The National tribune., 1899-12-14
IN SOUTH AFRICA.
A British Defeat-EarIy Move
ments Expected-Details OF
Recent Events.

EeCellt EVellIS.
Dispatches from the scene of war il
South Africa were frequent the past week
and included news of defeat for Gatacre's
forces at Stormberg Aggressive British
movements are expected by Butler and
/ Methuen.
On Dec 5 dispatch of Nov 80 was re-
ceived stating that the Beers occupied a
strong ridge about six miles north of Mod
der River. and that the Lancers had had a
brush with them.
According to the latest accounts of the
| battle of Modder River, the Boer fire was
the hottest on record. and will revolution
| iZe existing theories. 1t was effective up
to 1,6O0 yards, but the casualties among
the prone troops was trifling. 1t was
| found impossible to bring the British am
! munition reserves to the firing-line. Many
| Beers wearing Red Cross badges were
| actually employed in serving out ammuni-
| ton.
The reports of the abandonment of the
siege of Mafeking, although coming from
| various quarters, have not been confirmed.
Apparently Gen. Cronje left there force
sufficient to hold the garrison in check.
| The report of Gen. Delarey, Beer COM
mander, dated Nov. 20. stated that a large
| force of British Nov. 2S attacked his COM
mando at Modder River. Heavy fighting
lasted for hours. Cronje and Delarey took
| up strong positions, the Free StaterS being
reinforced. Delarey had II killed and
wounded, including his eldest son. The
Free Staters' losses are unknown. AT dark
| the Beers retired slowly to their positions,
having prevented the British from forcing
| their way to Kimberley. ......
| On top of this Gen. Methuen reported
| that at Modder River he found 23 bodies
and that 81 bodies had since fioated to the
| surface of the river. The people say that
| some bodies were buried, and others taken
On mules to Jacobsdal.l
Dispatches reached London on the 7th
| indicating that the British sortie from
Kimberley on Nov. 25 was rather serious
affair. There was reconnaissance in
force by mounted troops under Col. Scott
Turner, at dawn. in the direction of a ridge
near Carter's farm. where the Beers We're
strongly intrenched Finding the Boer
pickets asleep Col. Scott-Iurner proceeded
along the ridge under cover. and rushed
the Boer redoubts at 5:25 a. IN. in the face of
a hail of bullets
The Beers hoisted white flag and fired
at the British under its protection before
surrendering. Boer reinforcements were
seen approaching, and the enemy was
keeping up heavy fire from the shelter of
the thick bush. The British did not follow
up their attack at this point.
During the sOrtie an armored train re-
connoitered north and south, while con-
siderable force of British, with field guns
holding the Beers in check in that direction.
At s o'clock, having no force sufficient
to hold the position he had stormed, Col.
Scott-Turner began gradually retiring his
men. He had horse shot under him,
and later a bullet struck him. infiictng a
fatal wound.
Modder River dispatches said on Dec.
that the Beers We're encamped amid the
hills halfway to Kimberley; but it was also
asserted that a large body Of the enemy had
1 t. Il
Orange Free State. Methuen was still
waiting at Modder River for stores, guns.
and ammunition.
Ladysmith has established heliogra phic |
communication with the British camp at
Frere, south OF Colenso. By this means it |
is learned that the hottest bombardment
of the siege took place Nov. 80. The Beers |
got a new big gun i'll position on Lombard's IS |
iill. completely commanding The town, |
and sheiled the British camp that day and |
Friday. The dispatches show that the |
garrison, although still strong. was suffer
ing from confinement, restricted diet, and |
he increasing volume Of The BOer artillery
fire, especially thatof an additional heavy
caliber gun placed in position 5000
Yards from the western defenses The |
dispatches relate that the Beers had dis
covered the most vulnerable points Of the |
garrison, and that Shellng was becoming
disagreeably effective. The rations had |
been reduced, and there was great deal of |
sickness. |
The belief is growing general i'll England |
and this country that the dispatches ema-
mating from Boer sources have given wrong
estimates of their losses. Apropos. Gen |
Butler, Dec. 5, made statement to the |
effect that it lis very difficult to make any
statement in regard TO the enemy's loss |
For instance at Belmont 81 of their dead
were accounted for. The enemy gave Is |
as the number Of killed. There is every
reason to believe that the enemy's loss in |
the fight at Ladysmith on Nov. 8 was over |
800 killed and wounded. Information from
trustworthy, Boer source shows that at |
Hildyard's fight on Nov. % the enemy lost
30 killed and 100 wounded. II is impos- |
sible to say how far these numbers are cor
rect, but it is evident the enemy does not |
admit tenth of the losses suffered. Inter- |
cepted dispatches to Joubert from com
mander show that even the official dis
patches contain decidedly inaccurate in
formation in this respect"
Dispatches from the west reported that |
there was heavy artillery duel at Mafe-
king during the morning of Dec. 2.
1t was reported from Cape Town that the |
Transvaal Government still refused to ac-
knowledge the right of the United States TO
interfere regarding prisoners i'll Pretoria,
insisting that Great Britain must inquire |
through Commandant Gen. Joubert.
On Dec. 8 Pietermaritzburg dispatch |
stated that Gen. Butler and his staff had |
started for the British camp at Frere Gen.
Buffers arrival at the front was held to
indicate that all the preparations for an ad-
vance to the relief of Ladysmith are COM
plete.
TWAS also announced that Lord Methuen
had resumed command and was in nightly
communication with Kimberley by search
light signals. 1t was stated that the con-
struction Of the temporary bridge across
Modder River entailed enormous labor, and
the structure was liable to be washed away
should heavy storm come; that Gen.
Methuen had been obliged to move his
camp mile north in consequence of the
unsantary state Of the stream, due |,