New-York tribune., 1899-11-24
BOER TACTICS NEW TO THEM
NOVEL SENSATIONS FURNISHED THE
BRITISH ARMY IN SOUTH AFRICA
my CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.


1ordon Nov. "a a. m.-"Big Battle was
rlacareed in large letters on newspaper posters
last night. but it turned out TO be one or the
old kind in the Soudan. where $500 Dervishes
had been attacked by General Wingate with
an Egyptian force and utterly routed, after
sudden irresistible onslaught, over four hun
dred being killed. The Anglo-Egyptian loss
was three men wounded-a low price for a
complete victory. This is the training which
British armies have had for a generation In
fghting savage or semi foes and 1t
has untitled them for battling with the Beers.
who do not mass their forces and cannot be
rushed.
NOT LIKE OTHER BRITISH WARS.
The situation in lower Natal offers a strik-
ing contrast 70 all the conditions Of warfare
10 which the English people are accustomed.
The Dutch allies. after investing Ladysmith,
have turned about to deal with the British re-
lief column piecemeaL BY dividing their forces
into mobile bands OF raiders and cutting in
between Estcourt and the Moot River, and
threatening 10 dash in at Howick between the
Nooi and Pietermaritzburg, they are isolating
one British detachment after another by their
superior mobility without making a decisive
attack at any point, or concentrating their
forces for supre ne effort. 1t is guerilla war
fare. with long range guns and howitzers
added for keeping the British at distance
and is varied by such diversions as horse steal
ing, cattle raiding and looting on a large scale.
John Bull is naturally irritated by these ir-
regular tactics. but he ought not to be amazed
by them, for General Joubert during the war
OF independence dealt in precisely the same
way with one British detachment after an
other, and prevented union Of the various
my dc
tage Of superiority Of numbers. But conditions
are now reversed, for the British force in
lower Natal will be 1900 certainly, and pos
sioy 10000 when the last transport reaches
Durham. and General Whites garrison Of 18. 900
troops Is still unharmed in reserve. Moreover.
'oubert, while blocking the advance of the relief
column by separating the various links in the
'nain' is scattering his own forces without OBJ
tanning any marked advantage
While the situation in Natal was most confus-
ing yesterday, several points were clear at mid
night The Ladysmith garrison remained safe
aHu cheerful at the end Of last week, as was
snown by "The Stars" special dispatch from
ape Io"n based upon a message brought by a
runner General Hildyard was not helpless at
'''couri' for he had made a sortie and was en-
saglng the enemy The bridge was resolutely
aiter two days skirmishing. and there were
suns 10 defend It. Pietermaritzburg was well
sarrisoned, and fresh infantry dragons and
naval guns had been put on shore at Durham
General Butler. moreover, was not showing any
signs OF uneasiness or panic for the only force
sent from Cape Town to Durham yesterday was
small body Of dragons.
STIRRING NEWS FROM THE WEST
news from the western frontier is stirring
me war Office has received reports from Kim
Oefiey 70 November II announcing a weeks in
eHectlVe bombardment and two dashing mid
Nisht sorties by the garrison. The Dutch forces
are concentrating south Of Kimberley in antci-
pauon OF the approach OF Lord Methuen's
ooiumn. which will have arduous work cut out
'or H. as the enemy are on good fighting ground.
from Mafeking there is a message to THE