New-York tribune., 1901-12-29
british DEFEAT A BAD ONE
DE WET CAUGHT Then MAPPING AT
ZEEFONTEIN.
,rr,r HARDY BoERs CLIMBED A PREcIPfcE
AND SURPRISED THE CAMP OF
COLONEL FIRMAN
downright: 1901: By The New-York Tribune)
(BY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.]

IBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.]
London. Dec. %. 1 a. NAT the battle Of
zae4ontein which, it now seems, was fought
aorlv IN Christmas morning, the British suffered
severe defeat This much is made quite clear
by the information contained in Lord Kitch-
erer,s long dispatch from Johannesburg pub
,,..o5 to5av The first official list of casualties
sbovs six officers and fifty men killed, eight
otsoors wounded four officers missing, and the
,,,r,bar of wounded and captive non-commis-
,oned officers and men not yet known, but it
=, fearaa that the complete casualty list will be
-, ,ong one Lord Kitchener states that
about half the men or f1rmans column are
,o.ors. en- il is evident that De Wet scored a
,izger success than the officials Of the War De-
,,ar+roent had at first imagined The Boer vic
-, u,as due TO De Vets daring plan of attack
The British column occupied exceptionally
strong position the slope of solitary kopje
The southern side was almost precipitous. and
Major williams, who was In charge Of the COL
umn in the absence Of Colonel Ffrman, appar-
emily never dreamed Of the possibility of the
Beers climbing the kopje from that side. But
this is exactly what they succeeded in doing.
The picket on outpost duty was taken COM
pletely by surprise. and before the men in camp
could get clear Of their tents the Beers rushed
through, shooting them down they came out
There was no panic, and a resolute defence was
offered, but the attacking force which was esti-
mated to number a thousand men, proved too
strong, and soon had the column at its mercy
Lord Kitchener in his first message, men
toned that the column had two guns. In his
detailed account he only speaks of a 15-pounder
which fired two rounds and then jammed. 1t is
noteworthy that the British commander in chief
specially refers to the good behavior Of the vic
-
Yesterday at St Pancras's Church London
the marriage took place Of Lieutenant Charles
David Cay, Of his maJesty's ship Repulse, and
Miss Elsie Durham Tomkins. daughter Of the
late Rev. Elliott Tomkins of Long Branch,
n. J., and niece Of the Rev. Floyd Tomkins
rector of Holy Trinity. Philadelphia The
bride led up the aisle by Frederick Green
hough and given away by her mother. She
a dress Of white satin trimmed with lace
chiffon, and veil Of old family Brussels lace
over spray Of natural orange blossoms in the
hair, and she carried large bouquet Of white
flowers tied with a white satin ribbon. There
were no bridesmaids. Mr.. Knothe, of his
majesty's ship Repulse acted as best man, and
the guests were shown to seats by four other
brother officers of the bridegroom. The Rev.
Tdmund Hopper, vicar of Harlesden. Norfolk.
a cousin of the bride, oficiated, and the centre
aisle OF the church was lined by number Of
bluejackets and marines from the Repulse. At
the conclusion Of the ceremony reception was
held by Mrs Tomkins at the Langham Hotel,
and later in the afternoon Lieutenant and Mrs.
Cay left London for their honeymoon. The
bluejackets and marines were entertained at the
Langham Hotel before returning to the ship.
An interim report of the Royal Commission on
tuberculosis is expected to be issued shortly.
1t appears that the laboratory researches or
members of the commission do not tend 10
modify the accepted theory the question of
communication OF tuberculosis which was un-
disturbed until Professor Koch made his start
ling statement at the Queens Hall Congress.
1t is stated that Lord Strathcona, although
restored to health left London by express or
ders of his medical advisers.
VETERANS EXEMPT FROM AGE LIMIT.