New-York tribune., 1899-12-30
BTLLER'S NEXT BATTLE.
LIKELY TO BE DEFERRED TO THE
MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK-A GREAT
ARMY IN NATAL
downright: 1899: Bv The New York Tribune

ICopyrisht: 1900: BY The New York Trbunel
[BY CABLE THE TRIBUNE.l
London. Dec. so. o. m.-As the transport At
lantian on arriving at Cape Town yesterday
with two battalions of field artillery and an am
munition column for the Fifth Division was dis
matched for Durham. General Buffers next bat
tle is likely 10 be deferred until the middle Of
next week He will virtually have under his
direct command three out Of the Ave divisions
sent to the Cape with a fourth division locked
I'D under White in Ladysmith. The remaining
division is distributed along the western and
northern frontiers. With four thousand men or
the original garrison and considerable cavalry
added he has called three divisions into Natal
for the relief Of a. fourth, instead OF carrying
them into the Free state IN accordance with his
own plan formed before he left London Fail
ure to relieve Iadysmith after so complete an
abandonment of his original plan Of campaign
will be runous to his reputation He is evil
IDENTIFY strengthening his army by all means IN
his power. and will make determined effort
TO crush Joubert's force and rescue the garrison
before the arrival of General Roberts, who will
be due in Cape Town in twelve days
No record has yet been received OF the dis
position made OF the siege train which arrived
at Cape Town on Tuesday. but the news may
have been suppressed for military reasons.
These twelve heavy guns will be a great addi-
tion to the British line Of attack II there are
men trained in their use. | have been informed
on good authority that the new howitzer bat
teries are a recent addition to the British artil
lery and that there are few officers and gunners
capable of handling them effectively. There was
If Wit
Whale Island before the howitzer batteries were
sent to South Africa. and similar training is
now in progress. Much has been written about
the neglect Of the War Office to send long range
guns to the front during the early period Of the
campaign. The truth is that the guns were not
in service. and when found. men had to be
trained for serving them.
TROOPS POURING INTO AFRICA.
After the arrival Of the Majestic at the Cape.
where she is due to-day with two thousand in
fantry there will be only one transport. the
Victorian. with four hundred cavalry to enter
the port TO-, week The Sixth Division will
begin TO arrive about the time Lord Roberts
sumes command so that he will have ten thou
sand fresh troops by the middle Of January.
Five battalons OF the Seventh Division will
start from England next Thursday, and by the
second week in February he will have ten thou
sand additional men. The Eighth Division will
be mobilized early in January. and the reinforce
ments will be increased by ten thousand I'M
perlal yeomanry and volunteers during the next
two months. There will be a steady movement
OF endorsements week after week to the seat
OF war. George Wyndham will have strong
case 10 present in defence Of the War Office
when Parliament meets. for there has been no
lack OF energy and toll In carrying out the mo-
bllization scheme and dispatching the largest
British Army ever organized for a foreign cam
paign.
Veteran officials smile grimly when they read
Winston Churchilrs frantic call for three Brit
ish soldiers for every Boer. and suggest that
that vuture which he met In the woods is still
on his nerves His Outburst in The Morning
Posts" second edition yesterday has invigorated
the aarmists like Mr. Harmsworths Journal
and they are renewing their warfare upon Lord
Lansdowne, Sir Michael Hicks Beach and Cen
eral Woseey and seem determined to drive
them from their posts These antics contrast
strangely with the coolness presence Of mind
and unfinching faith In the army which the ma
ton continues to display.
The most stirring bit of war news yesterday
was a report through Reuter- that heavy firing
had been heard on Thursday In the direction OF
Stormberg, but the War Office failed to confirm
It, since bulletin from General Forester
Walker, under the same date, announced that
there no change in the situation Of Cat
acre and French, with the exception that the
Indwe railway was again In operation
From Mafeking there was a short budget OF
-----------