The San Francisco call., 1899-12-15
FALSE RUMORS
OF THE RELIEF
OF LADYSMITH

LONDON. Dec. 15.-Word Of tho small
success won by General French near
Naauwpoort; the persistent though com
pletely unconfrmed rumor that Lady
smith had been relieved and thousands
OF Beers taken prisoners; reports from
Chieveley camp. under date Of Tuesday.
that General Buffers force was ready 10
move. but that the British accommodating
parties had failed TO draw the fire Of the
Beers. who seemed 10 have instructions
20 mask their positions until our infantry
advances: and Lord Methuen's report OF
casualties. with names OF officers and the
numbers of the rank and file killed or
wounded Ia the battle-these are features
OF the South African news.
Most Of the newspapers IN commenting
upon Methuen's losses refer impressively
20 the great number killed and wounded
in the battles Of the Crimean. American
Civil and Turko-R Russian and Franco
Prussian wars and then go on 10 argue
that in comparison with these figures the
percentage OF loss suffered in the British
advance toward Kimberley is much less
than might be expected when the nature
OF the ground and character Of the at
tack are taken into consideration. Just
the same the newspapers all urge that
the War Office bestir itself and rush
heavy reinfOrcements 10 the Cape as
quickly as possible.
In this connection Il IS stated that the
seventh division IS 70 be modified i'm
mediately and that an eighth division will
be formed and held IN reserve.
BY Sunday four battalions Of the Sixth
Division will have started. while the
troops OF the Fifth Division. now at sea.
ought 10 have begun landing at the Cape
by this time.
As to the rumor OF the relief OF Lady
smith, IL created a scene OF tremendous
excitement on the Stock Exchange. where
the effect Of Gatacre's and Methuens re-
verses had been felt most severely. The
report began 10 be circulated on the ex-
change yesterday afternoon that Butler
and Cleery had relieved Ladysmith and
taken 10000 prisoners. Later on IL was
freely stated that a private telegram re-
celved IN Edinburgh announced that Gen
eral Butler had inflicted decisive defeat
on the enemy.
This caused a wild outburst OF enthusi-
ssm. Brokers yelled. flung their hats in
the air. sang and cheered A nrmer tone
became noticeable. but IL lasted only
little while. as the news agency was
officially informed that the War Office
had received no information respecting
the rumor. IL is said now that the re-
port was got up by clique who were
endeavoring 10 stop the slump in South
African shares.
The British losses at Magersfontein are
S32. Of which more than $50 were in the
Highland Brigade. OF the officers fifteen
were killed and forty-seven wounded.
while SIX are missing. About 5000 British
were engaged, so that 10 per cent were
killed or wounded. The Highland Brigade.
with zoo men down ouft Of its strength of
1900 10 $500. lost 20 per cent
Magersfuntein appears 10 be another
case Of superior Boer strategy or mex
cusable neglect by the British 10 fully feel
the position OF their opponents. although
fuller accounts Of the battle would seem
10 support the theory that the repulse was
due rather 10 accident than 10 any fault
on the part Of the generals or men. Stm
there is much 10 be explained.
The Boer position had been heavily
bombarded on Sunday. but we do not
know that the intrenchments had been
thoroughly examined. IL is probable that