The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-23
1T MAY BE A BOER TRICK
A REPORT STARTED TO AID
THEIR DESIGNS.
WINSTON CHURCHILL AT DELAG0A BAY
An Unrecorded Sorte at Ladysmith on the
Eighteenth in Which the English Lost
Seven Men Killed and Four
teen Wounded.

London, Dec. 23.-(4.45 a. m.-Satur
day Debated South African dispatches
throw no light upon the present situa-
tion at the seat of war. There is no con-
frmation of the report that Ladysmith
could hold out several weeks longer and
it is feared that this was circulated by
the Beers for their own purposes.
The Daily Telegraph has Il special from
Chieveley, dated December 16th, which
tells how Lieutenant Robertson fell at
Tugela River. 1t says:
'The horses of the Fourteenth and
sixteenth batteries had been killed and
Lieutenant Robertson, Captains Schofield
and Captain COngreve, of the Rifles, at
tempted with gunner volunteers to drag
out the gums. Captain Schofield succeed
ed. helped by a corporal and some men.
Lieutenant Robertson was hit by shell.
Captain Congreve was struck and wound
ed slightly. After a while Captain Con-
greve Captain Foster and Major Baptie
brought Lieutenant Robertson from the
open to IL little ravine where he lay hid
den from the enemy's terrible fire. Four
teen gunners, IA mem of the DeyOnshire
mel Bullock. When the retirement was
ordered these men with isolated parties
Of Devonshires and Scots Fusiliers. to-
gether with some Of the Queens We're
cut off and captured Many fought I'M
i'll late Inv the afternoon. A party Of
G.shcrnnen run into the gauntlet Of Boer
Mausers from hiding places along the
river bank.
AT p. IN. forty Beers approached the
abandoned guns. On espying Colonel
Bullock Captain GOngreve and the 9th
ers in the ravine they called upon the
British TO surrender. Colonel Bullock de-
clined and threatened to shoot although
his party had only IA rifles. The Beers
retired from the guns and parley en-
sued. Then hundred Beers rode up to
within a few yards of the party, but
Colonel Bullock sworc he would not be
made a prisoner. whereupon a Boer
knocked him down with rifle butt.
"Afterward the enemy gave our
wounded wafer and cordials.
''Then, having taken all their arms. am
munition and field glasses they let Them
return by our ambulanceS. Colonel Bull
lock. Colonel Hunt, Major Walter and
Captain Goodwin were taken prisoners.
The Scots Fusiliers lost nearly two COM
panies captured.
A dispatch to the Daily Mail from
Chieveley dated December 18th, esti-
mates the casualties in General Butler
repulse as 1,150 including 332 missing.
1t announces that "a portion of the
British troops have returned to Frere." "
A correspondent of the Associated
Press at Modder River, under date OF
December 18th, describing the changes III
the art of warfare, says:
''It would be almost impossible to take
such position as Magersfontein by as
sault. The modern battle, owing to the
length Of rife range will last six days,
where formerly it would only have lasted
a few hours"
STONEWALL JACKSON'S WAY.
London, Dee 23.-(4:45 Il. m.-SatIrr-
day)-The Daily News sees immense sig
nificance in the fact that Lord Roberts
has appointed ON his staff Lieutenant Col
Cnel Henderson. author of ii life of Cen
eraI StoneWall Jackson, the Confederate
leader and a mam who has closely studie.l
the history of the American Civil War,
especially as he has not served under
Lord Roberts before and is but little
known to him personally. The appoint
ment lis regarded by the Daily News as
proving Lord Roberts belief that what
is wanted in the war in South Africa
is II strict application of Jacks0n's prin-
cipfes. 1t also connects the appointment
with the lumors that General JouPert
served under General StOnewall jackson.