New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-06
m URGENT NEED OF AID.
msor-IETING REPORTS FROM MAFEKING
AND LADYSMITH-PRIDE IN
ENGLISH ARMS.
rpY CABLE TO THE TRIBuNE.l

lBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.]
Iondon. Dec 6. l a m.-Englishmen are not
weary Of reading belated accounts of the splen-
Sb valor Of their heroic soldiers at Modder
River but they are anxious 10 have their sen
erals prove that strategy is not lost art.
oyerconfdence is the natural result Of the re-
citals Of intrepidity and endurance of each and
every battalion under ere in that engagement.
The phrase is on every lip: Men who could
win that battle cannot be beaten anywhere
but behind that proud boast is the thought that
the generals ought not 10 leave all the work
for the soldiers, but should protect them by
raneuvres and turning movements and not
10 be always fnging the men in frontal at
lacks upon strongly intrenched positions.
Sir George Stewart White correctly forecasted
this criticism when he prefaced his bulletin with
The statement that flank manpuvres were inn
practicable and he followed this yesterday with
an official report to the effect that the Boer
bsses more than equalled his own. since fifty
,odies had been found and others had been
ather carried off or buried. AS this dispatch
sss dated yesterday. 1t was clear that the ad-
vance toward Kimberley had not begun, al
though General Methuen announced that the
sremys morale had been much shaken. The
.elay is explained at the War Office as due to
bridge repairs.
KIMBERLEY THOUGHT TO BE SAFE
The theory Of military men is that Kimberley
d not in imminent peril and that Sir RedVers
Brllar wishes General Methuen 70 hold Cronte's
orce In that quarter rather than TO defeat II
,rematlrely and release II for operations In
Natal They predict that decisive blows will be
nruck simultaneously at Colenso and In front
Kimberley.
While the War Office has received Intelligence
hat Mafeking was safe on November 20 1t ad-
ue,e3 that the investment there was closer
asr ever before. This is confirmed by the
Pal Mall Gazette's" correspondent, but Reuters
!spatches one day later show that the Beers are
using new shells filled with a high explosive
ton ten-ton gun, and that the situation is
grous Colonel Baden Powell has under him
:ozen well known officers Of the British army
addition TO Lord Edward Cecil Of the Grena-
Ter Guards. This group Of officers. connected
Nth dozen regiments. includes Colonel Hore'
Eaior Vyvgen, Major Anderson, Lord Charles
sen'inck, Captain Fitzclarence, Major Cooley
nd others with powerful social connections in
london. There will be strong pressure
brought 10 bear upon the War Office for the dis
'steh Of a relief column TO Mafeking when the
round is clear around Kimberley. Neither Lord
allow the Prime Minister'S son TO be sent as
Prisoner 10 Pretoria Colonel Plumer Is again
Hported officially as holding his ground, with
'snt losses in skirmishes.
LADYsMITH LOOKING FOR AID
IRON Natal only the press dispatches which
@me through yesterday were forecasts OF the
s'hole battle impending on the Tugela River
."'se dispatches were innOcuous enough 10 pass
.He censorship, as were also several belated mes
cages from Ladysmith The most ominous one
"orn George Lynch to THE Echo dated
ehoer 70. which stated that the Beers had
p"eo 80 head of cattle belonging to the
N''''oh and that shells were occasionally doing
mischief. The garrison was evidently
'''Hs anxious eyes southwark The Central
diso has report from runner that the
4'."ohadng has been incessant at Ladysmith.
mat shells are constantly dropping inside
DiIush lines with an increased number OF
"4'es' The British guns are replying stead
49,. ieassuring Sig. that the ammunition Is
nNs out Military men who have assumed
.- 'he condition Of the garrison was more
than the authorities have cared to ad-
-, "Hu confirmation for their fears in mail let
h.', describing General Whites battle at Lom-
49,, hop the day before the town cut off
As, NVdSl. General White was evidently
au IN that attack and his force was
a, -" BACK into the town His troops were In
- 'o"uiuon tc rescue Carleton's battalons. and
'"h might easily have been captured.
ihE COMMANDER IN CHIEFS PLANS.
=, 'ne Siege begun under the humiliating sense
), reverse to the British side ought now, say
-, "hitary croakers TO be broken I'D with the
DELAY evidently
vt. "'eu the necessity for prompt action
u.. ne proclaimed the advance OF General
b.. on Kimberley in order to draw Off the
a. n'ate forces from Natal. Those tactics sue
o. Tor General Cronje was heavily rein
b., ~ from the east before the battle OF Modder
was fought II Is reasonable surmise