The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-10-31
REVERSE FOR BRl70NS
General Whites Attack on the
Beers Was Ineffective. :.
SEVERAL HOURS OF FIGHTING
In the Neigh borhood ofLadysmith Re-
sulss In British Casual ties to theNum-
Der Of Hundred and 'Boer losses
Much Heavier" by British Reports.

sulss In British Casualties to theNum-
Der Of q Hundred and "Boer losses
Much Heavier" by British Reports.
London, Oct. 31.-The Daily Tele-
graph has the following account OF yes
terday's engagement at Ladysmith
from its special correspondent at the
front:
An indecisive reconnaissance occur
red yesterday. General Sir George
Stewart White advanced before day
break with all the available forces
from Ladysmith, moving toward Tinto
Inyoni. Two brigades we're under
Colonies Ian Hamilton and Howard,
and another, with General Sir Archi-
bald Hunter, went toward Bulwan.
while two regiments. guided by Major
Adyc, marched on our extreme left be-
yond the old camp.
The first advance was made at dawn
with the object Of Smelling the Beers
from the position where on Sunday
they had mounted a number OF guns.
On reaching the spot, however, 1t was
found that they had evacuated the po-
sition.
The British continued to advance.
and the movement developed into
reconnaissance in force. The enemy
were posted on a range OF hills hav-
Ing Il frontage of about 16 miles.
General Whites plan of operations
was that as the movement developed
the force constituting our center,
which was disposed under cover Of a
kopje about three miles from the town,
should throw itself upon the enemy,
while the left flank was being held by
the Fusileers and the Gloucesters. The
scheme was well advised. but failed in
execution, owing to the fact that the
Boer position which formed our OBJ
jective was evacuated.
Our artillery quickly reduced the vol
ume of the enemys fire, but the attack
delivered on our right flank was the
principal one, and the column was
compelled to change. The Boer attack
had been silenced for time, and our
infantry advanced, covered by cav
airy.
The enemy now began to develop a
heavy counter attack, and as they
were in great numerical superiority
General White gave orders for the in
fantry to be gradually withdrawn.
The movement was carried out with
great steadiness and deliberation, under
cover of our guns, which made excel
lent practice.
Some shells were thrown into the
town from the enemy's 40-pounders at
a range of over 5000 yards, but no
damage was done. The engagement
lasted several hours and resulted, on
our side. in casualties estimated at
from 80 to 100. The Boer losses must
have largely exceeded this total.
The attack was admirably delivered
by our right and the Beers were fairly
driven out Of one of their strongholds
near Lombards Kop. 1t was not pos
sible, however, to push the success
much further. as beyond that point lay
a long, broken ridge, affording every
kind of natural cover. OF this the
enemy took the fullest advantage.
The naval brigade, which landed at
Durham, arrived on the scene toward
the end of the fight, and Immediately
brought their heavy guns into play.
Their practice was magnificent. At the
fourth shot the enemy's 40-pounders
had been knocked out of action.
The town is now freed from appre-
hension of bombardment. Through
out the engagement the Beers held
their ground with courage and ten
acity, and, considering the intensity Of
our artillery fire, they must have suf-
fered severely.
The Ladysmith engagement ia disap-
pointing to the British public, as again
revealing tactical skill Of an unex-
pectedly high order on the side of the
Beers. In addition to the possession Of
number Of heavy guns, the transport
of which causes wonderment here,
they have available marvellous ability.
Unless commanded by skillful Euro
pean officers. It is hardly considered
probable that Boer farmers would have
assumed a feigned position, as they
evidently did. in front of the right
column, with the intention of retreat
ing from it to their real line of de-
tense and of inducing the British to at
tack over fire swept zone.
The special dispatches describing the
engagement again fail to confirm Cen
eral Whites official account that the
Beers were pushed back several miles.
When it Is considered that the censor
ship was very severe, the only con-
clusion that can be arrived at is that
the action was extremely inconclusive.