The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-13
UNCERTAINTY or THE SOUTH AFRICAN
SITU4 TION.

What further light ia thrown on the AFFAIR at
stormberR on Sunday morning reveals sim
Rular lack Of Information at Gen. Gatacre's
headquarters OF the topography OF the country
In which he had to act. The whole result de-
pended practically. according t. Gen. Gatacre's
statement, on the one policeman who
marched the force about from half past
q on Saturday night until 4 o'clock on
Sunday morning. and then landed 1t In an Inn
possible position where IL was raked on oil
sides by the enemy's rife and artillery hre.
without possibility OF replying. Gen. Gatacre
himself ack nowledges that both himself and
the local guides underostimated the distance
to be traversed. an error that OF course vitinted
all the calculations based on the mistaken
estimate. This IL most extraordinary
confession and suggests incompetency In some
branch Of Gen. Gatacre's stan. Some comfort
may be derived from the statement OF tho
General that he did not consider the error
Intentional. but that is nothing to the point In
the consequences which may flow from It.
The total losses OF the British are 672 officers
and men and 2 guns. the Beers say3. or these
1t is believed that about 175 fell in the fight
before surrenderlng.
Gen. Gatacre's last report described him as
holding Bushman's Hook and Cyphergat on
the north side OF the Stormberg Mountains.
talions that suffered 80 heavily in the fight to
Sterk stroom junction for rest The Boer
official despatch on the affair puts the number
OF prisoners In their hands at 81 officers and
$50 non com mist stoned officers and men
The absence OF definite news OF the Kimber-
10y relief column and Con. French's command,
as vol as Gen. Gatacre's, since early on Nom
day. cannot be entirely explained by the re-
ported interruption TO tho western cable. az the
east coast line Is In working order. Either.
therefore. their teleRraphlc communications
ore interrupted. or the British War ONCE Ii
withholding news In the hope OF some counter
stroke Of fortune on the part OF Gen. Methuen
or Gen. Butler.
or the former all that is made known IL that
heavy cannonading was heard on Monday In
the direction OF the Modder River. but whether
there had been an attack by one side or the
other is not stated. nor what was the result.
The Boer commander. Cronje. reports fighting
at tho Modder River on Sunday night in
which he maintained his position and cap
tured some fifty British prisoners. Tho
Beers were also reported annoying the right
flank OF Gen. Meihuen's force and his COM
munications at Gras Pan. There are reports
likewise OF Commands operating from the
westward, supposedly coming from Griqua
Town by way Of Douglas. near the junction OF
! the Naal and the Orange rivers.
In Natal the opposing forces are reported to
bo In touch. but the forward movement 40 long
anticipated has apparently not yet begun. A
rumor that the bridge at Washbank had been
damage ed. has led TO the Inference that British
force had crept up In some way unpcrceived
by the Beers. and succeeded In reaching
that locality. ON tho face OF It the thing Is i'm
probable. and the report may also apply to u
Washhank not far from Dordrecht In Cape Col
ony. In which direction Gen Gataors had 40 It
force under Col Dalgetty Just before starting
for Stormberg. the Beers having q commando
OF some eight hundred men In the neighbour
hood
The small relieving force from RhodesIa
trying to reach Mafeking Is said to have
reached Gaberones ten days ago. and to have
found it evacuated by the Beers. who had gone
south. There is q long distance. however.
some ten miles OF track between Aas Vogel
Kor and Lobatsi to be relaid before they can
reach their objective by rail. The garrison
mean while Ia on short rations.
Another sortie is reported from L.adysmth
for the purpose OF destroying one OF tho Bocr
guns commanding the town. The gun was
rendered useless with guncotton. the sortis
party OF 800 men reaching the position unop-
posed. On the return 1t had to fight It's way
through the Beers who had assemb led too late
to save the gun. and lost officers and 80 men
killed and wounded. and made prisoners. A
at LON bard's Kop. the Beers appear to have
been caught slseping