New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-10
BOER GUNS CAPTURED.
sTORMING OF LOMBARDS KOP BY A De
TACHMENT FROM LADYSMITH.
[BY CABLE TO THE TR1BUNE.l

London Dec 10, l a. m.-The most cheering
news from the theatre of war yesterday came
from Reuters agent at Lourenco Marques
where dispatch had been received from the
Boer headquarters at Ladysmith announcing
that the British had stormed and carried Lom-
bard's Kop. A good deal has been unjusty
said about Reuters dispatches from that quar-
ter being tainted with Boer influence, precisely
AZ President Krugers partisans may have sus-
pected that the same agency's kilograms from
the British headquarters were colored by the
environment Of the correspondents. But news
favorable TO the British side from Pretoria is ac-
cented readily enough in London. This Lady
smith dispatch was dated Friday, when both
Reuter- and the Central News were reporting
that General Buffers army was still centred
about Frere, and hence 1t was fair inference
that General Whites force had made sortie
Details were lacking, with the single exception
that the British had captured Maxim gun and
M, one howitzer and one big Creusot out Of
action.
Earlier tidings from the garrison through Brit
,sb sources have described the success OF the
British gunners in silencing two big guns but
nothing was said about the storming and cap
ture Of Lombards Kop. Loungers at the clubs
last night were almost convinced that General
White had dealt the enemy severe blow yet
were at loss to understand why he had not
sgnalIed the good news by heliosrapn 10
Ffere Suspicious commentators suggested that
the Boer commander might be making use OF
Reuters agent for purposes OF his own, but
they we're also unable to explain how General
Butler could be deceived when the helograph
enabled him to communicate directly with Lady
smith.
The latest news from Ladysmith by runner
dated Tuesday, when the garrison was
ported by The Standard correspondent to be
in excellent condition after silencing the heavy
guns mounted by the Beers.
CONFIRMED BY THE WAR OFFICE.
The War Office after midnight settled all con-
troversy by giving out bulletin which General
Butler had received from General White fully
confirming Reuters dispatch. White had sent a
force Of six hundred men TO surprise gun on
The hill and had destroyed two guns with gun
cotton ana brought back a Maxim into camp,
With only one man killed and one officer wound
Cd A detachment Of the 18th Hussars had
crcled around Pepworth Hi, burning kraals
and cutting telegraph lines. II was gallant
md successful sortie which proved that General
Fhite's men were full Of fight and in admirable
condition for cooperating with General Butler.
L was a good omen. anyway, Cor the stirring
events during the next few days, with victory
as crowning result.
Otherwise, the news from both Frere and
1odder River was anything but startling. Both
GENERALS Butler and Methuen were waiting. ap-
Rrently, for the howtzer batteries which were
"a the way. Pontoon bridges had been finished
oVer both rivers, and trains were running over
hem Tommy Atkins" was in fine spirits. and
during his hours OF idleness was taking like
duck TO the muddy water or like q naad TO the
surf at Margate Stretcher bearers had been
called up from Durham and Pietermaritzburg In
readiness for battle and General Methuens
cavalry were on the alert against a second
rad in their rear by the Free State Rough
RIDERS. These bits Of intelligence were pieced
out with rumOrs that President Steyn was los
ing his mind that the Free State troops were
u|anected and unwilling TO fight; that the
oooies Of three scouts belonging to Thorney-
croffs Horse had been found after the Mooi
RIVER sorte tied up and riddled with bullets
shd that pigeon had brought In map OF
n.aysmith and the Boer positions from Generai
White
THE WAR HJMANELY CONDUCTED.
Inc War Office bulletins were meagre, relat-
"e o'ehy TO the strength Of the bands or RAD
'' against whom Generals Gatacre and French
operating The seizure Of a small quahtity
" Dumdum ammunition reported from Gatacre's
headquarters is not decisive proof that the
O''A allies are making general use OF these
~ w'Uuctive and mangling bullets. THESE sup
r"es were found In two stores somewhere III the
DuVcn district OF Cape Colony, and there is no
reHn'e Information connecting the Free state
De'ch with them. Mr.. Knight. the correspond
.'' ana other men disabled in Methuens bat
"es were wounded without doubt with bullets
,Nicn produced effects similar to those Of Dunn
=, I'm bullets Military experts explain that the
-auser pistol bullet, known as the "manstop-
~ produces wound like that caused by
ouhoum bullet, and that any private soldier
1H easily convert ordinary cartridges into Dunn
-'" ammunition. While charges and counter
'ses have been freely made during the cam
Ya,sh mat Dumdums have been used by both
s'ues, tne truth as It comes from the hospitals
var ONCE is that a very large proporuoh
CNEOUAIJFn SERVICE.