The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-23
ARE STILL IN THE DARK
Belated Dispatches Convey Little
News.
THE DEATH OF ROBERTS
Longs Mistake Responsible for Buller's
Repulse-Stonewall Jackson Tao
tics Needed to Insure Brit
ish Success,


light on the present situation at the
seat of war. There is no confirmation
of the report that Ladysmith could
hold out several weeks longer, and it
is feared that this was circulated by
the Beers for their own purpose.
1t is hoped that Winston Churchill,
having arrived safely at Delagoa Bay,
will soon be heard from regarding con-
ditions in the Transvaal, as he must
have ascertained important informa-
ton.
A Cape Town dispatch dated Sunday,
Dec. II, reports that Commandant Die
dericks of the Boer forces was killed
in a reconnoiter engagement, but no
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 Chievely dated Dec. 16, which
tells how Lieutenant Roberts, son of
Lord Roberts, fell at Tugela river. 1t
says:
THE horses of the 14th and 66th bat
teries had been killed and Lieutenant
Roberts, Captain Schofield and Cap
tain Congreve of the rifles attempted
with gun volunteers to drag out the
guns. Captain Schofield succeeded,
helped by a corporal and some men.
Lieutenant Roberts was hit by
shell. Captain Congreve was struck
and wounded slightly. After a while
Captain Congreve, Captain Foster ana
Major Baptie brought Lieutenant Rob-
erts from the open into a little ravine,
where he lay hidden from the enemy's
terrible fire.
Fourteen gunners, Is men of the
Devonshre regiment and-men We're
with Colonel Butler. When the retire
.El.x,. = t1,r. Cn-
lated parties of Devonshire and Scots
fusilers, together with some of the
Queens, We're cut off and captured.
Many fought until late in the after
noon. a part of the Irishmen running
the gauntlet of the Boer Mausers from
hiding places along the river bank.
"At p. m. 40 Beers approached the
abandoned guns On espylns Coionel
Butler, Captain Congreve and the 9TH
ers in the ravine, they called upon the
British TO surla a,ler. Colonel Butler
trained and threatened to shoot, al
through his party had only four rifles.
The Beers retired from the guns and
parley ensued. Then hundred Beers
rode up within few yards of the
party, but Colonel Butler swore he
would not be made a prisoner, where
upon a 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
by our ambulances. Colonel Bulier'
Colonel Hunt, Major Walton and Cap
tain Goodwin were taken prisoners
The Scot fusiliers lost nearly two COM
panies captured"
A dispatch to the Daily Mail from
Chievely, dated Dec. II, estimated the
casualties In General Buffers repulse
at 1850, including 332 missing. 1t an
nounces that a portion of the British
troops have returned to Frere.
A correspondent of the associated
press at Modder river, under date or
Dec, II, describing the changes IN the
art of warfare, says:
"It would be impossible to take such
a position as Magersfontein by assault.
The modern battle, owing to the length
or rifle range, will last six days, where
formerly it would only nave ldsteu d
few hours.
1.-The Boer trenches, which are rather
like underground dwellings than
trenches, always promise safe means OF
retreat They are very wide and deep
and are casemated at intervals, allow
ing the concentration of defenders at
any given point without danger to
themselves.
THE British here are anxious that
the Beers should attack them, and the
belief is prevalent that treachery is
largely responsible for the underestl-
mate placed on the Boer forces by the
cavalry scouts"
The Chievely correspondent of the
Standard, who attributes the whole dis
aster involved in General Buffers re-
pulse to the mistake of Colonel Long
taking the artillery too close to the
river, says: Colonel Long fired for
80 minutes and simply exhausted his
ammunition"
The war office has issued an official
warning against British subjects or for
eigners in British territory trading
with or supplying the Boer republic,
either directly or indirectly, with any
kind of merchandise whatsoever. This
is regarded as showing that the gov
ernment has good evidence of such
traffic and that even some English
firms have been supplying the enemy,
perhaps unintentionally, through for-
eign cOnsignees.
1t is announced that two battalions
of the guards will be included in the
eighth division.
Lord Kitchener will join Lord Rob-
erts at Gibraltar. The Earl of Enroll,
hereditary lord high constable of Scot
land, will accompany the commander
in-chief on special service. The Earl of
Derby is raising a corps of volunteers
in Lancashire. Victor Christian Cav
endish, member of parliament for West
Derbyshire and heir apparent of the
Duke of Devonshire, has volunteered to
go to the front.
The Cape Town correspondent of the
Times, under date of Dec. II, says:
THE Boer fighting line is very thin
and a single British success might
crumble it completely. The real dan
ger, however, is not the military sit
uation, but the likelihood Of a rebel
lion, which would make the area of war
so vast that an additional $4,000 men
would be easily swallowed up in main
tanning the enormous length of Brit
ish communication"
Referring to the tardy acceptance of
assistance from local forces, the cor
SAYS:
General Butler undoubtedly at the
beginning displayed a certain self-suf-
and unwillingness to accept To-
cal advance or assistance, which events
quickly modified"
The Daily News sees immense sig