The record-union., 1899-11-02

duced, while the disaster now appears
to have been ont SO much the conss-
quence of defects in the plan of action
as to the misfortune whereby the col
umn was deprived of ammunition. Still,
1t seems incomprehensible why the
plight of the luckless column was not
known at headquarters, as the scene
Of the surrender was only about three
miles northwest of Ladysmith, and
Lieutenant Colonel Carlton must have
expected relief to reach him or. in
stead of attempting to occupy a de-
Iensive position, he would have re-
traced his steps to Ladysmith when he
suffered the loss of his ammunition.
Apart from General Whites state
ment that the losses are very numer-
ouss there is nothing to indicate the
extent of them except vague report
that the soldier who brought the news
to Ladysmith said the British dead
and wounded We're lying in heaps and
that hundreds needed doctors. This
however, is hardly borne out by the
long list of captured officers.
The concluding sentence of General
Whites dispatch, relative to the safety
OF Ladysmith, was received here with
a certain reserve, in view of the fact
that similar official assurances were
given recently at Dundee and Glencoe
and there is intense anxiety for news OF
the renewed attack. which is not men
toned in the dispatches.
The calamity has served to alarm the
British and their friends The paper
comment on the splendid reserve of
patriotism existing in the far away
colonies and~the deep-seated feeling OF
friendship and sympathy of the greai
kindred nation across the Atlantic.
The Standard sums up the feeling
of the nation, saying: From the Uni
ted States and our colonies alone we
hear the voice of friendly sorrow and
encouragement. But that suffices AL
others are welcome to congratulate
themselves over the misfortunes OF
Great Britain"
1t was learned to-day by repre-
sentative of the Associated Press that
the British Governms mt has been obliged
to refuse permission for the United
States to send four officers. to watch the
Transvaal war, owing to the precedent
which only permits one representative
form each recognized Power Captain
Stephen IHommedieu Slocum, the Uni
ted States Military Attache at Lisbon
has been selected. He was in London
to-day buying an outfit, and sails Sat
urday. Colonel Samuel S. Sumner the
United States Military Attache here
remains in London.
GENERAL WHITES DESCRIPTION
OF THE BATTLE.
LONDON, Nov. 1.-The British Wal
Office to-day made public dispatch le-
ceived from General White, describing
the operations of Monday. 1t follows
'Ladysmith. Oct. 81, Z 80 p. MI
took out from Ladysmith brigade Of
mounted troops, two brigade divisions
of the Royal Artillery, the Natal Field
Battery and two brigades of infantry
to reconnoiter the enemy's position
to the north. and. if the opportunity
should offer, to capture the hill behind
Farquhar's farm, which had on the pre-
vious day been held in strength by the
enemy. In connection with this ad-
vance column consisting of the
Tenth Mountain Artillery, four half
SOiliP1llIcS Ol Tic NTfOucSSlGTS ana SIX
companies of the Royal Irish Fusileers
the whole under Lieutenant Colonel
Carlton and Major Adye, Deputy AS
sistant Adjutant General, was dispatch
ed at IL p. m. on the 29th, to march
by night up Bellspruit, and seize Mich
olson's Mex. or some position near
Nieholson's Mex, thus turning the ene-
my's right flank. The main advance
was successfully carried out, the OBJ
jective of the attack being found evac-
uated, and an artillery duel between
our field batteries and the enemy's
guns and Maxims is understood to have
caused heavy loss to the enemy. The
reconnaissance forced the enemy to
fully disclose his position, and, after
strong counter attack on our right,
the infantry brigade and cavalry hav-
ing been repu1sed the troops were slow
iy withdrawn to camp, pickets being
left on observation. Late in the en-
gagement the naval contingent under
Captain Lambley of her majesty's
steamship Powerful, came into action
and silenced, with their extremely ac-
curate fire, the enemy's guns in po-
sition-
The circumstances which attended
the movement os Lieutenant Colonel
Cartons column are not yet fully
known, but from reports received the
column appears to have carried out
the night march unmolested until with
in two miles of Nicholson's Mex. Al
this point big boulders rolled from the
hill and a few rifle shots stampeded the
military ammunition mules. The
stampede spread to the battery mules
which broke loose from the leaders
and got away with practically the who. G
OF the gun equipment and the greater
portion of the regimental small-arm
ammunition
The reserve was similarly lost.
The infantry battalions. however
fixed bayonets and, accompanied bv thf
personnel of the artillery, seized a hi,1
on the left of the road. two miles from
the Mex, with but little opposition
There they remained unmlolested unit;
dawn, the time being occupied in or.
ganizing the defense of the hill and
constructing stone sangars and walls
! as cover from fire At dawn a skir.
mishing attack on our position was
commenced by the enemy, but made
no way until $3.50 a. M, when reinforce.
ments enabled them to rush to the at.
tack with great energy Their fire be-
came very searching and two com.
panes of the Gloucesters, in an ad-
vaneed position, were ordered to fal
back. The enemy then pressed t.
short range, the losses on our side be.
coming very numerous
Al Pm, our ammunition was prac.
l fioql1v