Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-02-12
BEATEN BRITONS.
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE LAST FIGHT
WITH THE BOERS.
The British Badly Whipped and Only
Saved from Annihilation by Darkness-A
Cry from Leading Journals to Stop the
Slaughter General Old World News.
THE WAR IN TRANsVAAL.

LONDON, Feb. lit is reported g
thousand Beers are advancing to inter
cept the squadron of Hussars and bat
talon of foot, moving to relieve General
Colley with reinforcements for Sierre
Leone. The available troops at Cape
Coast castle only number 600.
LONDON, Feb. 1.-The detailed ac-
count of the recent engagement between
the forces under Gen. G. p Colley and
the Beers sent by correspondent, who
was actually present during
the conflict, makes it plain that
he was seen in reality defeated and only
succeeded in escaping back to camp un-
der cover of darkness, because the Beers,
who had drawn off with the intention of
renewing the conflict in the morning, be-
lieved the river not fordable. Gen Col
ley was obliged to leave all his wounded
on the field. Details of the fight show
that the troops were at great disadvan-
tage, the Beers by dint Of superior marks
manship inficting loss out of all pro-
portion to that which they themselves
received.
The Pail Mall Gazette this after
noon says serious attempt
should be made to communicate to the
Beers the conditions we are prepared to
grant without more slaughter. In house
of commons, the secretary of state for
war, said, on receipt of the news of the
engagement between Gen. Colley and the
Beers, he conferred with the colonial
secretary and the Duke of Cambridge,
then telegraphed Colley, offering a CON
siderable force of all arms He had re-
ceived list of casualties, showing that
telegraph communication was intact at
midnight Thursday.
THE FIGHT.
New YORK, Feb. 11.--A London cable
says: Dispatches from Durham admit
great British defeat yesterday. The fol-
lowing is description Of the fight The
enemy were on horseback when first seen,
but upon shell taking effect among
them when about 1900 yards distant,
they rode off, and having dismounted
under cover behind the hills, opened fire
from II until dusk. 1t was rifle duel
under cover Our guns from time to
time took part in it, but the enemy's fire
was so severe it was impossible to
work the guns continually,
the men falling almost as soon as they
stood up, with the exception of Lieut.
Parsons, who was wounded late in the
day. Every officer, driver, gunner and
horse in the battery was hit. Shortly
after the fight began the guns were com
pletely silenced for an hour. The in
fantry then assisted and one piece was
thus kept in action throughout the day,
but it was dangerous duty and those
serving it had continually to be
replaced. The guns were actually
whitened all over with the marks
of bullets and for anybody to
stand up beside them was certain DEATH
The enemy occasionally crept up to with
in 200 yards of our position but never at
tempted to rush to quarters. A portion
of the fighting was at distance of 600 or
700 yards. The tactics of the Beers is
described as admirable They moved
from flank to flank, opening fire oftentime
from unexpected positions. For our men
to advance and charge at point of the
bayonet was quite impossible, for they
would all have been shot down before
reaching the enemy
LONDON, Feb. lit is rumored there
is plot to blow up Windsor castle Pre-
cautions have been taken and the queen
has delayed her return from Osborne