New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-26
CHRISTMAS IN THE CAMPS.
BRITONS AND BOERS REST on THEIR
ARMS-GENERAL BULLER TO MAKE
A FRESH EFFORT
Copyright 1890: BY The New-York rribune.l
IBY CABLE TO TIE TRIBUNE.]

IBY CABLE TO TIE TRIBUNE.l
London. Dec. 26, a. m.-Uness all signs fall
Tommy Atkins has eaten his Christmas dinner
As quietly as an ordinary English householder.
The War Office has issued a series Of casualty
lists from Cape Town, Modder River. Pieter-
ruaritzburg and Ladysmith. but otherwise has
not thrown any new light upon the military
situation The Ladysmith list shows that typhoid
fever and dysentery are more effective than the
Beers artillery in reducing the strength OF the
garrison day by day The Military Staff seems
10 have chosen an unsanitary as well as an in
defensible position at Ladysmith before the
opening Of the campaign, when much stronger
site for a camp might have been selected at
Colenso or Estcourt with a superior water sup
plv Generals Butler and White have been re-
quired 10 pay the penalties for the original
blunders of the engineers who recommended
Ladysmith and Glencoe as sites for British
camps when the Tugea line was the natural
line Of defence in Natal. with a station
IN reserve at Mooi River Concentration Of their
forces is now an undertaking Of great difficulty,
as is evident from the reports Of Buffers bat
tie which are still coming in
Ten days after Longs artillery was lost, 1t is
clear that General Butler will renew the attempt
10 relieve Ladysmith while Lord Roberts is on
the sea He is receiving reinforcements and
fresh batteries. ana Ougnt 10 De III d PoS'I'Ii ~
reopen hostilities in week or ten days, unless
he waits for the siege train. The movements OF
the battalions arriving at Cape Town are now
concealed by the authorities. but General Buller
Is evidently taking the fresh troops and replac-
ING his lost artillery, while General Methuen is
forced 10 stand by and watch the Beers while
tbav extend their rife trenches and strengthen
.beir nostion in front Of Modder River. Gen
eraI RuIer is justified in this course If Lady
smith as is generally believed, is in a more
critical condition than Kimberley. About lI'oo
troops viii arrive during the next eighteen days
g, Cane Town before Lord Roberts assumes
command With this body Of reinforcements
General Butler will not have the facilities Tor
setting every column again on the offensive
tu- he will al least have sufficient strength for
rraroeuvring against Colenso and attempting TO
ta.n the eneny's position there. This is what
" .1tarv men in London are now expecting MN
10 do within fortnight
one reassurng sign is the publication =" man
letters from Ladysmith, Estcourt ana o'heI
points in Natal which evidently have not neeh
submitted to the military censor This buoget
Of correspondence deals in critical spirit win
the blunders made by the staff and the irritat-
ing fussiness OF the martinets in repeatedly
Changing camp and exhausting the patience OF
the soldiers. The letters also contain evidence
that the British field artillery is distinctly INFERIOR
not only 70 the Boer guns in range. but to the
guns Of almost every important European
Power This campaign is bringing out many
unpleasant revelations Of which full pohtCdl
use will be made when the Liberal Opposition
learns the true points for attack l. y r.