The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-12-20
'WONlON THEIR MERITS.
That Is the Inference from The Latest Re-
east ports Of the Boer Victory.
GEN. BuLLER WAS NOT CAUGHT MAPPING
Thc British Were simply OutiouHht
ny the Dutch Fnrmcrs-Uocrs
Had Only Ten Guns All Told.

New York, December ia special to
the Tribune from London. under date of
the goth. says: Bennett Burleigh sends
the Telegraph an account OF the Tugela
river battle which expands the informa-
ton conveyed from other sources. Cen
eral Butler did not definitely mention that
he had cavalry and artillery with both
TANKS, and the inference was that all the
cavalry was away to the east engaged IN
stemming Boer turning movement III
that direction MIR. Burleigh says definite
~ that both cavalry and artillery We're
with each wing. The British front eN-
tended a distance of six miles, while the
marvellous rapidity OF the Boer movements
gave them AS IT, were, a front In the alr,
enabling them to change and diversity po-
sitions as occasion demanded
The Times correspondent says the boers
Ind only ten guns, and adds that the BTU
ish naval guns made excellent practice
yet the Beer artillery did not seem 10 nave
been silenced, and 1t was apparently COZ
onel Longs Intention to get WITHIN range
of the Boer guns which were making havoc
OF the British infantry. In all pronaoiiiy
Buffers troops were under an artillery
uTp, although tHCS VpuiN NV NUM- 49, 49,
Quate reply.
There is lacking confirmation OF denial
of the report that General Methucns com
lnitncatiou has been cut, though what NJ
tie information is available would seem 10
indicate that it is true. In the hrst place.
the silence of the war office and nowspa-
per correspondents, aud In the second
place Sir Charles Warrens division pro
reedins to DeAar, which looks as though
IN
der River column.
The strategy of the Beers so far has been
to operate against the communications OF
the British forces With their great mo
sbility, they can do this with complete mn
punity, retiring on the approach OF
istrong British force or hghting If the
force sent he weak,
Should any considerable force OF Beers
have intrenched themselves south OF Cen
eral Methuen it may necessitate his re-
treat Sir Charles Warren should be able
to clear them out but The most urgent
need for bis troops seems tn he in Natal,
where. at all costs. General White must
be relieved The loss OF thirty six held
guns. six naval guns and 10000 British
troops is one not to be lightly thought oil,
yet IL is apparent that General Butler.
with his present strength. can not accom- :
rlish their relief With General Warren $
division he would have eight batteries OF
artillery and about $4,000 men,
On the other baud, were General War
ren TO join General Methuen in an ad-
vance by turning movement on Jacobsdal
and Bloemfontein, 1t is thought that the
pressure might be taken. of Butler. AS the
Beers would have to detach large enforce
ments to aid General Cronje. They might,
however, decide to block the British game
by allowing Bloemfontein, which Is a
place of no intrinsic Importance, though
| the capital OF Free State, to fall, concen-
trating their efforts OH the capture of La
| dysimth.
| From accounts OF the battle of the Lu-
| gea, it appears that the great feature was
| the extreme mobility OF the Beers. Dur
| ing the action their achievements gal
J loped up TO occupy trenches and the mar
velous rapidity of their movements gave
| them, as 1t were, a front In the air, ona-
| bling them 10 change and diversity their
positions as occasion demanded, This mo-
| bility was equally in evidence at Mayors
fonten, and explains 20 large extent
| the British check. The British yeomanry
and volunteers who have offered them
selves in great numbers for service at the
front, are TO be extensively used The
war office this morning issued state
ment that the government had decided 10
raise a mounted infantry force from tho
Iyeomanry, especially selected for expert
craftsmanship and good riding Lord
Gresham Will be In supreme command.
| This force, operating as mounted infantry,
will be able to fight the Boers with the
| tactics similar to their own.