The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-06
BRITISH PLANS IN NATAL.
WILL TRY TO RLANK TIE B0ERs
BEYOND TRERE BRIDGE.

Won't Attempt TO Repair That Structure
Situation at Lsdysmith Unohsuged-In
the West the Boers Arc Said to he En-
tronched six Miles Back From the Mod
der River-some war Expert. Expect
Methuen to Reeoh Kimberley This Week
Speeiai cask Dsspa,ehs' 70 The suN.
LONDON. Dec. 6.-There 10 no official news OF
any advance By either Of the centres OF opera
tons In South Africa The corresponds In
dulge In speoulations, one protesting that there
Is reason 10 believe that Gen. Methuen
will make a strong reconnaissance northward
to-day. and adding that there 10 confident ex-
pectation that he will reach Kimberley this
week. Gen. Butler In Enthusiastically silent
regarding his doinRs. all the probabilities being
that he Ia not yet prepared TO take the offensive.
There Ia still four or Ave days delay In all un-
ctflcal kilograms from South Africa. Bennett
Burleigh. Of the Telegraph In q long
letter dated Estoourt. Nov. 10. grum-
bles about Con. whites inaction and
the management OF the campaign in
many other respects. He particularly
smphasises q com plant regarding the conduct
OF Admiral Harris, mmandinR the feet, who,
he SAYS, FOR some occult reason has been
Invariably reluctant to afford facilities for the
defence Of Natal. either with guns or mon
from his ships. He ordered the officers and
mon Of tho Tartar. who had landed
with q fsw guns. back TO their ship.
and II was only upon the strong
request OF the Governor. Sir II. Hutchinson.
and others that he was induced TO rescind the
order, He Is blamed for not permitting Capt
Scott OF the Terrible TO quickly prepare
and land naval 12-pounder and other guns
upon land carriages and convey them. with Q
a.. for ha dafa Of
Ladysmith. It 10 notorious that only at the
last moment on Dot. 80. while dsols-
i've action WAS pending at Ladysmith. did
Cant. lambton arrive with long range
l2-pounders and two o.7-inoh guns. week.
a day. a few hours might and there IL no
doubt would. have saved the situation that day
and delayed the Investment OF LABYRINTH. II
not efIectually put an end TO the attempt on
the part OF the Beers.
The Morning Posts correspondent At Est
court. telesraphing under date OF Nov. "a.
Gays: 1T has been decided not to repair the
Frere bridge. but TO deviate"
The same paper publishes a despatch from
Ladysmith. under date OF Nov. "a. saying:
"The situation 10 practically unchanged,
EXCEPT that the Boers have mounted .
new o-inch gun on Middle Hill. There
was brisk Are from this gun
endeavors to destroy the town or iniure civil
ians Gen Joubert 10 reported 70 be seriously
81 with dyseutery, but the truth Of the report
cannot b guaranteed"
The Dai,v MAI says that Gen, Yule. who
succeeded 10 tho command OF Gen. Symons
after the latter hal been fatally wounded
q, Dundee. Is about to return home,
hs heath having broken under the strain o.
tha exposure 10 which he has been subjected
10 Sata. following his arduous cam paig n ny
on the northwest frontier OF India.
The DAILY Mad correspondent at Saauw
Poort teegraphing under date OF Dec.
]. says that there has been recru-
dascence OF disatfection which is prob
ably attributable to false accounts OF
the result OF the Modder River eight. The cor
respondent, In couclusion. says that the Beers
have oecup cd steynsourg aud have damaged
the railway bridgea
A cores content says that Gen Butler has
ordered all his officers to discard their swords
and return them to the stores.
TIE T,sgrdlh's correspondent at Peterma-
r!9hurg. 10 q despatch dated Nov. 80. says that
Gen. loubert, the Boer commander. is alive
AM wei.
PrErEnNlRrrzBuno. Nov. 9o.-tDelayed In
transmssonl,A rpnneT has arrived who left
LABYRINTH on Nov. 10 He says the bomb bard
nent Increased rom Nov. 20 aud was sspe-
saly severe w Nov. %. The losses from Nov.
g. 70 the Tins he left were four killed and
thirty-three wounded