New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-07
r0yDON STILL GUESSING.
vrrH THEORIZING IN THE ABSENCE OF
nrr1v1TE NEWS FROM AFRICA.
rRY cAa.- TO THE TRIBUNE.l


Try CAL TO THE TRIBUNE.l
London. Dec. T. a. m.-General Clery Is
,-sspauv preparing to turn the Boer position al
cos,so and relieve Ladysmith. while Lord
,,..,,sr holds General Cronje's forces at Spyt-
.,,,en and Jacobsdal and General Ga,acre is
.,.,.,,v with the Free State raiders among the
mitch villages Of the disaffected district OF Cape
c,onv The variations OF these three themes
continue TO occupy the attention or mlrtary
--,..r. tor the London press. Evidence Is found
..csrersl Ruller's controlling mind in directing
II. British campaign for the expulsion OF the
v,A4 s,aters from Cape Colony and the relief OF
kimberley. The defeat OF Cronjes army would
,s,sasa forces OF considerable strength from
o,erat,ors remote from Natal, and open the way
Gov the concentration Of a Dutch army at Bloem-
,onte,n whence endorsements could be sent 10
,DA Roer laaeers between COlenso and Lady
snith. Premature action either at Modder River
or IN tbe southern frontier Of the Free State
would tend to diminish the pressure now
brought 10 bear upon the enemy's camps around
ladysnlith for withdrawal OF portion OF
Erg range.
these are the best explanations offered oy
Hillary men in London clubs for the cohuhueu
s,ction of both Lord Methuen and General
ssacre. and IT is always easy to follow them up
Thh the reflection that time is on the slue Vi
he British army. with its superior discipline ana
Ucernatc arrangements for supplies. and heaV-
rr against the irregularly organized Dutch
t-ces While theories like these are poor
substitute for war news, the veteran ofhcers are
tad to accept evidence that the generals are no
5,gsr in hot haste to attack the enemy III
strongly fortified positions without manpuVrlhs
2, protection for the infantry from a deadly
fin directly in front.
OFFICERS KILLED AT KIMBERLEY.
The oficial news yesterday included the casu-
ly list in the sortie from Kimberley on NO
ye-Asr 2S when the Boer laager was surprised
IL. aptured There was a serious hght' Tor
Ts,y-two were killed on the British slde ana
nhy-one wounded South Africans reaoiV
5ttty two names in the list or Killed. MaJ@i
Sco;,-Turner was a gallant Rough Rider WHO
lad seen much hard service in Mataoeleiahu anu
Goiesis under Forbes and Darlington lie
asa fine horseman and man utterly feaflesS
rih an inborn love Of adventure. LIEUTENANT
Trgat was famous as one of the coolest ana
-g exnert rfnenen IN South Africa ana
rs,ch for the best hunters among the Boers.
An official bulletin also came from General
eglsr respecting the losses of the enemy, which
he estimated at eight hundred killed ana
Toundec beysre fedysrnith on November ., and
l4 In Hndyard's fight at Willow Grange These
-s1I 1,x-
Charge that the enemy did not admit more tnah
W;-tenth OF the losses suffered. AS Genera
Ashuen had telegraphed in similar way re-
pecting the Beer losses at Modder River IL
vas evident that -he War Office had suggested
ha, something should be said both by him ana
GENERAL Butler 10 cOulteract the ERECT OF 'he
publication of the heavy casualty lists on the
crush side. Cues for these reports hao come
nom London, where the officials were anhoye'
Oy Leydss Brussels bulletins showing inslghih-
cant Dutch losses as an Offset TO the terrioie
"avoc wrought among the British battahohs'
4"e most Important rumOr circulated yes'er-
1'' Ieia'ed TO General Joubert. HIS illness IL
again reported from Lourenco Marques by heu-
er' ana General schalkburger is named as MS
'-''eSsor IN supreme command OF the FORCES
=" disposed 10 believe is that there have beeh
~ous discussions among the Boer generals
~o mat Joubert may have been set aside.
s.N'H oi war is reported 10 have been heid oii
'uroay with the State Attorney from Pretoria
S"endance. The same jealouses which are no"
su'Hn 10 have existed at Modder River between
4rehsyaal and Free state leaders are sus-
- 70 be current in the Colenso camp. Ihe
~, 49," allies. however, fought well against
,eHuen and are likeiy 70 offer Clery an equally
pera'e contest especially as they will have
1Pef'or defensive position IN Natal
HARD TASK BEFORE CLERY.
uh Africans familiar with the ground tell
-. Wat the banks OF the Tugela are much
'"er man those OF the Modder. and that the
49,, sage OF the river will be much more din
a.. ana arduous undertaking, although, they
= Win fine glow ~ enthusiasm. that moth
''"N QUANTITIES ON THE PENNsYIc
g. VANIA RAILROAD.
hesi speed and comfort The realization OF the
/ nn1i,.thn railway trains. The "Pennsylyania