The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-26
WASTED BRITISH VALOR.
BOER TRIBUTE TO THE BRlrERY
OF BULLER's MEN AT THE TUGELA.

Naval Guns Destroy Part of tho Bridge mt
Coicnso. Preventing nm Attack by the
Boers-ynrying Reports About the Dis
affection OF the Dutch in Cape Colony.
Tsciol Cdble De,patoh to The suS.
LONDON. Dec. 26-Except for few official
reports giving casualties and the IN movements OF
small bodies OF troops nothing has been
received from South Africa Of lator
date than Dec. 20. The situation In its
main features. so far as known. con-
tinues unchanged The British naval artillery
Is reported to have destroyed two spans OF tho
road bridge across the Tugela River
at Colenso. thus preventing the Beers
from moving southwark except by tho
fords, which the rise In the river
threatens to make i'm possible. Durham vcr-
sion OF the destruction OF the bridge repre-
sents that part Of the Boer forco is south of the
river and is unable to Join the main body otthe
enemy. Tho reported extension Of the Boer
works eastward probably explains the recently
announced withdrawal Of part OF the British
force TO Frere.
The newspapers print under tho date OF Boer
Headquarters. Coenso. Dec. Is. an account OF
the defeat Of Gen. Butler, which. In concise.
unboastinG language. confirms the En-
gllsh version. II gives in few
words vivid picture OF the wasted
valor OF tho British infantry. II says: Our
Mauser fire was so tremendous that they rolled
back like spent wave, leaving ridges and
ridges OF dead and dying humanity behind
them. Again they advanced to the attack and
again they fell back. swelling the heaps OF
the dead. The veldt for mites around was
covered with dead and wounded"
The report adds that Col. Viebos Marcuil
the French Attachc and the German officer.
lN.1 o .-s
have been improved upon by any army
Lieutenant Of tho Natal carbiniers. who
was wounded on Dec. Is. asserts that thous-
and OF tn" disafIected Cape Dutch joined the
Boers after Gen. Blu ler's defeat
Reports reached Chieveley on Dec. 10. appar-
emily from native sources, that the fire OF the
British naval contingent had completely
destroyed the Beers 6-lnch guns at Grobler's
kloot. and that u British cavalry patrol had
captured Hotchkiss automatic gun which the
Beers used so effectively at Hangwane on
Doc. Is. Neither report is confirmed.
Gen. Warren. II is stated. returned on Dec.
20 to Cape Town. but there 10 no indication OF
where he returned from.
II will be remcm hcred that one case OF horse
sickness was recently reported among tho
British cavalry animals in Natal. No refer
ence has since been made to the subject until
to-day. when the Times. in a Pietermaritzburg
despatch dated Dec. IS. says: Horse sick
ness has broken out"
The correspondent does not say whore,
bat he curiousy reirains from pointing
out the obviously disastrous menace I'M
Piled BIZ the outbreak 10 the British
army. He says. however. with evident truth.
that II the sickness becomes rife in the
enemy's lines II will reduce materially the
enormous advantage that their mobility gives
them in selecting positions and in permitting
their whole force to be- employed on the fight
ing line without support.
The Morning Posts correspondent at
Ch!eveley. teleGraphing under date OF Dec. 10.
says; THE naval contingent are still shclling
the Boer trenches around Colenso. They
have destroyed the ioot-bridge across the
river. preventing the enemy from holding a
position to the southwark. The Beers arc
taking fresh positions TO the eastward nearer
our camp The river is rising. There
ia prospect 0, heavy rains. Inaui-
ries lead TO an estimate that tho
Boer losses on Dec. 10 tthe date Of Buller's de-
fcau were $50 killed and wounded Very heavy
firing was heard in the direction OF Ladysmith
to-day"
Tho Posts correspondent at Cape Town.
dating his despatch Dec. 20. saysi u have
come through Capo Colony to-day. | saw no
signs OF Increasing dlsafYectIon among the
Dutch. except IN tho Queenstown district,
from which reports are unsatisfactory"
The Cape Town correspondent OF the Dolly
Hsrs says under date OF Dec. 20 that Mr..
Gardiner. the manager OF tho Standard
Bank. has arrived from the Queenstown
district. He reports that he drove n few days
ago from Queen stown to Cradock. and that he
found disaffection among the Atrikanders, but
less than he OK psotad.