Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-20
HIS GUNS RECOVERED
Gen. Butler Partially Retrieves His
Loss at Colenso.
BOBRS DID NOT CROSS RIVE
London Times Has Scathing Criti-
cism of the War Office.
MESS AGE SENT BY SHELL


Butler called for volunteers to recover the
abandoned guns and that party issued
from the camp after midnight and brought
IN the guns. which were uninjured.
According to the dispatch to the Associ-
ated Press sent off on the evening of the
battle and which has just been received
here, the guns remained where they were
left by the British troops and were COW
cred by the heavy guns of General Hid
yards brigade. occupying intrenched po-
sitiOn. The dispatch adds that the Beers
had not attempted to cross the river and
carry off the guns, while advices to the As
sociated Press from Pretoria, under the
same date, say that an official Boer dis
patch reports that two guns, thirteen wag-
ons and a quantity of ammunition were
captured, besides POS prisoners
Ignorance of Boer Position.
Further accounts of the Tugela river bat
tie emphasize the ignorance of the British
Intelligence department in regard to the
disposition of the Boer forces. The British
were not aware that the Beers were IN
trenched along a series of low-lying hills
Immediately northward of Colenso bridge
until staggering fire compelled them to
retreat when the attack seemed about to
succeed The Beers were also in greater
strength than anticipated.
1t becomes clearer also that the British
guns were lost in attempting to get within
effective range of the Boer artillery, show
ing that the latter outranged the British
ordnance, which, IN spite of numerical SUI
periOrity, was wholly inadequate to reply
to the iong-range Boer guns.
Revised lists of the British casualties at
the battle of Colenso show that 137 nom
commissioned officers and men were killed.
The British war office comes in for scath-
ing denunciation from the Times today for
not providing effective artillery 1t is
TantFN tod fra fe bot fka
lODger-ranged naval guns participating in
the same attack escaped
Gen. French's Reconnaissance
There was news this morning to en-
tighten the general situation. The war Of
flee reported that General French recon-
noitered northward of Arundel Monday,
December IL. After shelling Jasfontein
farm, three miles eastward of the Boer po-
sition. the New Zealanders advanced and
occupied the farm The Beer guns then
opened and the Beers advanced to the at
tack. so General French ordered retire
ment.
The latest news from Mafeking. dated
December 8. has just been received. 1t
says desultory bombardment was contin-
uing. and that the sharpshooters were en-
gagged in a smart duel mornings and even
ings-
The dispatch also describes novel
method Of sending A message, adopted by
some BOer, December l. A five-poupder
Smell HTe1 tne town tfldt gay nlQ not
explode 1t was opened and found TO con-
tain a letter. follows:
Dear Powell eCol. Baden-PowelD: Ex-
cuse iron messenger. No other means OF
communicating. Please tell Mrs.
mother and family all well. Don't drink all
the whisky Leave some for us when We
get in"
The senders signature was torn Off
To Raise Troops in London.
At meeting of the corporation today the
lord mayor. A. J. Newton. announced that
f25. 900 had been subscribed by the large city
firms which are contributing money to de-
fray the necessary expenses Of force of
thousand volunteers among the city corps
The lord mayor also said that Gen. Lord
Wolseley. the ccmmander-in-chief had ae-
cepted the offer OF the services of these
volunteers.
Lord Rothschrd has given 5000 of this
amount. and Charles Wilson the Hull ship
owner. has promised a fully equipped ves-
sci, which Is equivalent to a gift of f15UlO
to transport these volunteers.
The corporation passed resolution to
confer the freedom of the city on each
member OF the corps.
DisIoyaIty In Cape Colony.
A Cape Town Dispatch dated Saturday,
December 16. says: Five hundred colon
lists Of Victoria West district have perfect
ed an apparently anti-British organization
there. and, as individuals. have openly ex-
pressed disloyalty and have threatened to
attack the railroad station, which is on the
district line between Cape Town and De
Aar.
The Afrkander Bundites, at a meeting
there, passed q resolution asserting that
the troops in the vicinity irritate the farm
ers dangerously The meeting proclaimed
Its loyalty, but declared that the conduct
OF the troops forced the people to use ex-
pressions and commit acts which were can.
able OF being interpreted as disloyal
Bryce Denounces Chamberlain.
ABERDEEN, December 2O.-James Bryce,
h- P. In speech here today. severely at
tackled Mr.. Chamberlain. secretary of state
Tor the colonies. and densunced his meth
DDS, manner and whole conduct" and said
he hoped It would not be much longer pos-
sible for him to do his best to excite hos
tile feeling in Germany and ALLEVIATE and
throw back and do all possible ininrv 70
the closest understanding between ms and
the United States" GIL"
LONDON December 2O-On the stool, -,
change today the general tone was decided
~ hrmer- Business opened better and tbera
wa, wa more conndent feeling. After a tenn
porary relapse prices rallied again and
mere was distinct recovery in almost AN
departments. "ii
PARIS, December Cot is rumored here
that the Bank OF Russia has advanced the
Bank OF England fSOO0.O0O.
Connausht to Succeed Roberts.
LONDON, December 2O.-The Globe saws
'here are rumors that the Duke of Con-
naught Will succeed Gen Lord Roberts as
eommander-in-chief of the Irish forces.
IRISH SYMPATHY FOR THE BoERs.
.. H ke"ting of Chicago Discusses
Practical Aid for Them.
CHICAGO, December $50 far as