The Irish standard., 1899-11-04
MEET IN BATTLE.
British and Horr Troops Measure
Arms Near Observation-Disclosures OF
Roth Sides Heavy.

London. Oct. 31.-Gen. White, at the
head of 10000 British, and Gen. Jou-
bert, commanding 10000 Beers, meas
urcd arms in the Vicinity of Ladysmith
Monday, and the British, as usual,
claim the victory, but in the official re-
ports, which are glaringly half-heart
ed, the English admit casualties of
from so TO 100. The Boer loss is said
to be much larger. Later reports may
tell different story, as the battle is
evidently unfinished. The two armies
fought from daybreall to the middle of
the afternoon, when both apparently
took a recess. Gen. Whites official dis
patch to the war Office, dated four p. IN.
Monday, says
II employed all the troops here except
the obligatory garrison before the works,
sent a mountain battery, the Royal Irish
fusil!ers and the Gloucesters, to take up
position on the hills. to clear my left
flank. The force moved at II yesterday
evening, ard during some night firing the
battery mules stampeded with some of the
guns. which. however l hope to recover
These two battalions have not yet re-
turned but are expected this evening.
II detailed two brigade divisions Of field
artillery and five hattalions of infantry,
aided by cavalry, under Gen. French, to
attack position upon which the enemy
yesterday mounted guns. We found this
position evacuated. but our force was at
/ Tackled With considerable vigor by what |
/ believe We're Gen. Joubert's troops. They
had many guns ard showed in great mum
! bcrs. Our troops were all In action and
We pushed the enemy back several miles.
! hut did not succeed in reaching his aagcr.
! Our losses are estimated at between 50
| and 100. but those Of the enemy must have
/ been much greater. the fire of our guns
| appearing Very effective.
After being in action several hours
withdrew troops, and they returned un-
molcstcd to their environments. The en-
| envy are In great numbers and their guns
range further than our field guns.
II have now some naval guns which have
| temporarily silenced. and, hope. WEI per-
manently dominate the cncmy's best guns.
with which he has been bombarding the
town at range Of over 600O yards"
1t is quite certain that Gen. White
failed TO accomplish the object he in
tended, and the days proceedings are
an instructive example of the difficulty
of operations when the enemy holds an
extended position from which he is
able TO make sudden and unexpected
developments and changes OF front
Sir Rcdvers Butler cannot arrive at the
scene OF fighting until the end of this
week. In the meantime Gen. White will
need all his resources to prevent the
Beers around l.adysmith linking theil
forces. The omission of all details like.
ly TO give a true idea OF the position
from Gen. Whites dispatch may be due
to his rcticcnce, but editing by war Of
flee officials is likely to be again severe
ly commented upon.
Cape Town, Oct. 30.--A dispatch tc
the South African News from prctor;
says the Boer loss a, Elantlsluagte was
sc killed and CT wounded.
According to Il dispatch TO the Cape
Times from Ladysmith the natives say
that the Boer losses in the fighting Il,
Reitfontcin last Tuesday were at leas
so in killed and $50 in wounded.
The Bocr losses during Fridays en-
gagcment at Talani hill are estimated
at 500 in killed and wounded.