New-York tribune., 1899-12-24
FEVER ~ LADYSNITH.
SEVEN NORT DEATHS REPORTED IN THE
TOWN-BULLER'S COURSE
MADE PLAIN.
Upright, 1899: BY The New-Yors Tribune


lBY CABLE TO THE TR1BUNEl
London. Dec "a. l a. m.-Another voice has
come from the darkness Of Ladysmith seven
more deaths from enteric fever are reported in
The casualty list from Whites garrison. These
r-resages flashed from one British camp TO an
other have a different sound from the CHEEKY
"Au we'll" which was received daily from Lady
smith al Estcourt a few weeks ago. All IS not
vel when typhoid fever and dysentery are
prevalent and men are dying daily in the hos
vital from sickness induced by unsantary con-
dti0us and a defective water supply. The War
once makes no comment on this message, but
adds five words of helated explanation TO pre-
v.ors casualty list Of twenty-four killed and
wounded. which London journals have attrib-
uted to bursting shell from the enemy's bat
teries These casualties are now officially de-
scribed as occurring In engagement
The hospitals may be full Of fever patients and
the garrison depressed with the evil tdings OF
Buffers disastrous battle, but General Whites
men are still able 10 fight. and have been skir-
rnishing as late as Friday. 1t is a situation with
rathos unspeakable which these messages out
of the darkness Of Ladysmith reveal The real
condition Of affairs in Ladysmith has been no
secret 10 General Butler. II the commentators
on the casualty lists in the dark and forced
10 grope about for clews II it be more critical
than has been generally supposed. his own mo-
tive in rnassing two divisions around Colenso
and attempting to force his way through by
frontal attack becomes Ineligible. That fact
Will suffice to explain why the original plan OF
campaign was abandoned. Gatacre stripped OF
his battalons and Methuens column made
ouately stifened for the arduous work when
was before it,
SIR CHARLES wARREN'S DESTINATION.
The same fact also throws light upon the dis
match Of Sir Charles Warren with reinforce
rents from the Fifth Division to Natal. He and
his staff were reported few days ago at De
Aar but this was a mistake I have high au-
thoritv for the statement that the STAFF OF the
Fifth Division was hurried Of TO Durham as
son as the ship arrived at Cape Town. II has
also been currently reported that the incoming
ro--aliors were divided between Durham and
Methuen's line Of communications. II is now
Tr1hahl that the bulk Of these fresh troops Will
3oir General Butler. He IS clearly concentrating
q larre body Of fresh troops for renewal OF the
assault upon Colenso and the relief OF Lady
smith and is leaving Methuen. Gatacre and
French 10 shift for themselves. This course is
entirely explicable upon the theory that Lady
smith is short Of ammunition and fever stricken
and that there is urgent need Of haste, or in any
event that the situation is more serious there
than al Kimberley
Practical men have been wondering why the
military authorities at the Cape have not made
use Of the censorship FOR the purpose Of mis-
lelding the enemy. instead OF applying II rigor-
ously for the suppression Of all news from the
front Apparently something OF this kind mas
been done in the case Of Warren's star and
bst-alious At any rate. the London press has
been led to assume that Warren's stan had
gone 20 De Aar and that the bulk Of his force
would follow it, Some army officers have "a
vored what they describe as a scientnc use OF
the censorship. by which correspondents VIII
be enabled 10 ca BILE their own forecasts or com
ing operations with greater freedom FOR eA-
annie General Butler might have mised the
enemy II some amateur campaigner IN the camp
had announced the probability Of a turning
movement from Weenen and this had been teIe-
graphed back 70 Pretoria by Leyds's agents
vhen in reality a frontal attack was alone un-
der consideration. Nothing Of this sort was
done All the news was suppressed for a Fort
night before the battle and London has waited
eight days for the first clear account or the
capture Of the guns in yesterdays standard
"hAe dispatches from Methuen's column seldom
"ppeT In Irint. and there seems 10 De Si'sH'
po'aollty that he Will receive adequate rem
tei"ehts for carrying the strong postum
"N''H nan encirc.es him. l have assurance
I'm h'Eh quarters that he will hold ms grou"u
anu Ho' retreat To Orange River. He makes
o''S'aH' use Of the balloon. and is watching
,'e enemy movements day by day The Dun
u's mas not yet lost his grip. and while he holds
On TO 'he open veldt beyond Modder River ne
keeps large Dutch force away from Natal and
'e'e"ses hlihoeriey from close investment
LORD RoBERTss FAREWELL.
Lord Roberts went to the Cape yesterday as
Or CHARLES Napier sailed for India in a supreme