The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-01-05
BOER'S UNIQUE FIGHTING
Has Put the London Military Experts All
al Sea.
ASxlously AWAIT RESULT OF BATTLE
dcrs Have hit upon something
New In Defense.

New York, January i.A Tribune dis
patch says; The clubs were crowded I'M
III midnight. since there was general inn
preston that the crisis OF the war had
come, with a battle impending on the Tu-
gela. This feeling OF suspense was
strengthened by bulletins reciting vigorous
Smelling of the Boer trenches with lyddite
and the destruction of the iutrenohmen,s
with minor incidents such as the shifting
OF the enomy's positions the stampede OF
their horses and constant outpost brushes
In the newspaper offices there was
sheaf of unlmportan, dispatches relating
to the adventures of Thornycroft's scouts
on the upper Tusela, admissions OF Boer
dcserters that General Joubcrts army was
suffering Tor lack Of food, the trial Of trac-
tlon engines Tor transport service, the de-
struotion Of large gun ut Colenso by
shell formn naval gun, and the escape OF
six horsemcn from Ladysmi,h during a
thunder storm, Two OF whom were fan
tastically reported as DR.. Jameson and
Colonel Rhodes These were tribes light
as air in comparison With The momentous
conflict which was known to be imminent
General Butler, since his defeat, has
called Into Natal every battalion and bat
terry upon which he could lay his hanisi
and has stifienod his forces IN every prae-
ticahlc way for supreme attempt TO
break through the Boer line OF defense and
relieve Lalysmith, Even tho atontest-
hearted Engishman has been constrained
TO hold his breath until tho issue OF the
battle is known Public anxiety has NOT
hccn deeper than the feeling OF suspense
among military men They have dcacrihcd
the Boer defensive positions sixteen miles
IN length, With RELAYS OF horses behind ~
by which the forces could he raridly con
'Centratea at any point that might BE-
strongly attacked something unique IN
military tactics, There never wac any
thing like II and ordinary tactics and
strategy studied ny the stan college have
provided no eNpedients for regulating
scientihC attack on y swollen river. with
concealmsnt of the onomNs position, the
Bner occupation OF TWO points on the
southern bank and the extension of their
line until " Is not practicable TO turn u,
and the remarkable mobility of the Dutch
has Increased the difficulties OF most
/ formidable enterprise. The most though
/ ful veterans have added that, while this
! defensive system with long range guns
7 In concealed trenches and thousands Of
! ponies under saddle had been successful
! when attacked at the point OF greatest re
! sstance. II might prove weak and yulner-
4 able at point OF least resistance, The
/ Beers. adapting themselves to British tac-
| ties. have devised most ingenious scheme
! of defense II might prove Unexpectedly
weak IL the British generals in turn could
| adapt their attack to II with any degree
| Of neXibility
! While Colcpso remains the center OF IN
terest operations which have proceeded
Z elsewhere serve TO indicate Increased mo-
blity and improved tactics on the British
side. The Dutch forces have made A boz
lated effort to follow up their victory at
! Sormburg by an advance upon Moltcno
and Cyphergat. but General Gatacre sent
| infantry and u battery TO relieve the Cape
police and the Irish rifles The two Dutch
commands which had skirmlshed with the
outposts and advanced on the British camp
retreated when the shells began to burst
among them. General Gatacre's official re-
port shows that the police have retired
from Dordrecht and taken = position on
the lndwe line, and that a company OF
mounted infantry had reconnoitered AZ
prieska. While this diminishing is on a
small scale there is evidence that Gatacrc
Is alert and vigiiant and that hs scouting
work Is well done.
Reinforcements have been sent from
Deaar TO General French, who is still how
eriug about Colesburg and apparently ma
neuyering to cut off the retreat OF tho
Beers to the railway bridge. having q
ready blocked the passage to the road
bridge over the Orange river. A heavy ar
tllery lre is kept up, but the result is not
known.
The imperial yeomanry corps is rapidly
mohilizing. About 1900 men will be al
lowed to serve out OF a total force OF $50
twelve battnlions of militia will go abroad
with fifty held back in reserve II Is a
mistake TO suppose that Great Britain Will
be denudcd Of battalions when the Eighth
division Is modified There are more
battalions ON duty in Great Britain at this
moment than there were at the outbreak OF
the war.