The Jersey City news., 1899-12-20
NOVEL MESSAGE
Beers Sent Letter to British
Camp in 5 Pound
Shell.
FATE OF BULLER's GUNS
Messages From Durham and
Pretoria Are Contra
dictory.
IBy Cable to The Associated Press.1

l4Sy NehDlc ~ 1ut <AeSDSldteQ <keoS1
LONDON, Dec. 20, 18s9.-It still seems
doubtful whether the guns that General
Butler abandoned at Colenso are in the
possession of the Beers. According to a
despatch to The Associated Press. from
Durham, sent OF on the evening of the
battle, and which has just been receiv-
ed here, the guns remained where they
were left by the British troops and were
covered by the heavy guns of General
Hildyard's Brigade, occupying an in
trenched position. The despatch adds
that the Beers have thus far not at
tempted to cross the river and carry OF
the guns, while advices to The Associat-
ed Press from Pretoria, under the same
date, say that an official Boer despatch
reports that two guns, thirteen wagons
and a quantity of ammunition were cap
tured, besides 20S prisoners.
Further accounts of the Tugela River
battle emphasize the ignorance of the
British Intelligence Department in regard
to the disposition of the Boer forces. The
British were not aware that the Boers
were intrenched along a series OF low
lying hills, Immediately northward of
Colenso Bridge, until staggering fire
compelled them to retreat when the at
tack seemed about to succeed. The Beers
also were in greater strength than anti
cipated.
It becomes clearer also that the British
guns were lost in attempting to get with
showing the latter outranged the British
ordnance, which. in spite of numerical su-
periority, was wholly inadequate to reply
to the long range Boer guns.
The British War once come in for
scathing denunciatdon from the Times
today for not providing effective artillery.
It is pointed out in this connection that
the longer ranged naval guns participating
in the same attack escaped.
There was no news this morning to en-
tighten the general situation. The War
Once reported that General French re-
connoitred northward of Arundel Monday.
December Is. After shelling Jasfontein
Farm, three miles eastward of the Boer
position, the New Zealanders advanced
and occupied the farm. The Boer guns
then opened and the Beers advanced to
the attack, so General French ordered a
retirement.
The latest news from Hlafeking, dated
December 6, has just been received 1t
says a desultory bombardment was con-
tinuing and that sharpshooters were en-
gagged in smart duel mornings and
evenings.
The despatch also described a novel
method of sending a message adopted by
some Boer December 4. A five pounder
explode. It was opened and found to con-
tin letter as follows
Dear Powell Colonel Baden-PowelD-
Excuse iron messenger. No other means
of communication. Please tell Mrs. -
mother and family all well. Don't drink
all the whiskey. Leave some for US when
we get In
The senders signature was torn off.
A special despatch from Durham, Natal.
dated Saturday, December 16. says it is
rumored General Butler called for volun-
teers to recover the abandoned guns and
that a party issued from the camp after
midnight and brought in the guns, which
were uninjured.
Revised lists of the British casualties
at the battle of Colenso show that 1877
non-comInsssfoned officers and men were
killed.
At meeting Of the corporation today,
the Lord Mayor, Mr.. A. J. Newton, an
nounced that 925, 900 had been subscribed
by the large city firms which are contri-
buting the money to defray the necessary
expenses of a force of a thousand yolun-
teers among the city corps. The Lord
Mayor also said that General Lord Wolse-
ley, the Commander in Chief. had accept
ed the offer of the services of these vol
unteers.
Lord Rothschild has given 95.ooO Of this
amount and Mr.. Charles Wilson, the Hull
ship owner, has promised a fully
equipped vessel, which is equivalent to
a gift Of a15,COO, TO transport these vol
unteers.
The Corporation passed a resolution to
confer the freedom of the city on each
member of the Corps.