Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-12-15
LOSSES ARE ALARMING.
Gen. Gatacre Admits the British
Met With Signal Defeat in the
Attack Sunday Morning.
THE GENERAL WAS MISLED BY GUIDES.
Apparently He Was Caught In An Ambush.
As the Enormous Number RepoFtedMiss
ing Suggests That His Men Met q Fate
Similar to NichOlsoa's Nek-Only .
Handful Were Killed or Wounded

London, Dec lathe British forces
in South Africa have met with signal
defeat. This sensational news was Of
fcially announced from the war office,
Gen. Gatacre admitting that he had
met with serious reverse in an attack
on Stormberg, in northern Cape Colony.
The British general says he was misled
by guides as to the BOer position, and
found 'impracticable ground" APP
parently he was caught in an ambush,
as his casualties as at present known
are alarming. The number of killed
and wounded cannot be considered eX-
cesSive in the circumstances, but the
enormous number reported missing
suggest that the engagement must not
have been unlike that of Nicholson's
Mex, when Gen. White lost so heavily.
So far as known at present eight Brit
ish officers are wounded and nine miss
ing; two men killed, II wounded and
500 missing. Presumably all the miss
ing men are prisoners Gen. Gatacre
does not state whether he has lost any
guns or ammunition, and further in
telligence on this point viii now be
anxiously awaited.
The Boer force is estimated to have
been 5000, the British 1000 to 5000.
ne was SSh0TO DIT OUI
the British losses are almost entirely
wounded and captured. So far as
known only two were killed, one pri-
vate and one gunner. Details of the
fight are meager. 1t seems that it was
known at Cape Town for several days
that the Beers were concentrated in
considerable force at Stormberg and in
a well-intrenched and strong position.
Cd q
try to expel them. He took the pre-
caution to send several scouts to in
vestigate the Beers strength. their
force and intrenchments. Their force
was not over 2, 500 and their position
only fairly strong. Gatacre expected
a serious fight. but was led to believe
the Beers would be driven out by spir-
tied action.
Gatacre left Putterskraal, IL mills off,
Saturday night, with a force of 1900
to 8, 900 men, composed of the Northum-
berlans, Irish rifles and two batteries
of field artillery. His intention was to
surprise the Beers at dawn Sunday,
but before the light appeared he was
himself surprised while his column was
still marching in order and wearied
after trying night march.
They Were 'sTreacherously Guided"
London, Dec 12.-Later details re-
garding the disaster to Gen. Gatacre's
column show that but for the magn;fi-
cent work of the British artillery the
disaster would have been far more ex-
tensive. as the incessant Boer shell fire
in the midst of the repulsed infantry
ultimately led to disorder, which only
escaped developing into rout through
the batteries of artillery OCCUPYING sue
cessive positions, covering the retreat,
thus drawing a portion of the Beers
CALLING fire. Apparently the British
were set an impossible task, and were
treacherously guided After a trying
march and being under arms 16 hours,
they attacked the wrong part of the
Boer position, where the hill was i'm
pregnable, and the burghers were esti-
mated to number 5000 men, instead OF
1850. as the spies had reported.