The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-12-20
IN SOUTH AFRICA.

War bluC6 nus ItCSlNCu utbphlCn Hu- |
bouncing that Gen. Butler has met |
with a serious reverse, losing ten guns. !
Gen. Butler was attempting to cross
The Tuguela river. Finding it inn
possible to effect his object he ordered
a retirement IN order to avoid greater
losses.
He left IL guns behind.
The following is the text of Gen.
Buffers despatch announcing his re-
verse:
: Blu Ter to Lansdowne:
Cnievely Camp, Dec. Is, 6:20 p. NJ
regret to report a serious reverse. /
moved in full strength from our camp
near Chieveley at O'clock this morn
lug. There are two formidable places
in the TuguelA river and it was my
intention to force a passage through
one of them. They are about two
m les apart.
"My intention was to force one or
the other with one brigade, supported
by central brigade. Gen Hart was to
attack the lett DRIFT, Gen. Hildyard the
right road and Gen. Lytteton was to
take the center aud support either
Early in the day l saw that Gen.
Hart would not be able to force pas
sage, aud | directed him to withdraw.
He had, however, attacked with great
gallantry, and his leading battalion, the
Connaught Rangers, fear, suffered a
great deal. Col. /. G.. Brooke was seri-
ously wounded.
81 then oruered Gen. Hildyard to adj
vance which he did, and his leading
regiment, the East Surrey, occupied
Colen station and the houses near
the bridge.
"At that moment / heard that the
whole artillery l had sent to support
the sttack-the Fourteenth and Sixty.
sixth field batteries and six naval II
FOUNDER, quick frers-under Colonel
Long had advanced close to the river
in Longs desire to be within effective
range. 1t proved to be full of the en-
envy, who suddenly opened a calling
fire at close range, killing all their
horses; and the gunners were COM
PEELED to stand to their guns. Some of
the wagon teams got shelter for the
troops in donga, and desperate eff
forts were made to bring out the field
guns.
"Another most gallant attempt with
three teams was made by an officer
whose name will obtain. OF the Is
horses IL were killed, and, as several
drivers were wounded, l would not al.
low another attempt, as it seemed that
they would be shell mark, sacrificing
life to gallant attempt to force the
passage.
"Unsupported by artillery, directed
the troops to withdraw, which they die
in good order.
Throughout the day considerable
| force of the enemy was pressing on my
right flank, but was kept back by
mounted men under Lord DundonalC
and part OF Gen. Barton's brigade. The
day was intensely hot and most trying
to the troops, whose conduct was ex
cellent.
1--WE have abandoned ten guns ant
lost bv shell fire one. The losses il
Gen. Hunts brigade are, fear, heavy
although the proportion of severely
wounded is, l hope, not large.
THE 14h and Goth field batterie,
also suffered severe losses. We hav,
retired to our camp at Chieveley."
LONDON, Dec. 16.-The news o.
Gen. Buffers reverse was received 81
late in London this morning that the
newspaper comment is confined to per
functory express ions of extreme regre
and disappointment and of the neces
sity of calmness and redOubled effort
to retrieve the position. This lates
check is regarded as the most seriou
event in Great Britain military histor,
| aippp tho Ind ION pnntinu
LONDON, Dec. 16.-The war offic
has cabled its acceptance of The offe
of the second Australian contingent
and probably will accept a similar offe
from Canada.
LONDON, Dec. 16.-A majority of tn
afternoon papers, after various notes o
dismay and disbursement at the de
feat OF Butler, urge patience on tn
part Of the public and predict that tn
British army is sure of final victory
The Echo declares Buffers reveI Sc th
worst defeat of the British arms sine
the surrender of CORVALLIS at York
town The paper quotes approvingl,
Lord Chatham's defence of the Amerl
cans in l777, saying the honors whicl
history has given the opposition OF tina
period may go to Clarke, Morley an,
other opponents of the unjust war nov
going on. The Star asks why Britain
is fighting? IL declares that the war i
drenching the veldt with the best bloot
of the country and risking the safety o
the Empire tor no other reason thai
that Chamberlain and Miner hav
thrown in their lot with financial ad
Venturers.
MoDDER RIVER STATION, Dec. IT,
Oelayed). The Beers have pushed
their lntrenchments to complete
semi-circle, their TANKS resting on tn
river on either side of the British camp
INDIANAPOLIS. Dec. 10. A privat
letter from Geneva, Swi Zerland, by al
official, contains facts not given by tn
cables. 1t says; "a whole continent i
adame with sympathy for the Beers
Italy is the only power denying leave
of absence to the army. French, Ger
man, Austrian officers, men who hav
no difficulty in obtaining undetermined
leaves, are travelling by thousands int
South Africa, through Delagoa Bay, a
private citizens until thew reach tn