The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-19
BRlTON'S LOYAL RESPONSE.
,pur OFFICERS BEsEIaED M MEN
IyxIoUs TO VOLUNTEER

no,.rnment Could Enroll roo. 900 Men II
They Were wantcd-Roberts and Kitoh-
.ner tho strongest Combin alton Of Lead
or. That Could BE Chosen-Despateh
From Frere Camp Gives Some Details Of
cep, Buffers Reversc-Great Britain's
Financial Strength to Garry On the War.
Ss,aai cabi Ds,paeh to The Sun
roxpos. Dec. 1S.-On no day since the war
,sgau has there been such dearth OF news
tom tho seat OF war as to-day. The War
nercs informed inquirers at q late hour
,o.nIeht that no dispatches had been
.o,,,yed and with the exception
=, /. brief press despatch from Frere there are
M details OF Gen. Buffers disastrous action.
THAT despatch mentions Clery as participating
in the engagement. II this Is accurate 1t finally
dlsposes of the hope based on the possibility
NJ bis making n flank movement. hope on
which, however. we'll informed persons built
little, Other points not mentioned In Con.
RULERS official despatch are that Hart crossed
the Tugela River, but had TO return. and that
barton failed In attacking another part OF the
snemys position.
The despatch Is from the Daily Aairs cor
respondent at Frere Camp who teiegraphs
under date OF Dec. 10. as follows:
-
yard, Barton and Lyttleton moved out Of
chieveley Camp at daylight to force passage
n, the Tugela River. The Beers in
great force occupied strong en-
,repched position commanding the river
md standing back about eight hundred yards
from the further side OF II. Harris brigSie on
the left fret attempted the crossing under
nurderous Nordenfeldt and rife fire. Tho
Dublin and Inniskilling Fusiliers. the
Borderers and the Connaught Rangers
crossed with superb. unGinching gallantry.
but the position on the other side was found
utterly untenable. The men suffered heavily
from a hail OF shrapnel. while the British artil-
lery was very badly mauled. They were con-
scquently Obliged to recross.
''On the right Hildyards command were dis
playing equal heroism. They succeeded In en-
,eriug Colenso. but the Sixth Battery encoun-
tered mu rderous FIRE and was compelled to
retire. leaving their guns and ammunition
wagons Hdyard's troops therefore also had
TO fall back.
Meantime Barton failed 20 seize Hlangwni
Hill. as was intended. and the entire force re-
tired
The latest news from Moddsr River Is dated
Dec. III. Gen. Methuen's position was then
unchanged. The British wore constructing
number OF redcubts for the protection OF the
camp. The Beers could be seen improving
their trenches.
brief report that the British -ere shelled
out Of vaal Kop by the Beers on Friday and
that they had returned to Arundel is all the
news 10 reference to the area whore Gems. Cat
acre and French are operating.
Interest accordingly centres 10 Great Brit
aims PREPARATIONS to retrieve her position.
There Is important Significance In the APP
potntnents OF Lord Roberts and Lord
Kitchener. The former is the Idol OF the army.
He. more than any man. will be able to restore
the highest morale. Lord Kitchener. on the
other hand. Is personally unpopular with
the troops, but his great ability as
an organizer and commander Is I'M
Questioned. To him undoubtedly will
fall the chief work OF preparing and executing
a fresh cam paign. Lord Roberts's headquar-
ters will be at Cape Town. The double appoint
ment makes the strongest personal combina-
ton the Government could have arranged.
To-day's magnificent response TO the official
announcement that volunteers would be ac-
cspted is the most inspiring event since the
war began. All headquarters In the country
are beseged BY applicants. The Government
could enroll 2OO.0 900 good men tomorrow II II
wanted 10 do so.
Among the numerous instances OF thsNsn-
thusiasm to volunteer is cited tho case OF tho
iork ana Lancaster militia oa.eahon' when 10
no"in barracks NJ iorE. Az parade to-day
the Colonel addressed the $50 men and
sAep al VINO were VIKING 10 10 services aoioaa
wsope arms. Every man promptly sien'nea
MS Willingness 70 serve nis country aoroan.
rive hundred OF the militia battalion OF the
n,shland LiRht infantry nave Volunteered:
Inc regular oa'.aiioh OF TINS regiment sunersd
severely at the battle OF Magersfontein.
huihoursh ooo aruierv 'oiunteers pre-
,eh'ea themselves oeiore IL O'CLOCK this morn
mt
unuers,ooa ,na' tne uovernmeht Goes
nW al p'ss"h' ,hteno 10 cnIi LOT ihoiah yoIun-
"ers' .ne ehroneo strehetn OF whom Is So''Zs.
u WHITES fhey CONSIST OF traoers' eierHs'
a'usah', &c
mas been wisely decided to attach large
lIIee o' irregular sharpshooters 70 each d.
n ns''h now IN the ne'a IN ordor 10 onset the
p'.t' ht'hoas' ios' o. these men VIII DO
A'' '''un'eefs 'roin Ihk'anu anu 'ho COLO
AT'