The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-11
SERIOUS NEW s FROM SOUTH AFRICA

Gen. Gatacre. In command OF the division
acting against the Free Staters and Afrikander
Insurgents on the line OF the East LONDON
BurRhersdorp railway. reports having sunered
disaster on Saturday In the attack on STORM
berg which he had previously reported us
strongly held by the enemy. He attributed his
defeat to the attacking force having oeen
misled by the guides and the first list OF casuai-
ties given shows a loss OF officers wounded
and 10 missing. man killed. and 10 wounded
and 500 missing. The force which suffered
this loss was composed OF the Royal Irish
Rifles. Second Northum berland Fusiliers.
Berkshire Mounted Infanty and the Seventy
fourth Battery Field Artillery.
press report describes the attack made by
Gen Gatacres force as having taken place at
night and been planned to surprise the enemy.
The British force. however. was itself taken BY
surprise according to this report. as 1t marched
straight into the enemy's position without
being aware OF their presence. The next
accounts will be OF much interest.
A despatch from Gen. Methuen describes the
operations necessltated to keep his communi-
cations with the Orange River open. large
Boer force having again appeared at Gras Pan.
but whether 1t came from the west or from the
Free State on the east was not known. A re-
connoitring force. accompanied by naval
gun throwing lyddite Shells made demon
stratlon against the Boer position at Spytfon-
tein on Saturday morning tho practice OF the
naval gun being reported to have been most
effective and the explosion OF the lyddite shells
terribly destructive. No reply was made from
the Boer position.
Gen. White helIographing from Ladysmith
confirms the report OF the British attack on FRI
day night on Lombard's Kop and the destruc-
tion OF the Creusot gun and howitzer In posi-
tion there with gun cotton also the capture Of
Maxim brought back to the British camp. A
cavalr ~ raid at the same time around Pep
worth's Kop. south OF LON bari's Kop. success
fully destroyed the Boer kraals and telegraph
wires: In both cases the British loss was insig-
niflcant. The ease with which these operations
seem to have been carried out shows that Boer
outpost duties Mt night are neggently per-
formed. In fact. the numbers OF times they
have been surprised through careessness in
this essential part OF work in the field is remark
able for men otherwise such adopts In cam
paigning. 1t almost Justiles the taunt made
by an old Boer at one OF the councils OF war at
Pretoria Just before the outbreak OF hostilities.
when II was proposed to give tents to the COM
mandos taking the field. He said that II that
was done. they would not DO able to get the men
up In the morning.
News from MafekinG up to Nov. 80 is to the
effect that oil was well on that date.
or Gen. Frenchs force that IL operating from
Naauw Poort against the Beers posted near
Arundel In advance OF Colesberg. nothing Ia vet
reported. Areport from the Boer General. Sny-
man. at Colesberg to Pretoria, however
indicates that lie was well informed
Of their strength and movements. There
should soon be news from this column
unless the check to Gen Gatacre and the possi-
bility Of further risings among the Afrikandars
in the rear OF the two columns have the effect
OF arrestng his advance for the moment
A siege train destined for Pretoria has been
shipped and sent out from England