The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-26
IN SOUTH AFRICA.

! There appears to be no change at any OF the
! chief points OF interest In South Africa. News
from the Modder River comes down only to the
18th. when everything was reported at q
stnndstlli The British camp was said to
be admirably situatu Tor defence. which
sounds somewhat oddly. its garrison be-
ING a relieving column on its march TO
a blockaded town: and 1t being generally
understood that the assault OF fortified and
intrenched positions does not enter into
the Boer plan OF campaign. Every posi-
tion between the Modder and kimberley that
can be turned to account 10 retard the advance
OF the relieving column lie said to have been
intrenchcd and otherwise made detensi-
BILE. 70 that continuous resistance
has been provided for. Gen. French is, 1t
would seem back at Naauw Poort. and
on the 10Th had srent several hours
Smelling tho Beers at some point unnamed.
after which no withdrew to HIS camp without
having accomplished anything. sterkstroom
news IL down to the 10th only and announces
that Gen. Gatacre had been reinforced and
was forming a body OF mounted scouts and
clearing the country within twelve-mile
radiu, OF his camp OF oil p.alcs over IL
years flag to prevent his preparations and
movements being observed No indications
whatever are given OF the Boer movements at
any point on the west or south. but they may
be supposed to DO actively preparing to re-
ceive the next British advance.
A bclated despatch from Pretoria Of the 18th
gives the Official Boer report OF the British de-
feat on the Tugela. differing little from that OF
Gen. Butler and giving the number OF British
guns taken and brought into the Boer
camp as nine. An interesting statement
In IL Is that the action was witnessed
by the French and German military attaches
with Gen. Schalk- Burghers headquarters.
The road bridge across the Tugela at
Coenso was still intact at the time OF the
battle. In the description given OF the fight
Ing by the Boer General. one thing particularly
TO be noted is the excellent fire discipline OF
the Beers and the absolutely crushing effect OF
the Mauser fire when simultaneously de-
livered from their wel-constructed trenches
in which they were sheltered from the British
artillery fire.
British reports attribute the loss OF their
guns to the rashness OF Col Long who appears
10 have a reputat on for i'm petuosity: but not
sufficient account seems to be taken of the new
lessons being taught by the long-range maya
zine rife In the hands OF good shots and
resolute men. The Boer loss officially stated
at thirty-two killed and wounded 10 not in
credible under the circumstances as described
both by the British and Boer commanders: but
the disproportion as compared with that OF the
British Is enormous nearly one to thirty
five.
Taking review OF the operations since the
outbreak OF the war. the most impressive les
son OF 1t Is undoubtedly the preponderance
now possessed by the defence on ground OF its
own choosing. At MaGersiontein the Boer Are
was SO iustantaneously crushing tina, no troops
could withstand it. and though attempts were
made to renew the assault, the shock OF the
first repulse and the whitening nre OF the mag
azine rifles in the hands OF the defence rem.
dered them unavailing. and the assailing force
melted away.