The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-23
Graphic Description OF How
Young Roberts Was Killed.
BRITISH ANXIOUS FOR AN ATTACK
One Correspondent Says the Boer Fight
ing Line is Very Thin and
Single English Victory
Might Crumble 1t

London, December 23.-Q:45 a. m.)-Be-
lated South African dispatches throw no
Hight upon the present situation al the seat
of war. There is no confirmation of the re-
port that Ladysmfth could hold out several
weeks longer and it is feared that this was
circulated by the Beers for their own pur-
poses.
1T is hoped that Winston Churchill, having
arrived safely at Delagoa Bay, will soon be
heard from regarding conditions in the
Transvaal, as he must have obtained i'm
portant information.
"A Capetown dispatch dated Sunday, De-
cember II, reports that Commandant Died
RIGHTS, of the Boer forces, was Killed in a
recent engagement but no details are
given. Advices from Naauwpoort describe
everything as quiet there, and the only
fresh news from Arundel concerns the
weather, which is excessively hot
The Daily Telegraph has a special from
Chievley, dated December 16, which tells
how Lieutenant Roberts, of Lord
Roberts, fell at Tugela river. 1t says:
1.-THE horses of the Fourteenth and Sixty
sixth batteries had been killed, and Lieu
tenant Roberts, Captains Schofield and Con-
greve, of the Rifles, attempted, with gunner
tan Roberts was hit by a shell. Congreve
was struck and wounded slightly. After a
while Captain Congreve, Captain Foster
and Major Baptie brought Lieutenant
Roberts from the open into little ravine
where he lay hidden from the enemy's ter
rib1e fire.
. Fourteen gunners, sixteen men or the
Devonshire regiment and numbers of other
men were with Colonel Bullock. When the
retirement was ordered these men, with
.n,tr nd Scot
Fusilers, together with some of the
Queens. were cut off and captured. Many
fought until late in the afternoon, part,
of the Irishmen running the gauntlet of
the Boer Mausers from hiding places along
the river bank.
Approached Abandoned Guns
-At p. m forty Beers approached the
abandoned guns. On spying Colonel Bull
lock, Captain Congreve and the others in
the ravine, they called upon the British to
surrender. Colonel Bullock declined and
threatened to shoot, although his party
had only fourteen rifles. The Beers re-
tired from the guns. and parley ensued.
Then a hundred Beers rode UP to within
a few yards of the party, but Colonel Bull
lock swore he would not be made a pris-
oner, whereupon Boer knocked him down
with his rifle butt.
"Afterward the enemy gave our wounded
water and cordials. Then, having taken
all their arms, ammunition and field glasses
they let them return to their ambulances
Colonel Bullock, Colonel Hunt Major Wall
ter and Captain Goodwin were taken pris-
oners. The Scots Fusilers lost nearly two
companies captured"
A dispatch to the Daily Mail from
Chievely, dated December II, estimates the
casualties in General Buffers repulse were
1,15o, including 1892 missing. 1t announces
that portion of the British troops have
returned to Frere.
A correspondent of the Associated Press
at Modder river, under date of December
II, describing the conditions in the art of
warfare, says
"It would be almost impossible to take
such a position as Magersfontein by as
sault. The modern Battle, owing to the
length of the rifle range. will last six days
where formerly it would only have lasted
few hours.
1.-THE Boer trenches, which are rather like
underground dwellings than trenches, al
ways promise a safe means of retreat.
They are very wide and deep, and are case
mated at intervals, allowing the concen-
tration of defenders at any given point
without danger to themselves.
Anxious. for an Attack
1.-THE British here anxious that the
Beers should attack them, and the belief is
prevalent that treachery is largely respon-
siSle for the underestimate placed upon the
BOerf fOrceS Dy the cavalry scouts.
1t is announced that two battalions of
the Guards will be included in the Eighth
division.
Lord Kitchener will join Lord Roberts at
Gibraltar.
The Earl of ErroH, heriditry lord high
constable of Scotland, will accompany the
commander-in-chief in special service The
Earl of Derby is raising corps of volun-
teers in Lancashire. Mr. Victor Christian
Cavendlsh, member of parliament for West
Derbyshire and heir apparent to the Duke
of Devonshire, has volunteered to go to the
front.
The Capetown correspondent of the Times
under date of December II says:
''The Boer fighting line is very thin, and
a single British success might crumble it
completely. The real danger, however, is
not the military situation, but the likelihood
of a Dutch rebellion, which would make
the area of war so vast that an additional
$4,000 men will be easily swallowed up in
maintaining the enormous length OF Brit
ish communications. Referring to the tardy
acceptance form local forces. the corre-
spondent says:
General Butler undoubtedly at the begin
ming displayed certain self-sufficiency and
UNIV willingness to accept local advice and as
sistance which events quickly modified"
Admirer of StonewaIl jackson
Tho Daily News says immense signid-