New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-12
GEN. GATACRE'S REVERSE.
ENGLISHMEN IMPATIENT FOR METHUEN
TO REDEEM THE DISASTER-THE
DIVISION COMMANDERS.
IBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE. ]


london Dec. 10 i a. m.-General Methuen
cannot advance too speedily for the peace Of
mind Of Englishmen. for they are eager to for-
get General Gatacres bundering misadventure
Apparently General Methuen is prepared to ad-
vance even If he has not already fought
his fourth battle for the howitzer battery has
arrived at Mudder River and has been tested
with excellent effect. There was second recon-
noissance on Sunday. with artillery practice
from howitzers and a single naval gun. and the
enemys position was unmasked. as the fire OF a
dozen guns was drawn. The trenches and hills
were shelled with iyddite, and even If the Boer
guns withdrawn under cover, instead Oh
being slenced ranges were obtained, positions
for enfilading rife trenches were ascertained'
and the enemys lines Of defence were disclosed
General Methuen. after winning three battles
without the preliminary work of scouting and OF
reconnoitring. has done what the critics have
said ought to have been done before. He was
ready fo- battle yesterday, and better news
than General Gatacre's lamentable confession
NJ failure was expected hourly at the War Office
last night
BOERs STRONGLY POSTED.
Tho Boer posit.on. as described in Reuters
and in special dispatches in to-day's papers. Is
a broken range of detached hills. pierced in the
centre by a gap through which the railway
curves toward Kimberley. The Spytfontein
hills are apparently lightly held. and the main
body Of the enemy is massed east OF the rail-
vav on the Magersfonteiu range and in touch
with the auxiliary force at Jacobsdal. 1t is
strong position with double lines of wall ana
trench on commanding hills, but 1t is inferior
in defensive resources to the position a. Modder
River.
General Methuen's army has less difficult work
than in the third battle, and a great advantage
4. In n
in the support from Kekewichs garrison III 'he
rear of the enemy's line Metnuen mas 1uH scope
for manouvres which will block Boer retreat
toward Bloemfontein. but he is also IN DANGER
Of a turning movement from JacobsdaL GENERA
Methuen's hattie will precede Sir Redvers
p,,Iers without doubt. for the howtzers are
not vet reported from Durham, and 1t VIII be the
middle ~ the ueek before they are well in front
Of Colenso. Meanwhile General Butler is re-
viewing troops at Frere Camp, and the war
Omca is issuinq heIated casualty lists from
Ladysmth and elsewhere.
THE THREE DIVISION GENERALS.
When the army corps first went out 10 Africa
General Gatocre was generally regarded In mill
tary circles as the strongest or the tnree uiN''
commanders. General Methuen was called the
ideal euarderoan and tactlcian Of the parade
ground General Clery was known as the schooi-
master in strategy owing to his connection with
the Staff College and with manuals on military
science and also as the Rest dressed oihcer III
the army and the most popular cluoHa" anu
epicure General Gatacre had the reputation
Of being a seasoned soldier VINO mao seen iioi'
military service than either OF MS coheasues'
and had done brilliant work In Chitral ana III
Egypt before Omdurman. Both Gatacre anu
Methuen wore known as military martinets VINO
expected the men under them to WORK haiu'
whereas Clery was less rigorous dlsclphhdiiai
and more considerate IN his treatment Vi HIS
soldiers General Clery has not yet mao d ciai'oe
10 show how eood a strategis. he is, but GeneraI
Methuen has so far proved to be a poor tacticidh
although a strong fighter, and the enemy p"S
not been able to entrap any portion OF MS ioi0
General Gatacre has shot his bolt, ana the rest
that his admirers can say is that South Aliiod
has always been the graveyard Of military repu-
tatons
IL General Gatacre RECEIVERS his prestige II WIN
be because sympathy is excited by premature
attacks. like that made by Lord Durham 3''-
terday who in the safe retirement OF ia'
stock sale luncheon described Gatacre as a man
unfit to command troops in South Africa. LORD
Durham overshot the mark in declaring rhat the
War Office was responsible for the disasters at
stormberg in appointing General Iatacre 10 'he
command OF a division when the opinions Oh
officers who had served under him were known
A more practical line Of criticism would be 10
censure the War Office for not sending out a
larger force Of cavalry and artillery In good
PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD TO CHICAGO.
Arg