Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-20

GEN. BULLER GETS HIS GUNS
noers Never Took Them How the
Britisb Advance at Coicnso
Was surprised.

London. Dec. iO.-A special dispatch
from Durham. Natal. dated Saturday.
Dec. ie. says II Is rumored Gen. Butler
called for volunteers to recover the
abandoned guns and that party Is
sued from the camp after midnight and
brought In the guns. which were I'M
injured.
1t still seems doubtful whether the
guns that Gen. Butler abandoned at
colenso are In the possession OF the
Beers. According TO a dispatch to the
Associated Press from Durham sent on
on the evening Of the battle and which
has Just been received here. the guns
remained where they were left by the
British troops. and were covered by the
heavy guns OF Gen. Hildyard's brigade.
occupying an entrenchcd position.
The dispatch adds that the Beers
have thus far not attempted to cross
the river and capture the guns. while
advices to the Associated Press from
Pretoria under the same date say that
an Official Boer dispatch reports that
two guns. thirteen wagons and guam
tity OF ammunition were captured be-
sides EOS prisoners.
Further accounts OF the Tugela river
battle emphasize the Ignorance Of the
British intelligence department In re-
gard TO the disposition OF the BOer
forces. The British were not aware
that the Boers were entrenched along a
series OF low-lying hills Immediately
northwatd Of Colcnso bridge until n
staggering IRE compelled them to re-
treat when the attack seemed about to
succeed. The Beers were also In great
cr number than anticipated.
II becomes clearer. also that the
British guns were lost In attempting
TO get within effective range OF the
lioer artillery. showing that the latter
outraged the British ordnance. which
In spite Of numerical superiority was
wholly Inadequate to reply to the long
nnge Boer guns.
The British war Office comes In for
fcnthlnE denunciatlons from the Times
today for not providing effective ar
tillcry. ~ IL pointed out In this con-
ncction that the longer ranged naval
guns participating In the same attack
escaped.
There was no news this morning TO
enlightcn the general situation.
The war office reported that Gen.
French rcconnoltered northward OF
Arundel on Monday. Dee. Is After
Smelling Jasfontein farm three miles
eastward Of the Boer position. the New
Icalanders advanced and occupied the
fuffns Inc botf gums tntn opened,
and the Beers advanced to the attack
until ordered TO retire.
The last news from Mafeklng dated
the 9Th. has lust been received. II
says desultory bombardmcnt was
continuing. and that the sharpHhoot-
ers We're engaged In n smart duel morn
ings and evenings. The dispatch also
describes novel method Of sending u
message adopted by some Boer, Dec, 4,
a fve FOUNDER shell fired into the town
that day aid not explode. II was
opened and found to contain n letter
MS follows.
Dear Powell (Col. Baden PowelD-
Excuse iron messenger. No other
means OF communication: Please tell
Mrs. - mother and family all we'll.
Don't drink oil the whisky. Leave
some for US when we get in
The sender's signature was torn on.
Revised lists of the British casual
ties ut the battle Of Colenso show that
i3I non-commlssloned officers and men
were killed.
At "A meeting OF the corpora
tion today the lord mayor. A. J.
| Newton, announced that c25. 900 sterling
had been subscribed by the large city
| firms which are contributing the money
| to defrny the necessary expenses OF a
| force OF thousand volunteers among
the city corps. The lord mayor also
said that Gen Lord wolsclcy. the COM
mnnder-ln-chief. had accepted the Of
fer OF the rervices or these volunteers.