876, and with Samoa of 1879, and also certain gation with Zanzibar of 1885, either wholly or in part. clauses of the treaty friendship, commerce, a and naviAs you are aware, the conditions of ownership in the hitherto neutral islands of Samoa and Tonga have teen revised by the Anzlo-German agreement of November 14, 1899, and the German-Anglo-American agreement of December 2 of that year, with the result that the Germans have received the two islands of Upolu and Sawaii, Great Britain the Tonga Islands and Savage Island, and the United States the island of Tutuila.

So far as Tutuila is concerned we have never contested the American claims to that island, where the United States have possessed a right of port and of settlement since 1878, and where rears ago they began making for themselves the harbour of Pago Pago. Upolu and Sawaii could not be separated, for the two islands formed an eccnomic whole. On the other hand, a separation between Upolu and Sawaii on the one part and Tutuila on the other is perfectly feasible. This separation was in my mind when 3 year ago, in the Budget Committee I spoke of a 'clean severance' in Samoa as the aim which I bad in view. I bare pleasure in stating that the Americans have not hindered but rather furthered this clean severance.

We hope that the relations between Germany and the United States in Samoa will be friendly, even as the relation between the German and American Commissioners on the Samoa Commission have been thoroughly friendly. I should like also to mention that there is not a single German in Tutuila, and that the only German subject lives on the small adjacent island of Manua. Our relation to the Tonga Islands has always been a very indefinite one, despite the Treaty of Friendship of 1876. We possessed the right to establish a coaling station there, but for 23 years did not assert that right. Our economic relations with the Tonga Islands have been constantly on the decline.

German trade in 1897 was to British commerce there in the proportion of one to three, and German maritime trade was in the ratio of one to thirty as compared with British. In these circumstances we have given up no substantial interests in the Tonga Islands, renouncing only our right to protest against a British CESSIONS TO GREAT BRITAIN. It was obvious from the first that from the standpoint of practical politics we should have to compensate Great Britain in some way for her rights in Samoa, which were formally as well founded as our own. We have, therefore, ceded to Great Britain the Solomon Islands lying to the east and south-east of Bougainville. We keep our principal island Bougainville and the island of Buka, which projects from it.

In these two islands there is the possibility of future colonisation. Some German trading settlements already exist at Bougainville, and there is a good harbour at Buka. The islands of Choiseul and Szabel, which we have given up, could not be opened up at all. They have no especially favourable maritime position, and the chief interest in the islands is the right to hire labourers there. This right we bave expressly retained in our Agreement with Great Britain.

As regards the partition of the neutral zone in Togoland, it had become an absolute necessity to have a settlement of affairs in the hinterland of Togo if a perfectly insupportable state of things was not gradually to arrive there. We leave the western part of the neutral zone with Salaga to Great Britain. The importance of Salaga as a commercial centre has greatly diminished during the last few years. We obtain Yendi and Chakosi, and we shall command in the future an important trade route which runs from Yendi to Mauau. In the yearly report of the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce of 1809 there is the following reference to the partition of the neutral zone: The partition of bitherto neutral territory between Togo and the British Gold Coast Colony has established security in affairs there which is more valuable than the possession of a few square miles more or I should like to express my concurrence in this view, and to add that we keep that very part of the neutral zone which best serves our purpose, which is the most convenient for us, and which also offers us the best economic prospects." GERMAN RIGHTS IN ZANZIBAR.

"Concerning our extra-territorial right in Zanzibar, it had actually become a shell without the kernel, and even this empty shell was ours only until 1902. But we have expressly stipulated that we only surrender our extraterritorial rights in Zanzibar when the other Powers to whom the same right belongs have done the same. Furthermore, we have concluded a special Agreement with Great Britain and America, providing that all claims to compensation which may be raised in consequence of last year's troubles in Samoa (the German claims are estimated at almost 400,000 marks) shall be submitted to an impartial Court of Arbitration. This agreement is at present before the American Senate. it proposed that the King of Sweden shall be arbitrator.

I think we may anticipate that his decision will be in accordance with the principles of fairness and justice. We thus receive the two islands of Upolu and Sawaii. The economic value of these islands is considerable to us. German colonisation and trade have existed there for a long time, and the major part of the islands is in German hands. I hope that the economic value of the islands will advance still further under German rule, to the advantage of our countrymen there, who have by long and often arduous labour gained for themselves the position on which we have leaned to secure these islands finally for Germany to the advantage also of the Samoans themselves, whom we desire to rule with firmness and a sure band but without needless barshness, which would be out of place with people like the Samoans.

The maritime importance of these islands is also considerable to our trade and shipping, not only with Polynesia but with the whole west coast of America. This maritime value will probably largely increase, and within a measurablo time, as soon as direct communication is established between the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic. The highest value which I attach to Samoa is its worth to German sentiment and German amour-propre. It is, I admit, possible that the sentimental value which We Germans attach to Samoa is greater than the considerable material value which, as a matter of fact, these islands possess. But a great deal of German blood has been shed in Samoa.

Then, again, the acquisition of Samoa had become for us a question of prestige and national dignity. I hope and believe that the acquisition of the islands will prove advantageous to our colonial, economic, and maritime interests, but at the same time I think that the treaties concluded are satisfactory to all parties concerned. In conducting the negotiations I did not make it my object to overreach the other Powers. That is not our manner of dealing. I rather endeavoured to see that we should not ourselves be outdone, and directed my efforts to seizing the proper moment for concluding the treaties.

I should be specially grateful to the House if it would give its approval to the treaties concluded by us, which are the fruit of long and tedious negotiations, and would enable us to proceed to their ratification as 8000 as possible and to let them finally come into force." (Cheers.) Herr Hasse (National Liberal) raised some constitutional objections against the Bill, and said that it would be best to make Samoa subject to the Imperial Naval Department, a similar arrangement in the case of Kiao Chau having proved satisfactory. Baron von Richthofen, Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, subsequently announced a supplementary estimate for Samoa would be subthat mitted at an early date. The Bill was then passed on first and second FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT. MADRID, FEB. 12.

A traveller who has recently arrived at Pontevedra from Brazil has developed serious symptoms of bubonic plague. He is being carefully isolated, and every precaution is being taken to prevent a spread of the disease. THE CHINESE THRONE. PEKIN, FEB. 12.

The has notified the Legations that the Emperor will receive the Foreign foreign Ministers at the customary audience on the 19th instant. Last year no audience was held owing to the Emperor's ill This notification is regarded as important at the present juncture as indicating a desire to produce a reassuring effect after recent events. PARIS, FEB. 12. The Figaro states that the Pope has charged Monsignor Favier, the Bishop of Pekin, to present a very valuable porcelain vase to the Empress of China as a token of his Holiness's Dowager appreciation of the decree officially recognising the Roman Catholic religion in China.

Our Nice Correspondent telegraphs that Sir Charles Rivers Wilson, while travelling cD the Paris, Lyons, Mediterranean Railway on the way to Borand dighera on Sunday, was robbed in the train of nearly £250. The Nice and Monte Carlo Police are in search of the thieves FEBRUARY 13, 1900. 7 WAR. TUGELA RETIREMENT. OFFICIAL REPORT.

RECENT CASUALTIES. We are absolutely without news from the seat of war referring to any later date than Saturday ing. Such telegrams as have come refer to earlier events which they explain. Mr. Prevost Battersby, in 8 letter written at Capetown on the 23rd of January states that Lord Roberts would allow of no movement until the transport organisation should be complete.

The importance of the statement is the inference which must be made that, when Lord Roberts permitted movements last week, the transport was all ready. The arriral of the Commander-in-Chief at Modder River was expected to be the signal for action. It is possible that before beginning his move Lord Roberts may wish to hear Lord Methuen's report on the course of the campaign in his part of the theatre of war, as well as to consider, after seeing for himself the nature of the country, the arrangements for his first steps. This would account for a pause of two or three days. of Sir Redvers Buller's movements since the abandonment of Vaal Krantz and the withdrawal south of the Tugela nothing has been reported.

The Boers are said to have begun to move south from their position on the south bank at Mount luhlawe, and an attack on the British communications would be their natural move. As yet there is no report of any counter move by Sir Redvers Buller. But if the great dificulty of dealing with the Boers is their fortified positions any indication of an offensive on their part ought to he the signal for a British counter stroke which could not then be met by more than hastily improvised defences. Mr. W.

S. Churchill, in a letter which we publish this morning, throws a new light on the causes of the immobility of the British force in Natal. The Army drags after it a huge train, of which a large part is required to carry tents for the troops. In camps where a large force is intended to stay for some time, and which are accessible by railways, as at Frere or Modder River, it is no doubt wise to provide canvas shelter for the men. But in a turning movement, such as that by Trichard's Drift, rapidity of movement is essential, and at may be doubted whether any Army which has over carried tents has moved at a great pace.

The subject is not one for dogmatism: the question of tents or no tents has long been debated in all Armies, and the modern practice on the Continent, where thirty years ago tents were rejected as hindrances to mobility, has veered round in favour of some sort of shelter for the men. The modern Continental tent, however, is a portable affair, and each man carries himself the strip of canvas which forms his share of the common roof. The question is to some extent one of climate, and in the recent rains the choice perhaps lay between movements and enteric fever. general always has more things to think about than the direction and purpose of his marches, and 11 is with overcoming the difliculties inherent in all movements of large bodies of troops that half the anxieties of every commander are concerned. But a protest against 100 much comfort, coming from the Army in the field and from an experienced campaigner like Mr.

Churchill, deserves consideration. It recalls a tradition of superfluous in the field with which the British Army has 111 the past had to contend, and from which it- best generals both in former times and in our own day have usually liberated it. SPENSER WILKINSON. OFFICIAL DESPATCHES. from the War Office and the Admiralty BULLER'S REPORT.

FROM LORD ROBERTS TO SECRETARY OF STATE We have received the following official despatches FOR WAR. MODDER RIVER, FEE. 11, 12.55 P.M. I have received the following telegram from Buller, dated February 9: was necessary, after seizing Vaal Krantz, to entrench it, as the pivot of further operations, but I found, after trying for two days, that owing to the nature of the ground this was not pracucable. It was also exposed to fire from heavy guns which tired from positions by which our artillery was dominated.

It is essential to troops advancing on Ladysmith by Harding or Monger's Drift to hold Vaal Krantz securely, and accordingly we are not pressing an advance by those roads, as I tind we cannot make it secure. OFFICERS AT PRETORIA. FROM GENERAL OF COMMUNICATIONS, CAPE, TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR. CAPETOWN, FEB. 11.

A telegram received from Pretoria states that Major H. J. Seton. 2nd Batt. Royal Irish Rifles, convalescent, and Major Hi.

L. Welman, End Batt. loyal Irish Rides, doing well. MACDONALD'S LOSSES. FEM THE GENERAL OF COMMUNICATIONS, CAFETORN, TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR.

Casualtics Koodoosberg February 7 DEATHS FROM WOUNDS FEBRUARY 8. Captain C. Eykyn, 2nd Royal Highlanders. 6131 Pt. A.

Purvis, 2nd Batt. Seaforth Highlanders. WOUNDED. 1st HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY. 3349 Sgt.

Keegan, 4426 Pt. J. Dobbs. 2ND BATT. SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS.

2930 Pt. R. Clarke, 2940 Pt. G. Askill, 3691 Pt.

Swan801, 3379 Pt. R. Brads, 1700 Sgt. P. Munro.

ROYAL HORSE GUARDS. 763 Pt. J. Covington. ON FEBRUARY 8.

3RD GRENADIER GUARDS. 4540 Pt. G. Simms. 2ND COLDSTREAM GUARDS.

Pt. M. Donoghue, 8936 Pt. W. Fudge.

3430 Pt. C. Short, let York and Lancaster died from wounds February 10 at Frere. Tpr. E.

A. Dampier, Brabant's Horse, previously reported missing at Penhoek February 7, is killed. 3403 (:) Tpr. A. Bell, 6th wounded Dragoon Guards, was slightly on February 2.

The following men of Brabant's Horse are reported as missing from Penhoek February 7: H. F. Clarke. Tpt. E.

A. Tpr. J. Becher. reported killed).

Dampier (since Tpr. D. Bullock. Tpr. M.

Holm.es. Tpr. J. H. COLESBERG CASUALTIES.

FEB. 11. Casualties Rensburg February 9: KILLED. AUSTRALIAN MOUNTED INFANTRY. 90 Pt.

M. Conway. WOUNDED. AUSTRALIAN MOUNTED INFANTRY. 100 Sgt.

G. Hensman, dangerously; 51 Tpr. L. France, 97 Tpr. G.

Ansell, slightly 101 Tpr. W. Bird, TASMANIAN CONTINGENT. 15 Pt. Victor Peers.

MISSING. TASMANIAN CONTINGENT. 51 Lance-Corp. C. Hynes.

53 Pt. W. Sutton. 30 Pt. A.

Button. 50 I't. A. Gillham. 59 P't.

C. Brothers. 9 Pt. M. H.

Swan. 6399 Pt. C. Nelson, 1st Hizbland Lt. severely wounded wrist, February 10, at Koodoosberg.

Information has been a received that Sgt. Linehan, 2nd Batt. Royal Dublin Fusiliers, died at Pretoria Decem- ber 16, 1890. OTHER LOSSES. CAPETOWN, FEB.

11. Following deaths have occurred: SSTH BATTERY FIELD ARTILLERY. -3183 Gor. Thomas Richardson, at Orange River on February 9, from enteric fever. 1sT BATT.

NORTH LANCASHIRE REGT. -5361 Pt. Charles Henry (3301 is H. Chantler), at Orange River on February 9, of pneumonia: 3336 Pt. R.

Staules, at Wynberg on February 10, of abscess on liver. 1sT BAIT. SCOTS GUARDS. -497 Pt. J.

W. Thompson, at Wynberg, of gunshot wound, on February 10. 1ST BATT. MUNSTER FUSILIERS. -5946 Lance-Corp.

C. Grimes, at Orange River on l'ebruary 9, of enteric fever. Recruit for Corps of Irregulars named Thomas Usher accidentally killed on railway Matjesfontein, January 30. LADYSMITH LIST. FROM GENERAL OF COMMUNICATIONS, NATAL, TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR.

PIETERMARITZBURG. The following casualties are reported from Ladysmith DEATHS FROM DISEASE, 19TH HUSSARS. has since been found. DEATHS IN NATAL FROM THE COMMANDANT, FRERE, TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR. 4018 Lance.Com S.

S. Panther, died February 7. 4005 1't. W. Andrews, died February 3.

2ND KING'S ROYAL RIFLE CORPS. 8678 Lance-Corp. W. Maskell, died February 7. 8944 Pt.

O'Hearne, died February 8. SE. 4119 Col. -Sgt. H.

Boxall, died February 7 of wound received January 6. 2ND BATT. RIFLE BRIGADE. 2773 Pt. J.

Ward, died February 7. 3976 Pt. J. Drinkwater, February 7. 3563 Bgir.

I'. Willis, died February 3. died, 5326 Pt. W. Blaker, died February 5.

1sT BATT. MANCHESTER REGT. 4312) Corp. S. Harp, died February 8.

4017 1't. J. E. Yates, died February 3. 1ST ROYAL IRISH FUSILIERS.

4312 Corp. J. Kennedy, died February 3. 1ST LIVERPOOL REGT. 5671 Pt.

H. Riley, died February 5. 21ST BATTERY ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY. 10TH MOUNTAIN BATTERY RL. ARTILLERY.

64033 Gnr. G. Lambert, died February 7. now 91794 Bomb. W.

Rowe, died February 8. 67TH BATTERY ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY. 11656 Gnr. R. Wooldridge, died February 8.

42ND BATTERY ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY. 87775 Gur. J. Wilson, died February 9. NATAL CARBINEERS.

Tpr. Cyril Charman, died February 9. WOUNDED. IMPERIAL LIGHT HORSE. 552 Tpr.

F. F. Baldwin, slightly, February 6. 2ND BATT. RIFLE BRIGADE.

4065 1't. W. Ingram, severely, February 7. 1sT LEICESTER REGT. 5361 I't.

E. Ashwell, severely, February 8. Pt. Glaisger, 19th Hussars, reported missing January 27, FRERE CAMP, FEB. 11.

6049 Pt. J. Wingate, 3rd Batt. King's Royal Ride Corps, died of dysentery on February 3634 Pt. S.

Openshaw, 2nd Batt. Lancashire Fusiliers, died of wounds on February 10. 3287 Pt. J. White, 2nd Batt.

Middlesex died of fever on February 10. FROM THE GENERAL OF COMMUNICATIONS, NATAL, TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR. PIETERMARITZEURG, FEB. 11. 9399 Corp.

E. Etheridge, 3rd King's Royal Rifle Corps, died of gunshot wound, right shoulder, on February 9, Mooi River. 4233 Pt. Mason, 1st Batt. Rifle Brigade, died of dysentery on February 9.

TRANSPORT ARRIVAL The Secretary of the Admiralty announces that the transport Persia, with Cavalry remounts and Mounted Infantry horses, arrived at Capetown on Sunday. Captain CECIL. of the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Highlanders, whose death is reported from Capetown as having place at Koodoosberg on February 8, was in taken, his thirty -third year, and was serving in his first campaign. He was born on June 1867, and entered the Royal Highlanders from the Militia on July 6, 1889, became lieutenant on January 29, 1891, and captain on November 30, 189S. WESTERN BORDER.

THE HIGHLAND BRIGADE. FROM H. F. PREVOST BATTERSBY. OUR WAR MODDER RIVER, FEB.

11, 4.30 P.M. In consequence of accounts detracting from the gallantry of the Highland Brigade at Magersfontein, I am forwarding by post full particulars endorsed by the highest authority. These particulars completely explain all the movements and refute the statements which have been recklessly made. Feeling here is strong respecting irresponsible criticism passed by men who are imperfectly acquainted with the conditions and who viewed the action from a very different standpoint. The Highland Brigade proved at Koodoesberg the splendid material of which it is composed, and the Commander-in-Chief relies on its officers and men with absolute confidence.

Copyright in the United States of MACDONALD'S RETIREMENT. MODDER RIVER, FEB. 11. Lord Methuen ordered the withdrawal of General McDonald's force from Koodoesberg under instructions from headquarters. In the view of military men General McDonald's inove, which was only a reconnaissance, had a most excellent effect.

SKIRMISH AT MODDER RIVER. MODDER RIVER, FEB. 11. Yesterday warm afternoon a party of Boer snipers kept up a fire on our pickets, killing one and wounding two mules attached to the Grenadiers' watercart. The Grenadiers advanced and drove the enemy back, killing one of their number.

LORD ROBERTS'S ADDRESS. MODDER RIVER CAMP, FEB. 10, 4 P.M. Lord Roberts visited the camp of the Highland Brigade this morning, and addressed a brief speech to each battalion. He referred to his past associations with their regiments in India, where, he said, a 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 Seaforths 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 THE POWER OF THE FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT. ROME, FF.B. 10. The Tribuna of Rome and the Corriere della Sera of Milan publish the following telegram from Palermo: occurrence has taken place Commune Siculiana, Province of Girgenti. While very, wealthy landowner named Vincenzo Scaramuzza was returning home from the country, accompanied by an old servant, he was attacked by several ruffians who, after having killed his pony and shot dead the servant, carried off the landowner.

This is the fourth time that an attempt has been made to kidnap Scaramuzza, who, it is feare.l, may not have survived the present shock, since he suffers from heart disease. Policemen and Carabineers, with an inspector and an examining magistrate, have gone to Siculiana. Up to the present, however, everything is wrapped in mystery." Those who deny that a Sicilian question exists, or that the Mafia has any special power, find it rather ditticult to explain away deeds like this. will be instructive to watch and see whether the efforts of the police and of the examining magistrate will be sufticient to dispel the mystery 99 in which this, like most Sicilian crimes, is wrapt. Possibly in the present instance something may be done, for I understand on good authority that since the revelations connected with the Notarbartolo case the police service in Sicily has been more strictly performed, and both the local and the central authorities have been doing their best to give no quarter to then Mafia.

Half the difficulty dealing with Sicilian crimes would disappear if the Mattiosi and ruftians, high and low, could be made to feel that no amount of political 1 protection could sare them from the consequences of their deeds. With regard to this point I haverecently received fromanauthoritative a quarter, where the retroscena of the struggle against the Maftia is thoroughly known, information of the most reassuring description. The Government is determined to gO quietly on punishing all the persons directly or indirectly concerned in misdeeds brought to its notice, and caring nothing whether the culprits belong, to the higher or lower classes of society, whether they possess political influence or not. Violent action will be avoided, because it is felt that a violent blow badly struck is likely to do more harm than good, but the weight of the Government will make itself constantly, quietly, and steadily felt whenever opportunities arise. The one satisfactory thing of which I have recently been able to convince myself is that notwithstanding any ill-expressed ideas in the course of the recent debate in the Senate, the Government is not in the least afraid of the Mafia, determined to fight it in season and out of season.

This should be good news for all honest Sicilians. They may rest assured that any efforts they may sincerely make to strengthen the hands of the local and central authorities will meet with a quick and sympathetic response from headquarters. THE GERMAN EMPEROR. BERLIN, FED. 12.

The Berliner Neueste Nachrichten confirms today the statement of the Hallesche Zeitung that the Emperor William had signitied to Duke Johann Albrecht of Mecklenburg his Majesty's disapproval of the Duke's conduct in granting an interview on political matters--the war in South Africa -to a representative of the Paris. Eclair. PRINCE HENRY OF PRUSSIA. FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT. BERLIN, FEB.

12. The German Press comments in warm terms on the significance of Prince Henry's visit to Vienna. Various events that have characterised the Far Eastern situation since his Royal Highness departed two years ago for China, carrying with him the blessing of his Emperor and of Prince Bismarck, form also the subject for enthusiastic reviews. The good wishes of Prince Bismarck for a bon voyage, much success and happy home-coming, have been fulfilled, observes the Post, in the richest measure for Prince Henry, who returns home with the reputation, which Frederick the Great regarded as not the least desirable, of having in the midst of peace conquered a province. His Royal Highness, on his arrival in Berlin tomorning, will be met at Anhalt station by the Emperor, a guard of honour from the Emperor Alexander Regiment, Princes of the Royal House of Prussia, and the Headquarters Staff.

Adjutant-generals and generals a la suite, and all naval officers in Berlin city will be decorated in honour of Prince Henry's home-coming, which it is expected will be employed politically to promote the prospects of the new Navy Bill, just as his departure two years ago was made to serve the purposes of the Navy Bill that it is now the wish of the Government to supersede. VIENNA, FED. 13. Prince Henry of Prussia left here at 9.30 this evening for Berlin. His leave-taking of the Emperor Francis Joseph was extremely cordial.

THE SUEZ CANAL. FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT. BERLIN, FEB. 12. A St.

Petersburg telegram to the Neneste Nachrichten declares that the suggestions of the French Press to employ the present situation for the purpose of securing the neutralisation of the Suez Canal do not accord with the intentions of the Russian Government, which has no desire to open up a discussion and question that would lead to serious conflicts of opinion without bearing any practical result. THE DISTRESS IN INDIA. The Secretary of State for India has received the following telegram from the Viceroy on the subject of the famine: Standing crops improved by recent rain in North- Western Provinces and Jubbulpur Division, Central Provinces. Elsewhere in Central vinces 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 irrigated crops are good to fair, but unirrigated 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: Punjaub, 178,000 Central Provinces, 1,441,000 Berar, 286,000 Ajmer-Merwara, 107,000 Rajputana States, Central India States, 83,000 Bombay Native States, 333,000 Baroda, 63,000 North- Western Provinces, 3.000 Punjaub Native States, 3,784,000." THE MANSION HOUSE FUND. Last night the Lord Mayor's Fund for the Indian Famine sufferers exceeded £27,000.

The donors yesterday included Colonel Raymond S. Paley, £1,000: Mr. Robert Gordon, Messrs. Coutts and £500; Mrs. R.

W. Barbour, 950; Mr. Lionel Lucas, £100; J. £100; Mrs. Evans, £300; the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, £210; Mr.

Isaac Hoyle, 9250; Messrs. John Swire and Sons, £100; the Chartered Bank of India, Australia, and China, £210 Mr. Alfred Hosling, £100 the Head Master and Masters on the staff of Clifton College, £263 11s. the National Bank of India, £210; Mr. C.

G. Master, £10; Mr. A. M. Tapps, £10 Mr.

P. S. Melvill, £10; Mr. Thomas Smith, £10 Mr. John Hopgood, £10 Mr.

Cecil F. Parr, £10; Mr. W. Cotesworth, £10: Mr. Charles Burt, £21; Major Philip Quirk, £10 Mr.

Godfrey Wedgwood, £25; Mr. W. Brittain Jones, £25; Mr. Frederick Youle, £20: Mr. W.

B. Barchard, £10; Dir. W. Wainwright, £10; Mr. C.

L. Christian, £20 Mrs. and the Misses £25; Mrs. Elizabeth E. Nunn, Mr.

A. F. Govett, £21; S. S. £21; Sir Kenelm Digby, K.C.D., £20; Mr.

Warrington, Q.C., £20 Mr. Hugh M. Macpherson, £10 Colonel F. A. Lucas, £50 Mr.

F. S. Hay, £10: Mr. W. L.

Mercer, £10; Mrs. Ramsay L'Amy, £10; Major-General H. F. Robison and Wife, £40; Mr. R.

W. Cresswell, £10 Mr. Monk, DI.P., £10 Colonel Povah, 910; Mr. L. S.

Celli, £10 Mr. H. Fitzherbert Wright, £10 Miss C. Hardy, £10; Messrs. A.

and W. Nesbitt, £26 53.: Miss Marston £25; Mr. Peter Reid, £21; and Mrs. R. H.

Truell, £10 10s. Messrs. Coutts and Co. have kindly consented to receive donations at their bank in the Strand in aid of the fund. Our Paris Correspondent telegraphs that the Empress is still at the Continental Hotel, Paris, being prevented from leaving for Cap Martin by violent a attack of influenza.

Signor Onorato Vigliani, Minister of State, who acted as umpire in the the Anglo-Portuguese question regarding Manica Plateau in South Africa. died at Florence estarday. WAR LETTERS COURT OSBORNE, MONDAY. The Queen and her Royal Highness Princess Henry, of Battenberg drove out yesterday afternoon, attended by the Ion. Sylvia Elwardes, Mrs.

Farnham had the honour of dining with her a Majesty and the Royal Family last evening. The Queen went out this morning. accompanied by her Royal Highness Princess Henry of Battenberg and her Highness Princess Victoria of Schleswig- Holstein. THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES. MARLBOROUGH HOUSE, MONDAY.

The Prince and Princess of Wales, accompanied by Princess Victoria and Princess Charles of Denmark, arrived at Marlborough House to-das from Sandringham. Miss Knolls, Colonel Sir Nigel Kingscote, and Sir F. Knollys were in attendance. The Prince of Wales went to the House of Lords this afternoon. House Prince this Charles morning of from Denmark Copenhagen.

arrived at Marlborough ARRANGEMENTS FOR TILIS DAY. House of Lords -No Public Bills or Notices, 4.15. House of Commons -Resumed Debate on the Govern- ment's Military Proposals in Committee of Supply, 3. Entertainment at Her Majesty's Theatre on behalf of the Widows and Orphans of her Majesty's Household Troops. Miss Edith Ashby's Grand Afternoon Concert, in aid of the Fund for Widows and Families of the King's Royal Rifles and Rifle Brigade, the Crown Room, Holborn Restaurant, 3.30.

Salters' Company Dinner, 6.30. Rora! Colonial Institute -Dinner at the Whitehall Rooms, 6.15 Meeting, Mr. Everard F. im Thurn on British Guiana and its Boundary," 8. Royal Horticultural Society's Fruit and Flower Show in the Drill Hall, James-street, Westminster, 1 to Annual Meeting, 3.

Lancashire (Rossendale Division) Election--Polling. The Primrose League- -Meetings at Dover, Daventry, and Wragby. Mid-Armagh Division Election -Declaration of the pull. Imperial South African Association-Meetings at Newport (Mon.) and Hornton. Mr.

M. Campbell Johnston, of the United Club, will speak at St. Olave's, Southwark. National Education Association- -Annual Meeting, National Liberal Club, 2.30. Hunters' Improvement Society -Council Meeting, 12, Hanover 2.30.

Farringdon Dispensary -Annual Meeting of Governors, 17, Bartlett's-buildings, Holborn-circus, 4.30. Parents' Elucational Union Morley Fletcher At Horne, 98, Harley-street, to 11 Dr. Schorstein on Over-pressure," 9. Gresham College -Professor W. I.

Wagstaff delivers the First Lecture of a Course on The Calendar and its Makers," G. Scientific and Learned Societies-Roral Institution, 3: Royal Asiatic Society, Society of Biblical 4.30 Royal Photographic Society (annual), 8: Institution of Civil Engineers, Childhood Society, 8 Anthropological Institute, NOTICE. Sale at Dicking and Jones', Regent-street. Everything reduced in price. The following guests arrived yesterday at the Castle, Dublin, on a visit to the Lord Lieutenant and Countess Cadogan: The Countess of Fingall, Countess Annesley, the Earl and Countess of Listowel, Viscountess Marsham, Kathleen Cole, Sir Maurice and FitzGerald, Colonel the Hon.

C. Crichton and Miss Crichton, Captain and Mrs. Greer, Miss Farquharson, Colonel 'Calmont, M.P., and Mrs. Hurley. Lady Alfred Churchill has been very ill at the South Kensington Hotel with severe influenza, but is going on well, and hopes to be able to leave for the South of France in a few weeks.

Mr. Gerald Balfour was stated last night to be going on well. Mr. Wyvill, M.P., Mrs. Wyvill, and the Misses Wyvill have arrived at 72, Queen's-gate for the season.

Mr. and Mrs. William Tayleur returned to England yesterday by the P. and O. steamer Australia.

A marriage has been arranged, and will take place aiter Easter, between the Hon. Walter Boyle, son of the late Earl of Shannon and of Julia Countess of Shannon, and Ethel Horatia, second daughter of Mr. and Lady Victoria Rowe, of Thorncombe, Guildford. The marriage will take place on the 21st of April of Captain George Wyndham Chichester Knatchbull, Indian Staff Corps, eldest son of the late Lieutenant-General R. E.

Knatchbull, R.A., and Constance, second daughter of Alexander Marsden, M.D., F.R.C.S.E., Consulting Surgeon to the Royal Free and Cancer Hospitals, London. The marriage arranged between Lieutenant B. 0, Roe, B.S. second son of Sir Charles Roe, of Holywel Oxford, late Chief Justice of the Punjaub, and Alice, eldest daughter of the late Edward Castleman, of Chettle, Blandford, Dorset, and of Mrs. Castleman, will take place in Bombay in April.

A marriage, has been arranged, to take place shortly, between Mr. Charles II. C. Du Cane, of Braxted Park, Essex, and Miss Dorothy Coulson, daughter of Colonel W. I.

B. and Mrs. Coulson, of Newbrough Park, Fourstones-on-Tyne, Northumberland. A marriage has been arranged, and will shortly take place, between Falconer L. Wallace, only son of Alexander F.

Wallace, of 20, Hyde-park-gardens, and Kathleen Annie (Kittie), eldest daughter of Rear-Admiral Arthur C. H. Paget, 4, Sussex-place, Southsea. At the Catholic Church of St. Mary, Cadoganstreet, Chelsea, yesterday morning a Requiem Mass was celebrated for the repose of the soul of the late Lieutenant-Colonel Don Jose Rivera Lopez, Military to the Spanish Embassy in London.

The coffin was draped with the Spanish flag, and had on it the plumed car, sword, and decorations ef Lieutenant-Colonel Lopez, while choice wreaths hung about the catafalque, the most ornate having been sent by the Spanish Ambassador, who was present, attended by Don Pedro Jovery Tovar, first secretary Don Felix Varquez de Zafra, and Don J. Perez del Pulgar, hon. The Countess Casa Valencia, wife of the late Ambassador; Mr. and Mrs. Mr.

Torras Rivas, secretary to the Mexican Legation, and Mr. Ramarez, were among the personal friends of the Count who assembled at the church. Commodore Warleta, Chief of the Spanish Royal Naval Commission, was also present. Major-General Trotter, Commanding the Home District, and Captain G. D.

White, A.D.C., represented the War Oilice. Father Davies chanted the Ritual, and the Bishop of Emmaus pronounced the Absolution. A detachment of the Scots Guards and the Grenadier Guards escorted the coffin on a gun carriage to St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Kensal-green, where the interment subsequently took place. The State Apartments at Windsor Castle will be clesed on and after to-day.

Her Royal Highness Princess Christian has consented to open the garden festival and sale to be held in aid of the Orphanage at St. John's Home, Clewer, on May 20, 30, and 31. The Grosvenor Club, Bond-street, give an afternoon At Home on Thursday, the 22nd at four o'clock. Miss Alice Simmons, a new Australian operatic soprano, will make her first appearance, also Mr. Marri Moucrieff, Mr.

Frank Boor, and Mr. Mervyn Deue. Bocchi's Sextet will play. Among those who attended the Dudley Gallery private view on Saturday afternoon were the Earl of Strafford. the Countess of Darnley and Lady Alice Bligh, the Ladies Boyle, Lady Hutt, Lady Collins, Lady Campbell, Lady White Cooper, Sir George and Lady Dallas, Amy Lady Coleridge, Lady Lysons, Colonel and Mrs.

Tufnell, Admiral and Mrs. Fenwick, the Archdeacon of London, Mr. and Mrs. Hope Wallace, Lady Coutts Trotter, Mrs. Makgill Crichton, Lady Powell, Sir Eustace Piers and Miss Piers, Lady Hope, Mr.

and Mrs. Farquhar, General Anderson, Lord and Lady George Campbell, Lady de Gex, Mr. and Lady Helen Clifford Mellor, Lady Harriet Lindsay, and Lady Vavasour. Among the latest contributions to the Prince of Wales's Hospital Fund for London are the following: Annual subscriptions: Mr. John Aird, M.P., £105 Messrs.

John Aird and Sons £105 Mr. Samuel Lewis £105; Mrs. Aird 925 Mr. Edward Weatherby £20. Donation Messrs.

Crosse and Blackwell £105. For the Morning Post Embankment Home we hare received 103. from F. D. The Church Army officials acknowledge gifts of clothes from Mrs.

A. G. Scorer, Mrs. Ramsay, Dr. C.

E. Harver, and several anonymous donors. THE CHINESE MINISTER AT -The Chinese Minister, visiting Glasgow Exchange yesterday, said he had imposed on himself the enormous task of becoming acquainted with the most representative industries of the United Kingdom, with the the object of improving international and commercial relations between one of the most powerful Empires in the West and one of the most populous and ancient Empires in the East. British merchants thought they had almost exhausted the study of Chinese requirements, but they had scarcely touched the fringe. His definition of modern civilisation was a multiplication of our wants and the means of supplying them.

Buyers had to know what they wanted, and sellers had to show what they had to to to sell. In China they hardly knew Glasgow. They wanted to to to know where to buy and what to buy. His Excellency for concluded by calling for cheers Queen Victoria. FROM OUR SPECIAL THE DASH FOR POTGIETER'S FERRY WRITTEN BY W.

S. CHURCHILL. CAMP, SPEARMAN'S HILL, JAN. 13. Secrets usually leak out in a camp, no matter how many people are employed to keep them.

For two days before the 10th of January rumours of all impending move circulated freely. There are, moreover, certain signs by which anyone who 19 acquainted with the under machinery of an Army can tell when operations are imminent. On the 6th we heard that orders had been given to clear the Pietermaritzburg hospitals of all patients, evidently because new inmates were expected. (n the 7th it was reported that the hospitals were all clear. On the 8th an ambulance train emptied the field hospitals at Frere, and that same evening there arrived seven hundred civilian stretcherbearers -brave men who had volunteered to carry wounded under fire, and whom the Army somewhat ungratefully nicknames The Body Snatchers." Nor were these grim preparations the only indications of approaching activity.

The commissariat told tales of accumulations of supplies--twenty days' packed in waggons-of the collection of transport oxen and other details, meaningless by themselves, but full of significance when viewed side by side with other circumstances. Accordingly I was scarcely surprised when, chancing to ride from Chieveley to Frere the afternoon of the 10th, discovered the whole of Sir Charles Warren's Division added to the already extensive camp. This was the first move of the complicated operations by which Sir Redvers Butler designed to seize the passage of the Tugela at Potgieter's Ferry: (seven battalions, comprising Coke's and Woodgate's Brigades and live batteries) from Estcourt to Frere. When I got back to Chieveley all was bustle in the camp. Orders to march at dawn had arrived.

At last the long pause was tinished, waiting was over, action had begun. THE CHIEVELEY PROGRAMME. So far as Chieveley was concerned the following wAs the programme: Barton's Brigade to entrench itself strongly and to remain before Colenso covering the head of the line of communications Hildyard's Brignde to move westward at daylight on the 11th to Pretorius's Farm; Cavalry, guns, and baggage (miles of it) to take a more circuitous route to the same place. Thither also Hart was to move from Frere, joining Hildyard and forming Clery's Division. Warren was to rest until the next day.

force for the relief of exclusive of Barton's Brigade and communication troops, was organised as follows Commander-in Chief: Sir REDVERS BULLER. CLERY'3 DIVISION, WARREN': DIVISION, consisting of consisting of Hillyard's Brigade, Lyttelton's Brigade, Hart's Brigade, Woodgate's Brigade, 1 Squadron 13th Hussars, 1 Squadron 15th Hussars, 3 Batteries, 3 Batteries, R.E. P. E. CORPS TROOPS.

Coke's Brigade (3 battalions), 1 Field Battery R.A., 1 Howitzer Battery 247 Naval guns and Naval Brigade, 8 long range Naval 12-pr. guns, 1 Squadron 13th Hussars, R.E., CAVALRY (DENDONALD). 1st Royal Dragcons. 14th Hussars. 4 Squadrons South African Light Horse.

1 Squadron Imperial Light Horse. Bethune's Mountel Infantry. Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry. Squadron Natal Carbineers. 1 Squadron Natal Police.

1 Company K. R. R. Mounted Infantry. Six machine guns.

Or, to sum the whole up briefly, 19,000 Infantry, 3,000 Cavalry, and 60 guns. THE MARCH FROM CAMP. All were busy with their various tasks- Barton's Brigade entrenching, making redoubts and shelter pits, or block-houses of railway iron; the other brigades packing up ready for the march as night closed in. In the morning WO started. The Cavalry were responsible for the safety of the baggage convoy, and with Colonel Byng, who commanded the column, I waited and watched the almost interminable procession defile.

Ox waggone piled high with all kinds of packages, and drawn by ten or twelve pairs of oxen, mule sometimes waggons, Scots carts, ambulanco wagons with huge Red Cross flags, ammunition carts, artillery, slaughter cattle, and, last of all, the Naval Battery, with its two enormous pieces, dragged by long strings of animals, and guarded in imposing array, with here and there by straw khaki-clad bluejackets, passed 8 troop of Cavalry to protect them or to prevent straggling. And here let me make an unpleasant digression. The vast amount of baggage this Army takes with it on the march hampers its movements and utterly precludes all possibility of surprising the enemy. I have never before seen even officers accommodated with tents on service, though both the Indian Frontier and the Soudan lie under a hotter than the South African sun. But.

here today, within striking distance of a mobile whom we wished to circumvent, enemy every private soldier has canvas shelter, and the other arrangements are on an equally elaborate scale. The consequence is that roads are crowded, drifts are blocked, marching troops are delayed, and all rapidity of movement 1S out of the question. Meanwhile, the enemy completes the fortitication of his positions, and the cost of capturing them rises. It is a poor economy to let a soldier live well for three days at the price of killing him on the fourth. WITH THE MOUNTED FORCE.

We marched off with the rear guard at last, and the column twisted away among the hills towards the west. After marching about three miles we reached the point where the track from Frere joined the track from Chieveley, and here two streams of waggons flowed into one another like the confluence of rivers. Shortly after this all the mounted forces with the baggage were directed to concentrate at the head of the column, and, leaving the tardy waggons to toil at own pace, we trotted swittly fortheir along ward. Pretorius's Farm was reached at n001t tin-roofed house, al few sheds, a dozen the trees, an artiticial pond tilled to the brim by and recent rains. Here drawn up in the plain were the Royal Dragoons, distinguished from spacious the Colonial Corps by the bristle of lances bare of pennons above their ranks and by their great Light horses, one Horse, squadron and of the Bethune's already famous Imperial The Dragoons Mounted Infantry.

remained at the farm, which was that night to be the camping place of sion. But all the rest of the mounted forces, Clery's Diviabout a thousand men, and a battery of hurried forward to seize the bridge the were artillery across Little Tugela at Springtield. So on we ride, trot walk," lightly and easily over the good turf, and winding in scattered hills formations among the beautiful verdant practical of Natal. Presently we entered circular a very extensive basin of countrytopped a ridge and valley of green grass huge apparently on all sides and towards the west blutfs, hills with sloping wall rising of the range above Drakensbergs. range, to the brightly purple from this, some half-veiled Other valleys opened out in thin mist, others which the sun was shining, filled into blue with a curious into light, depths so of that clear one seemed to be looking down the splendours water, and everyone rejoiced in of the delicious landscape.

APPROACHING SPRINGFIELD. But now we approached Springfield, and at Springfield we should find the perhaps if they did not the enemy. Surely the bridge. oppose Tiny passage patrols-beetles they would blow up baize -scoured the plain, and on a before green reached the crease--scarcely perceptible at we distance, in which the Little Tugela a mile's was brought that no Dutchmen flows--word be seen. Captain Gough, were anywhere to man had ridden over the one it appeared, with than that, had actually explored safety more bridge in further side: did three miles on the not believe there side of the Tugela: would was a Boer this Potgieter's and to push on to like seize Potgieter's make to-night.

certain: Perhaps we can a flooded river behind them," They don't like having Springtieid houses, SO we come safely to erected by -three public subscription, a long wooden bridge "-half-a-dozen at a cost of and tree clumps seen in the their tin roofs farms, with no Boers. Orders were to seize the accordingly; and after all had crossed bridge and seized Copyright in the United watered States of.