Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-12-29
South African Campaign.
Little Change in the sItuatIOn---Boers'
Report On the Battle at TugeIa River.

Little Change in the sItuatiOn---Boers'
RepOrI en- the Battle at Tugela River.
There appears to be no change at the
chief points of interest in South Africa.
The British camp at Modder river is said
to be admirably situated for defence, which
sounds somewhat oddly, its garrison being
a relieving column on its march to block
AIDED town; and it being generally under
stood that the assault of fortified and in
trenched positions does not enter into the
Boer plan of campaign. Every position
between the Modder and Kimberley that
can be turned to account to retard the ad-
vance of the relieving column is said to
have been intrenched and otherwise made
defensible so that a continuous resistance
has been provided for. Gen. Gataere had
been reinforced. He is forming a body of
mounted scouts and clearing the country
within 12-mile radius of mis- camp of all
males over u years of age 20 prevent his
preparations and movements being observ-
ed. This is regarded in some quarters as
a movement similar to the Spanish recon
centrado policy in Cuba
A belated despatch from Pretoria of the
18th gives the official Boer report of the
British defeat on the Tugela, differing lit
tie 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 it is that the ac-
ton was witnessed by the French and Ger
man military attaches with Gen. Schalk-
Burgher's headquarters. The road bridge
across the Tugela at Colenso was still in
tact at the time Of the battle. In the de-
scription given of the fighting by the Boer
general one thing particularly 10 be noted
is the excellent fire discipline of the Beers
and the absolutely crushing effect of the
Mauser fire when simultaneously delivered
from their weIl-constructed trenches in
which they were sheltered from the Brit
ish artillery FIRE.
British reports attribute the loss of their
guns to the rashness of Col. Long, who p
pears to have a reputation for impetuosity;
but not sufficient account seems to be taken
of the new lessons being taught by the long
range magazine rifle in the hands of good
shots and resolSte men. The Boer loss offi-
cially stated at 80 killed and wounded, is
not incredible under the circumstances as
described both by the British and Boer
commanders; but the disproportion as COM
pared with that of the British is enormous,
nearly one to 80.
The announcement from Germany that
a secret treaty has been made with Portu-
/ gal whereby Germany will take Portugars 8
Asiatic colonies and the territory in Africa
north of the Zambesi river and England
Delagoa Bay is not generally credited. The
treaty would not be valid unless ratified by
the Portuguese Cortez, and such rati6ca-
ton would be doubtful.
The indications are that 4 fight is impend-
ing in Cape Colony between Gen. Methuen's
army and the Boer forces under Cronje,
which are only about three miles apart
Gen. Gatacre, in the lower part of the col
ony, is endeavoring to reopen communica-
tion. Beyond little skirmishing near Co
lenso the situation in Natal Colony is un
changed, but two great armies are almost
facing each other near Tugela river, where
a great battle viii probably soon be fought