The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1899-12-08
ACCOUNTING FOR DELAY.
London Military Carcles Specializing
as to Duller's Plan OF Campaign.

NEW YORK. Dec. IA dispatch TO
the Tribune from London, says:
General Clery Is gradually preparing
TO turn the Boer position at COlenso
and relieve Ladysmith. while Lord
Methuen holds General Cronjes forces
al Spytfontein and Jaconsdal. and
General Gatacre is playing with the
Free State raiders among the Dutch
villages OF the disaffecEed district Of
Cape Colony.
The variations Of these three themes
continue to occupy the attention OF
military writers for the London press.
Evidence Is found Of General Buffers
controlling mind In directing the Brit
ish campaign for the expulsion OF the
Free Soaters from Cape Colony and
the relief OF Kimberly.
The defeat Of Cronje's army would
rebease forces Of considerable strength
from operations remote from Natal and
open the way for the concentration Of
a Dutch army at Bloemfontein, whence
rclnfocemmts could be sent to the
Boer laagers betwean Colenso and La
dysmlth Premature action either at
Modder river or on the southern from
tier Of the Free State would tend 10
diminish the pressure now brought 10
bear upon the enemy's camps around
Ladysmlth for "a withdrawal OF por-
ton OF these commands to the passes
OF the Drakensburg range.
These ans the best explanations Of
fered by military men in London clubs
for the continued inaction Of both Lord
Methuen and General Gatacre, and It
is always easy to follow them up with
the reflection that time is on the SIDE
OF the British army. with it's superior
discipline and systematic arrangements
for supplies, ana heavily against the
iIregulSrly organized Dutch forces.
While theories like these ane a poor
substitute for war news, the veteran
officers are glad to accept evidence that
the generals are no longer in hot haste
to attack the enemy in strongly forti-
fed positions without maneuvering for
protection for the infantry from a
deadly fire directly in front
The official news yesterday included
tine casualty list in the sorue from
Kimberly ON November 2>, when the
Boer laagar was surprised and cap
tured This was a serious tigh,, for
% were killed ON the British side, and
81 wounded. South Africans readily
identify two names in the list of killed.
Major Scott Turner was a gallant
rough riuer who had seen much hard
service in Matabel land and Rhodesia,
under Forbes sund Darlington. He was
a fine horseman and man utterly
fearless, with an inbOrn love Of adven-
ture, Lieutenant Wright was famous
as one Of the coolest and most expert
rlflemen in South Africa, and a match
tor the best hunters among the Beers.
An official bulletin also came from
General Fuller respecting the losses Of
the eEemy, which he estimated at 500
killed and WOUNDED before Ladysmith
on November ,, and $50 in Hildyard's
fight at Willow Grange. These esu-
mates We're accompanied by a general
charge shat the enemy did not admit
more than tenth Of the losses suf-
fcred.
As General Methuan had telegraphed
in a similar way inspecting the Boer
losses at Modler river, it was evident
that the war office had suggested that
something should be said by him and
General Butler to counteract the effect
of the publication Of the heavy casual
ty lists on the British side
Cues for the reports had come from
London, where the officials were an
noyed by Leyd's Brussels bulletins,