The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-11-02
BOER VICTORY.
A DISASTER 10 THE BRITISH ARMS


the British Two regiments and u |
mountain battery have been captured |
by the Beers, thus seriously depicting
the British forces hemmed in AZ Lady
sm it'll Fighting has been renewed 60.
day, according to brief cable an
nouncement The British public,
shocked by the news If the loss Of the
Irish Fuslliers. the GlCucostershire
regiment and 4 battery, now appro-
hends ~ "A further disaster the fall Of
Ladysmith aud the rout II not the
capture. Of the force under Gen. White
Tho capture If the regiments and
battery by the Beers Is frankly ac-
knowledged by Gen White 10 be- his
fault alone, ~ he sent them into the
exposed position In which they we've
taken. This display Of manly willing
ness to bear the whole burden Of blame
must soften the feelings Of the English,
who admire pluck above all other quail.
tiles And II must have cost the com
mander at LAdysmith al indescrlbable
plng to confess over the wires that he
blundered SO seriously rs to send two or
three entire organizations out Of his
small army 20 be captured Tho spec
tacle II British regiments surrenderinR
Is sufficiently novel 10 mark the episode
az historical.
From the dl-p tohes thus far r.
ceiyed bearing n yesterday lighting IT
seems the British were eager to force
the Beers into a general engagement IL
which the invaders might be- given "a
disabling blow. Thus the British poll
10y seems O. have been mixture II de-
Tense aud attack. The situation doubt
LEES demanded il. The Beers have come
very near 10 the solitary line u COM
munic stiou with the coast. For the
British 10 remain inactive aud move
only 90 the defensive would be- 10 open
the way for the Beers to press around
70 the south and cut the railroad In
such straits Gen White probably deter
mined to take desperate chances The
Beers. falling back from an untenable
position. lured the British onward, and
By a clever move eutrapped d large body
IN the hills
This operation serves % dlsahuse
the public mind Of an impression which
the earlier engagements tended %
create. that the Beers are deficient In
strategic qualities They have lattsrly
been held we'll in check, doubtless By
some such powerful commander as Jou-
bert himself by advancing aud re-
treating, yet steadily pressing around
the British flank thry have more than
regained the prestige lost IN tho fights
At Glencoe and ElAndslaagte. which. IA
comparison with the operations now
ucder way. were but preliminary skir-
mishes
The question now arises. VIII the
Beers be able d gain secure f0othold
in Natal before the reinforcements ar
rive? Gen Butler reached Cape Town
Yesterday In advance u his forces,
which are coming by slower steamers
1T is estimated that the army vii
not be fully debarked at the various
points on the coast before December 10.
With this large force comparatively
Close at hand aud with orders just Is
sued 70 second corps to Mold itself III
readiness for field service, as cAbled To-
day. IL IL. - course, incredible that
England will falter in her campaign.
even though by the middle Of Deem.
Der the Beers have oyerrun Natal and
driven the British forces now at Lady
smith 10 the sea or captured them -
The Beers reJccupied their former
position with artillery. which Gen
White. British commander, had report
ed silenced by his heavy guns, and they
again opened fire Al last reports. by
way Of Cape Town. they We're closing
in on the British at Ladysmith In large
numbers.
Gen. White has sent an official dis
patch confirming the report that the
Royal Irish Fusiliers, the Gloucester
shire regiment and No 10 Mountain
Battery we're captured by the Beers ne'
Lndysmith on Monday. About 2,Oo'
men. with ~ officers and seven cannon
were captured. This il regarded In
London as a staggering blow. and there
il talk of superseding Gen. White, who
was clearly outgeneraled by Joubert
The loss Of these men is considered one
Of the severest blows which the Bcitisf
army has had in a long time.
The London War Office will senC
three extra battalions Of infantry and (
mountain battery to South Africa with
in 10 days to make up for losses 4
second army corps has been ordered t
hold itself ready to be called out.
Six thousand fresh troops viii arrive
at Cape Town next Sunday, aud ever!
day thereafter, until the end of mex
week. more troops will arrive, until
total Of 2S, 600 new men will be there
According to present plans, the British
army in South Africa will soon reach
total of SO. GA men, about double thu
combined Boer forces.
Gen. Butler received W Idly enthu
siastic greeting when he landed in Cap
Town. There were many cries o
"Aveage Majuba !"
Is Daniel Preparing to Knife Bryan
A dispatch from Richmond to th
Washington, d. O.. Post says
Senator Daniel gives an interview ii
which he indicates very plainly tina
the defeat Of the Democrats in Obi