The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-12-13
GENERAL SIR W. F. GATACRE.
Third division First army corps!
feat British arms have get sustained il

feat British arms have get sustained in
the whole cam paign.
Already the official advices show that
two men were killed, nine officers and
II men were wounded and nine officers
and 596 men are missing. But it is evil
dent that the worst is not yet known.
The proportion Of wounded and killed
is so small when compared with the
missirg-who are undoubtedly prison
ers in the hands Of the Boers-that the
supplementary list Of casualties is
awaited with serious misgivings.
From the advices at hand it appears
that General Gatacre left Putters Kraal
By train for Molteno and then proceeded
by forced march 10 miles toward Storm
berg. He had 1000 men, including the
Northum berland fusiliers, the Royal
Irish rifles and two batteries of field ar
tillery.
The British were unmolested by the
Beers until the Boer position was
reached, when hot fire was unex-
pectedly opened upon the advancing
column. The engagement began at 4:l5
a. 10. At Q. m, after sharp artillery
duel, the SrltlSh retreated.
General Gatacre found the enemy's
position impregnable 1t was impossi-
bic for the British infantry to get at the
Beers.
Disorder Among Britons.
But for the magnificent work of the
British artillery the disaster would have
been far more extensive, as the inces-
SAINT Boer she'll fire in the midst of the
repulsed infantry ultimately led to dis
order which only escaped developing
into rout through the batteries of ar.
tillery occupying successive 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 be.
ing under arms l6 hours, they attacked
the wrong part Of the Boer position,
where the hill was impregnable and the
burgkers were estimated to number
5000 men instead of 2, 500 as the spies
had reported.
There is little in the story to mitigate
the intense humiliation occasioned by
the episode, which was almost an exact
counterpart of the battle of Nichols
Mex.
The war Office was besieged with anx-
ious relatives and the successive editions
of newspapers were eagerly scanned.
The affair has caused the most de.
pressing influence everywhere. not ex-
cep.ing the Stock Exchange, where con-
soils were at the lowest price in many
years, and South African securities
slumped, not so much on account OF the
military reverse, which is retrievable,
but owing to the profound apprehension
as to its present effect.
No great surprise would now be felt
if General Gatacre's reverse resulted in
Cape Colony becoming afame from end
to end.
London Press Comment.
Discussing the defeat of General Cat.
acre. at Storm berg, The Daily Mail says;
"Quite apart from the loss of 600
fighting men, the unexpected Boer sue.
cess will probably cause more general
and serious movement among the Cape
Dutch. The government must promptly
face this by the immediate dispatch Of
further troops"
The Daily News says:
1.-The reverse General Gatacre has
sustained is sadly emphatic coElmen.
tary on the peculiar difficulty Of mill.
tary operations in semidisaEected
country. The enemy's spies are every
where, and nowhere can we rely conf.
IDENTIFY on any counter information.
General Gatacre seems to have been
completely trapped. Of course he will
be Immediately reinforced.
The Daily Chronicle says:
"There is only too much reason to
fear that.this is the worst illustration
we have had yet of inadequate equip
ment and insufficient scouting. How
for this disaster was due to lack of judg-
ment on the spot and how far to lack Of
artillery is not quite clear, but the pa.
tient public cannot help recalling that
General Methuen's victory at Modder
River was won by artillery reinforce
ment at the critical moment and all
they would like to know is how many
times this particular lesson IS to be
learned"
The Standard says:
The event is in the highest degree
dep!orable. 1t will tell against us uu.
favorably in the Free State, among the
Colonial Dutch and even among the ma.
tives. 4 great deal OF evidence has
been accumulated during the past few
weeks to show how deeply the colony,
or at least the northern and western
portions Of it, arc honeycombed by dis.
ofTantioD ~