Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-12-12
BOER-BRITISH FIGHT
The Commanding General of the
British Army Tells How 1t
Happened.
PRESIDENT STEYN'S VERSION
The British Appear to Have Miscalculated
the Marching Distance, Were Exhaust
ed and Lost Many Men and Guns
in the stormberg Battle.

LONDON, December l2.-Ine almOSt
complete absence of news from the the
ater of war up to 2:3O this afternoon in
creases the public anxiety so deeply
stirred by Saturdays disaster. Such
seem to indicate that preparations were
about completed for simultaneous at
tacks at the Tugela river and the Mod
der river, dispatches showing that the
British and Beers We're in touch in both
directions Monday. There Is no contir-
nation Of the report of another day
long battle along the Modder river
Monday; but possibly there has been a
resumption Of fighting as reported by
General Cronje last evening, as the
searching lyddite shell fire Sunday was
probably preliminary to an advance.
A strange item of news reached here
from Boer sources, announcing the
Waschbank bridge damaged. This is ta-
ken in some quarters as possibly a con-
tlrmation of a suggestion that the Brit
ish made wide sweep by way Of Help
maakar and are preparing to attack the
Beers north of Lady smith in the rear.
A message from Naaupoort, dated
December II, shows that Gen. French
draw his advanced troops at Arundel,
as it was feared might be the result Of
General Gatacre's defeat Gen. French
reports that his artillery, December II,
forced an advance post of the Beers
south of Colesberg to evacuate its posi-
ton and seek refuge behind a kopje.
There is great indignation in Great
Britain at the ignorance the British in
telligence department displayed in es
timating the Boer strength in Cape
Colony Experts aver that $4,000 Beers
will have to be driven out of the colony
before the passage of the Orange river
cam be commanded.
The Rhodesian force advancing to the
relief of MafelSing reached Gaberones
fort December and found the Beers
had evacuated. The Rhodesians are re-
pairing the railroad as they advance.
The latest news from Mafeking shows
that Colonel Baden-Powell has been
forced to reduce the rations of the gar
rison and inhabitants, but water is
plentiful there.
London, December 12.-The war office
has received the following from General
Forester Walker:
Capetown December 1.-General
Gatacre reports. as follows: The idea
tDt II
certain success, but the distance was
underestimated by myself and local
guides. A policeman took US around
some miles, consequently we We're
marching from $3.50 p. m. till a. m ,
and We're landed at an impossible posi-
ton. do not consider the error inten-
tional. The Beers commenced firing
from the top of an unscalable hill, and
wounded good many of our men while
in the open plain. The second Northum-
berlands tried to turn out the enemy
but failed. The second Irish Fusileers
seized kopje near and held on sup
ported by mounted infantry and the
Cape police. The guns under Jeffreys
could not have been better handled, but
l regret to say one gun was overturned
I'M deep mullah and another sank in
quicksand. Neither could be extricated
in time to be available. Seeing the sit
uation, a dispatch rider to Molteno was
sent with news. I collected and with
drew our force from ridge to ridge about
nine miles. The Boer guns were remark
ably we'll served. They carried accu-
rately 5000 yards. I am holding Bush
mans Hoek and Cyphergat. I am send
ing the Irish Rifles and Northumber-
lands to Sterksstrom to recuperate. The
wounded will proceed to Queenstown.
The missing Northumberland number
266, not 30S, as previously reported.
Cape Town, December 12-It is re-
ported that heavy fighting was heard
all day yesterday in the direction of the
Modder river
Pretoria, December 10.-President
Steyn has sent the following details of
the fight at Stormberg Junction: TIE
British with six cannon attacked the
Beers under Swanepoel and Oliver and
stormed the Beers intrenched positions
on the kopjes. After severe fight they
We're compelled to surrender. The pris-
oners are Major Sturges and six officers,
23O non-c commissioned officers and men
of the Northumberlands, two officers
and about $50 non commissioned officers
and men of the Irish Fusileers. 1t is i'm
possible to state the number of dead or
wounded British. The Beers captured
three cannon and two ammunition wag-
OnS"