The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-08

withdrawal of Boer Forces In Natal
Their Operations In Cape Colony.
sree,ai Cable DespdtAs TO The suS.
plvrERMARrTzBuRa. Dec. 3 delayed in
transmission. - Gen. Butler and his statf
started for Frcre tonight
LONDON, Dec S-The announcements that
Cen Butler had gone to Frere aud that Gen
Nethuen had assumed active command
o: his division intensity the eagerness
with which the public await news OF
the apparently impending battles at Tugela
River. In Natal. and Spytfontein. In northern
tape Colony Little is allowed to be known OF
tho prepuratons or strength OF the two
British forces. but it is assumed
that Gen Methuen has received val
uable re5nforcem"nts from Cape Town
since the Mod Ter River tlght. possibly incud-
ing the howitzer battery which arrived Mt
Cape Town on Dec. 1. II s not known whether
Gen Methucn has advanced the latest adviceS
from him being dated Dec. u, in which he saws
that he had again assumed command OF his
division.
The troops in Natal were reported on Dec.
to be within cannon shot OF the enemy. These
troors were probably only British outposts. In
asmuch as kilograms from Frere yesterday In
dictate that the main camp is still there.
The constant runners OF the withdrawal Of
part OF the Boer forces In northern Natal seem
TO have some basis. but the stories OF dissen-
sions among the enemy. though published ON
Gen. Whites authority. are not officially said
TO be true.
It is more likely that whatever part OF
the invading forces has been with
drawn has been sent to new position. Per-
hars the suggestion that these forces have
been sent west to assist in opposing Gen.
Msthuen IL not far out
Meanwhile. the reports from Ladysmlth are
eouched liz gloomier language. and every.
thing indicates that the enemy is
striving to the utmost TO mako the
British position untenable before Gen.
Butler can reach the town. The Standards
correspondent at Ladysmith. in des-
patch dated Dec. =. supports the other
statements concerning the anxiety with
which the movement OF the reliey
n- force Is awaited. and adds that
on Noy. - Gen. White considered the advisa-
hl'tty OF making a sorte. out the idea was
anloned. the Beers. "a is now usual, being
bc'2rehani informe OF the British intentions.
The .orte from Kimher riley. referred to yes
teriay In the dispatches to THE Sun and
officially reported as resulting In the capture
Of the Boer larger and three re-
doubts seems 10 have been an ephem-
era success. unofficial accounts in
tmating that the British suoseq uently with
drew which Is corroooratcd by Commandant
Wrss"l'- leaving for Bloemhof II is stated.
however. 'ha. the British captured many shells
md quantity Of foodstuffs and destroyed
other stores,
Tie Tmes's Modder River correspondent In
a despatch. dated Dec. 4. confirms the re-
ports tat CommRndant Dearey's son was
killed In action. The despatch adds that a bat
terry Of horse artillery and the Twelfth Lancers
were arriving.
Col Kekewich. the British commander al
k.mUerie has informed Gen. Methuen By
searchllght that the town has forty days pro-
visions, thirty days forage and plenty OF
water
\ despatch to the Daily Ne,rs from Frere
Camp dated Dec. 3. says: 1T Is reported that
messenger has brought despatch from Gen.
White At Laiysmith. Gcknow ledg. ng the re-
ceipt Of searchlight messages and reporting
that there ara dssensions and a shortness OF
supplies In the Boer camp.
Gen. Butler is completing all his arrange
ments before making "a further advance.
Heavy firing at Ladysnith was heard this
afternoon. 1t IL reported that tho Beers have
mounted pneumatic gun on Umbulwana
Hill"
LONDON. Dec. THE correspondent OF the
Tunes at Ladysmith. IN a despatch dated Dec
2. reiterhtes strongly that the situation there
10 becoming grayer and more difIlcult every
Cay, J lie enemy Is Keeping ~ more ~ stenl-
ATTIC at lefy fire and Is concentrating It on
given POINTS. with the result that considerable
damage has been done. 1t has been found
necessary to remove the wounded from the
hospitals 10 the anks ~ the river.
The Beers have placed large calibre gun
1000 yards distant from the western defence
Tlttsa H. .l,l-
s-inch guns. four 47-inch howitzers. two
batteries OF high-velocity. long. range field
guns and several mountain automatic rifles.
despatch TO the Times from Frere Camp
dated Dec. . says: The patrol reports tho
main body o: the Beers. 1000 strong. with
much loot. passed to the north through
Weenen continuously on Nov. 25 and Nov. ~
There are now five Boer camps around
Co"nso north OF the Tugea River and alSo to
the westward near Springfield. commanding
iots et"r's Drift"
desNn oh TO the Da'ziel's News Agency
nom Durham. dated Dec. 3. says: Runners
who arrived at Frere state that the Beers
made great effort to capture Ladysmth early
on Monday. They kept up furious bonn
barhnrnt for hours. but IL had no effect. The
British subsequently s'lenc-d the gus and
The garrison made sorti". After hard fight
Ing The Beers rctr"ated with heavy loss. tits
rrohahe that the Beers have decided TO aban-
don the Siege as large commanders have been
observed moving In the direction OF the Orange
Free State"
There Is no confirmation OF this story. II
was brought In by native runners. who. how
ever. are sometimes reliable For instance.
they gave the Boer loss In the fight on Nov. o.
IA 800, Gen. Butler yesterday gave the Same
figures
\ newspaper correspondent named Lynch
hts been captured by the Beers. lie left Lady
smith for the purpose OF obtaining some news
ihIerS, He Is now on his way to Pretoria
Before his capture Mr. Lynch reported that
on NOV, % the health Of the garrison at Lady
IN was generally cool, though there were
t1lrty cases OF typhoid fever. Rations had been
greatly reduced since the Beers captured the
cattle, He added that according to tho state
meN' OF kafr servants the natives generally
s'mpaihize with the Beers. thinking that the
bT''ish HAYS been beaten. The Beers treat the
rat"rs well
thrRE CAMP. Dec. q Delayed in trans
MS onN.-Mr, Pretorius. age "a. who was
oh he