The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1899-12-23
DO NOT CREDIT RUMORS.
London War Office Has No News
from Methuen or Butler.
CENSORED REPORTS.
Further Details of Gen. Buffers Dis
astrous EngaCement-Hopes
Centered on Roberts.


| mistic gave any credit to the rumors that
| Gen. Butler had crossed the Tugela riv-
| er and even they speedily realized that it
was incredible that the war Office would
| refrain from the immediate publication
| Of the news Of such Importance. There
| 5 also no confirmation of the statement
| that Gen. Methuen'S line of communica-
| ton has been cut. though there is prob
| bility of such an event occurring at any
moment. According to the latest news
| from Gen. Methuen. dated Sunday. De
| cember II. the situation appeared to be a
| complete impaSse The Beers were gath
| ering reinforcements and extending their
| fortitications Oh both his fanks, but it
| was believed they would be unable to at
| tack the British position. On the other
hand. 1t was regarded as Impossible Tor
| the British to turn the Boer flank, which
| was resting on the river to the east and
| rapidly approaching the river to the west.
| The Boer lines of entertainments are con
! tinuous and capable of rapid connection
ut many points.
No Additional Light.
| From elsewhere at the front there Is
| absolutely nothing to throw additional
| light on the situation. The newspapers
| are full of stories showing the unanlmlty
| with which the volunteers and yeomaGfy
Lord Chesham, commanding officer of
| the Royal Buckinghamshire yeomanry,
| is to command the force of 1900 yeoman-
| ry which has has been authorized to or
ganiZe for service i'll South Africa. Earl
| Dudley and other titled officers will ac-
company him.
| Some of the papers express consider
| able miSgiYlngS at the troops going from
| India to South Africa. They think the
| risks too great and that it may lead 10
| two continents being ablaZe instead Of
| one.
The most ample recognition is given in
| the press to the great OutburSt of loyalty
of Canada and the remarks of Sir Wi
| frid Iaurier. the premier, and the ca5l-
| net, as representative of both the EnglsE
| and French sections, are specially wei
| coined.
Reports Severely Censored.
New York, Dec. ia dispatch to the
| Herald from London says: At last de-
| ails of the battle at the Tugela are COM
ng through. but it is very slowly. and
| he stories are most incomplete. All the
| dispatches bear evidence of being severe
| " censored. For instance, Gen. Butler 5
| )tlicial report stated that he had lost
'levcn guns, but this fact has been care
| fully cut out of every message by the
ensor, who evidently was in ignorance
| i what news the war Office had given
| 10 the public.
We now know that Gen. Hart's brig
| ade did actually cross the Tugela, but
| lad to bC withdrawn, losing very heavily:
that Gen. Hildyard's brigade was also
'heckCd, and that Gen. Barton's brigade,
| If whose doings nothing has been heard,
failed to carry Inhlawe hill, which is a
| position on the south side of the Tugela
TO the west of COlenSo.
Loss OF the Artillery.
There is no further explanation of the
loss of the artillery. 1T is said that Col
Long, who has been much blamed for
taking his guns too near the Beers, was
probably obliged to do so. In this con-
ncction it is pointed out that Col. Long
has the reputation of being a very good
| Jfiicer. We are expressly told the reason
namely. that he was anxious to get
within effective range of the enemy.
1t is the old, old story" said an artiI-
| icry expert The officers and gunners
| # the Royal artillery are second to none,
| but their guns are obsolete"
Il is certain that the reverses which of
ate have been suffered by the British
have been for the most part the result of
imperfect performance Of scouting duties
not merely the general scouting duties,
which are under the direction of the
| headquarters staff but of the duties for
| which the generals commanding brig
| AIDES. the colOnelS commanding battalions
| and regiments and the major and cap
| aims commanding batteries and compa-
| aicS are responsible.
The British office is. as a rule. especial
| " III the carry part of campaign, 50
| Keen to get ar his work and so eager Ia
| DIN issue at once with the enemy that he
: very apt to forget or to hurry over the
preliminary precautionary measures.
All Depends on Roberts.
$50 much depends upon Lord Roberts
! and Lord Kitchener that it is to be
| hoped" says the Daily Mail, that no
+urther war-office red tape and none of
he jealousies between generals that are
aid to exist there will tie the hands Of
the new chiefs. In the important matter
If artillery. if the two men who go forth
under such immense national reSponSi.
| bility think it necessary that they should
| have the best artillery that England,
America or Germany can provide, let
| them have 1t.
And the government should insist
that Sir Michael Hicks Beach shall be
no longer allowed to further sacrifice of
| tcers and men in South Africa by his
| hopeless notions of imperial finance
Many letters written TO the London pa
pers direct criticism against some de
| partments of the war office and against
Sir Michael Hicks Beach, Gen. Butler
| and Lord Woseley. In the eyes of many.
| Lord WolSeley is held responsible for
maintaining his position as commander
| in-chief for several years. knowing. as
he must have known. that the ant t.quated
! British artillery would be outranged on
| its first meeting with any adequately
armed force.
Fifty-one Added to the List.
London, Dec. l9.-'rhe war office last
evening posted a revised list of the caS!,-
| llties in the battle of Magersfontein, Civ
| ing tifty-one additional killed.
\ dispatch TO the Daily Mail from
| Nauwpoort. Cape Colony, dated Decem
| Der Is. says:
The Beers brought big gun to hea,
! on the British near Naar Kop. The
| British pieces were too small to reach the
/ enemy and after an intermittent artillery
! duel Gen. French withdrew under shell
! fire. but without losses. to Arundel
\ dispatch to the Daily Mail frou
Frere camp says that the bodies of two 81
the guides who mi>led Gen. Gatacre Al
| Stormberg were found on the battlefield
| The men had been shot.
The Canadian Contingent.
Ottawa. Ont. Dee 19.-The second Ca
| madam contingent. which the imperia
| government was notified yesterday woulG
| be DISPATCHED 10 Africa at once. will h.
made up of some 800 men from the
| Northwest mounted police. about al
equal number from the permanent corps
| and the balance recruited from former
mounted policemen. cowboys and other
/ branches Of the militia. The contingent
viii con. prise about 1000 officers and meT
I and will sail from Halifax. The name
/ of Lieut.-COl. Evans. now on his way L
| Canada from the Yukon, is mentioned a:
/ likely to go in command
CAUSE OF THE WAR.