New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-20
SOLID FOR THE WAR.
REMARKABLE OUTBURST OF PATRIOTIC
FERvOR IN GREAT BRITAIN.
Copyright: 1899: BY The New-York Trieune)
IRH cApIr TO TIE TRIRrNE

Copyright: 1899: BY The New-York Trfhune)
IBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.l
London. Dec. 20 l a m.-Whatever may be
going on at the seat Of war, there is an outburst
OF patriotic enthusiasm in England and Scot
land worthy Of the noblest traditions Of the
Eiizabethan era. The Ministers have appealed
TO the nation for men to fight the battle Of the
empire in South Africa. and the response is
fairly electric. Battalion after battalion of mill
Tia is volunteering for foreign service. Lord
Chesham is enlisting body of three thousand
ysomanry cavalry, and the number can be dou-
hed London regiments of the volunteer force
are ready TO provide fifty thousand trained citi-
zen soldiers at short notice. and from England,
Wales. Scotland and North Ireland come Of
fers by which that number OF volunteers can be
trebled The fibre Of British patriotism is as
strong and genuine as II was in the time Of the
Spanish Armada. There are no signs OF finch
ing in any quarter from the defence Of the en-
pire The Ministers have put the nation on It's
mettle and can now pick and choose the men
they want and hold immense reserves behind
for future drafts Mr.. Goschen reports that the
Admiralty has already provided sea transport
for 10000 troops Of all arms to South Africa
Another 10000 are available If the Ministers
need them.
THE WORK OF THE WAR OFFICE.
The War Office. while embarrassed by the
spirit and fervor. OF this national uprising, is
going methodcally about the work OF reinforc-
ing the British army under fire. The
Seventh and Eighth divisions will be modified
like the previous divisions. with army reservists.
In this way what remains Of the army reserve
nominally 5000 men. will be brought into ac-
five service Nine battalions Of militia will be
sent 70 Africa out of the twenty-four embodied
the preference being shown for artillerymen
How large a force Of volunteers Will be en-
1loyed is not yet determined, but artillerymen
again will be specially favored, and also the
best marksmen among the rifemen The yeo-
nanrv force barely exceeds ten Thousand but
the War Office will take all these sturdy rural
cayalrymcn it can get II Will also encourage
enlistment Of the mounted forces in Canada
and other colonies and avail itself fully Of as
sstance from the loyalsts Of Cape Colony and
Natal To what extent India will be allowed to
cooperate in the defence OF the empire is un-
known. The nation is united in prosecution
OF the war. even Mr.. Campbell -Bannerman de-
clining last night at Edinburgh to discuss Mr.
Chan mberlans policies.
From the theatre Of war come casualty lists
which are always brimming with fatal signlh-
canoe 10 sorrowing friends and mutilated ac-
counts Of Buffers battle which serve TO puzzle
the military critics and bewilder the pubic
The Times" to-day has one Of the clearest ac-
counts. from which II is evident that SeheraI
clery attacked the enemy in front and on the
flank and that the entire force was virtually
engaged for a distance OF over three miles, WIN
Harris brigade forcing a passage Of the river on
The extreme left and Bartons brigade and Lord
Dundonalds cavalry assailng strong position
instead Of thwarting the counter attack on the
extreme right There were repulses at each
ehd' although Harts battalions crossed the
''e' and Barton's men reached Colenso py
eiieS or brilliant rushes. HildS ards brlsaue
0acked in the centre simultaneously WIN
Hafts brigade, and Lyttletons brigade was
'Hsassd IN supporting one brigade ana theh the
o'Ner' There a series OF repulses' o"lHs u
'He exposed positions Of the British forces
NEW LIGHT ON BULLER's BATTLE.
Inc capture OF Longs suns and Dundonaids
ruthless charge were among the closing inci-
dents OF disastrousAay The loss Of the guns
IS an incident which the censor does not allow
'ne correspondents 10 explain. But these frag-
Hentary recitais tend 10 refute many structures
based upon General Buffers report. There was
general attack all along the line. and Harts
passage or the river was covered scientifically
Dy artillery and by the continuous action OF
Hldyards and Bartons brigades. Criticism OF
General Butler for not knowing his mind when
ne went into the battle and for having two
orfts under his eyes where crossing might We
mace Is now shown to be unjust. although his
own report seemed TO Justify it. There are also
indications that Longs guns were lost because
ne knew that they were outclassed in -ange
and was striving to keep as close to the enc
mys position as possible The Dutch defence
vas clearly most cieyerly conducted The Boep