The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-10
THE soUrH AFRICAN INITIATION

The latest news from the various military
headquarters In South Africa indicates q
general movement all along the line. report
| purportnR TO come from the Boer camp before
Ladysmith speaks Of q British sortie and at
tack on the Borr position on Jomb ards kop,
resulting in the disa bling Of Creusot gun and
q howitser and the capture OF . Maxim
gun. after which the British retired.
Another sortie 10 reported to have been
made on the west side under cover
OF q heavy artillery FIRE. without result These
reports need cop nrmation from the British side.
which IL In Photographic communication with
Ladysmlth, but has not yet mentioned the
sorties The details. however. given OF the
preparations for killed and wounded ordered
by Gen Butler and tho com pletob OF the roe
pairs to the Frere railway bridge and the line
to Chieveiey. lead to the expectation OF an
carly advance aud the passage OF the Tugela
by the British, though not without consider
able opposition. Gen. Joubert 10 reported to DO
again with the army around Ladysmith.
The position Of Gen Gstaere appears 10 be
unsatisfactory. his base OF operations being In
a disanseted part OF the country with the Free
staters strongly posted At Stormbsra Junction
In his front and commandos, each several hun
drei strong. on hls tanks Gen. French 10 At
last reported to have begun his advance. and
had reached point on the railroad from Nasuw
Poort to Coisabsrg. about three miles from the
Boer position. 10 force being com posed ex-
olusiveiy Of cavalry and mounted infantry. with
light artillery. Ia obviously designed for rapid
movement and, II Ia expected. will try and
cross the Orange River with the view OF taking
the Free Staiers facing Gen. Gatacrs 10 the
rear. II will also materially Lessen the pres
sure on Gen. Mpthuen's right The Free Staters
WI. II Is said. make no attempt 10 defend
Bioem for. elm. but will make stand at place
70 the southwest OF Il named Bainsvlei.
Gen. Methusn's com m locations By rail and
wire that we're temporarily interrupted By
Gen. Prnsloo's patrols at Grns Pan were
promptly restored hut unless strongly
guarded. are always liable to interruption.
The campaign. which. up TO now. has been
aggressive on the part Of the Bosrs. has
reached the turning point, and the
British have become the axGressors. IL
lust two months to-day that the
war may DO said to have begun. but
oil the fighting that has taken place has heen
on British territory. with the advance OF the
different divisions about to con verge on the
Free State and the Truasvaal. tho Beers are
thrown on the de fensve. and We shall soon see
the value Of their preparations 70 withstand the
British advance to JOHANNESBURG and Pretoria.
the obiectiv-s OF the war. A German ex-artil-
Nr's' VINO mas Sp'ht tu yeers IN tHc irnnrNsh
srcaks n tho defence OF Pretoria a. very formid-
able. and believes tho siege will be prolonged.
He further states that before retiring from
johannesburg there will be q general destruo-
tion by tho Beers Of all the works belong nR to
the great gold ming com "a n les and OF prop
srty generally belonging to those whom they
regard as primarily responsible for the var.
with regard 10 the Boer dynamite gan said
TO be firing on Ladysmith. II IL probably the one
Invented by q foreigner In the Transvaai Gov
eminent service. reports OF the trial OF which
appeared lust before tho war broke out. They
were not at the time thought 10 have been very
successful. but the gun may have been i'm
proved einoa