The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-20
the SoU1H AFRICAN SITUATION.

clear and concise account OF the attempted
passage Of the Tugcla River BY Con. Butler on
Friday last Is contained in THE Sun despatch
from Chicyelcy Camp dated the same day
hut delayed IN transmission. The attempt was
u failure at every point the Beers following
their usual tactics Of allowing the British TO
oIon the action and develop their attack. then
pouring In a concentrated rifle Are from pits
and ntrcGchments dug at every available
point. supplemented by artillery fire while
the enemy il IN range. From the experience
Of Gen. Butler on this occasion and oil Gen.
Methuen on the Modder River. 1t Is becoming
clear tina, frontal attacks oil the Boer positions
are useless unless accompanied by thanking
movements in force; and their success again
depends on the Eature OF the country. From
all that can be learned OF the country north OF
the Tugela Il appears to be more favorable to
the Boer strategy and tactics than to the
regulation and Krlegspicl methods OF
peace-traincd Generals. or OF those whose
only experience has been in wars with
indinerently armed Asiatics or savage hordes
like the soudanese. In the case OF the Beers.
where. us an English officer remarked after
Glencoe. every man seemed to be his own Gen
oral. new methods will have to be discovered
and applied but in the meanwhile there Is
bound TO be heavy loss on the part OF the as
employed. The British losses In the affair OF
Friday are remarka able for the comparatively
few killed as compared with the proportion OF
wounded in the other engagements OF the war
The news from Gen. Methuen represents
him rs being gradually hemmod In by the
Beers who are stretching their Entertainments
on either side OF him down TO the Modder
River. II they are In sufficient force to contain
him there and to prevent sortie from Kim
ber,cy TO Join him. the fate OF that garrison
becomes very uncertain. and with their
desire to take Mr. Rhodes prisoner the
Beers may he trusted to neglect no
means OF preventing succor coming to the
relieving force. The first step OF Gen. Warren.
Just arrived ~ De- Aar. will undoubtedly be to
organize relief and reinforcement for Gen.
Mcthuen. and though the opinion is expressed
that the situation In Natal demands the first
consideration. there are reasons why kimber-
lev is likely To receive the earliest attention.
! Gen. French, after penetrating rs far as
Plcwmau's Farm. within few miles OF Coles
berg. has been obliged to fall back again TO
Arundel toward Naauw Poort. the Beers hav-
ing brought up long range gun with which
they SHIELDED his position. Gen. Gatacre re-
mains Mt stcrkstroom where he has declared
the surrounding districts under military law.
! al evidence that the country Is In disaffected
| state.
| In the criticism which is being freely Law
| ishcd on the British Generals in South Africa.
| the peculiar conditions under which they are
conducting the campaign hardly seem to be
! taken into account We're their conduct
/ guided solely by military considerations.
no doubt 1t would be open to very Sc
we're an!madversion. But unfortunately
| for themselves their course Is dictated
! by the cNiGencies of the Government In