New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-27
REPORTS OF BRITISH GENERALS.
BULLER BLAMEs COLONEL LONG FOR THE
LOSS OF THE BATTLE OF CoLENso.

BULLER BLAMES COLONEL LONG FOR THE
LOSS OF THE BATTLE OF CoLENso.
London, Jan. 26.-"The Gazette" to-day pub
fishes a number Of dispatches from General Bull
Ter to the War Office. inclosing reports from
Generals White. Hildyard. Methuen and other
generals regarding their various operations but
containing nothing later than the record of oc-
currences to the middle of December. dis
patch from General White, dated November 2,
says:
was so greatly impressed with the exposed
position of the garrison of Glencoe that deter
mined, October IL, to withdraw from there and
concentrate all the troops at Ladysmith. But
the Governor represented that this step would
involve such grave political results that j.! de-
termined to accept the military risk of holding
Dundee as the lesser of two evils.
General White then proceeds to describe the
subsequent attack by four thousand Beers. of
whom about five hundred were killed or wound
ed, three Of their guns being left dismounted at
Talana HILL but he adds there was no oppor-
tunity of bringing them off. He also describes
how the Beers were seen streaming away in
bodies of from fifty to one hundred. on which
the British artillery could have inflicted great
loss. But the Beers displayed white flag and
the British refrained from firing.
After describing the desperate fighting at
Elandslaagte. eliminating in the bitter, pro-
tracted lighting before the capture Of the Beers
final position, the General continues
At length the guns reached us and the capt
ured end of the ridge was gained, from Whlcn
the whole of the enemys camp, full or tents and
horsemen, fully exposed to view at hXed
range. While the flag was shown in the centre
of the camp Colonel Hamilton ordered Cease
fire." and some of the British moved in the d.
rection Of the camp. For G few moments there
a complete lul Then shot was heard'
followed by deadly fire from a nearby kopJe.
The British momentarily fell back, but charged
and recaptured the position
General Methuen reports similar white flag in
cidents
General Butler, commenting on the action at
Zoutpans Drift December Is, says:
I suppose the British officers will learn the
value of scouting in time; but, in spite OF all
one can say, our men seem TO bIunder INTO -the
middle of the enemy.
Describing the battle of Colenso, General Bull
Ter, under date Of December II, says:
When heard of the disaster to Longs artil-
lery 1 believed the six naval guns had shared
the same fate, and I decided Immediately that
it was impossible to force the passage without
guns. Long was dangerously wounded, and
was unable to obtain explanations. 1 had per-
sonally instructed him where to go into action,
and with the naval guns only, but Long ad-
vanced so fast that he left the infantry escort
and naval brigade behind: 1 believe that but
for the failure Of the artillery we would have
carried the crossing.
General Butler recommended the Victoria
Cross for Captains Congreve and Reid. Lieuten-
ant Roberts and Corporal Nurse, all in connec-
ton with the attempts to save the guns.
General Methuen. in dispatch dated Decem-
Der l. with reference to the battle of Modder
River, confesses that he believed the force in
his front was only fighting a retiring action He
had no idea that 5000 Beers had been brought
from Spytfontein TO oppose his advance.
Commenting upon the difficulty of conveying
orders, General Methuen says. The truth is that
no one can be on horseback with any safety
within two thousand yards Of the enemy" and
he admits that he himself most Of the day, was
in positions where he had no right to be- be-
cause unless he went to the front lie could not
see how the fight was proceeding
General Methuen draws special attention to
the services Of Colonel Paget, Of the Scots
Guards in this action. in leading his men in
the face of a Furnishing fire in which his horse
was killed after being hit five times.