Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1899-12-20
Beers DEFEAT BUTLER
Another Severe Blow to British
In South Africa.
LOSE ELEVEN OF THEIR BIG GUNS.

General Butler Had Planned to Gross the
Tugela River but the Deadly Fire OF the
Boer Forces Rendered 1t Impossible
and He Was Compelled to Withdraw
Belief Expressed That Joubert will
Now Make AN Attack Upon Ladysmith.
London, Dec. 18.-General Butler has
met with very serious defeat. This
most sensational news was announced
from the war Office about half an hour
after midnight in a dispatch from the
British commander-in-chief himself
General Butler says he moved in full
strength from the camp near Cheveley
Friday morning at o'clock. There
were two forbade places in the Tu-
gela, and it was his intention to force
q passage through one Of them. They
are about two miles away, and his OBJ.
ject was to force one or the other with
one brigade, supported by the central
brigade. General Hart was to attack
the left drift and General Hildyard
the right road, and General Lyttleton
In the center to support either.
Gallant Attack by Hart.
Early in the day General Butler saw
that Hart would not be able to force
passage and he directed him to with
draw. He had, however, attacked
with great gallantry, and his leading
battalion, the Connaught rangers, suf-
fered great deal. General Butler
then ordered General Hildyard to ad-
vance, which he did. and his leading
regiment coupled Colenso station and
the houses near the bridge. At that
moment General Butler heard that the
whole of the artillery he had sent back
to that arm, namely, the Fourteenth
and Sixty-fifth field batteries and six
naval 12-pounder quick-firing guns,
were out of action. 1t appeared that
Colonel Long, in his desire to be with
in effective range, advanced close to
the river, which proved to be full of
Beers, who suddenly opened a CALLING
fire at a close range, killing all of their
horses, and the gunners were COM
PEELED to stand to their guns.
Boer Fire Too Severe.
Some Of the wagon teams made shell
ter for the troops in donga, and a
desperate effort was made to bring
out the field guns, but the Boer fire
was too severe, and only two were
saved. OF eighteen horses thirteen
were killed, and as several of the driv-
ers were wounded. General Butler de-
cided not to allow another attempt
as 1t seemed they would be a shell
mark. sacrificing life to gallant at
tempt to force passage across the
river unsupported by artillery. The
British general then directed the
troops to withdraw, which they did in
good order throughout the day A
considerable force of Beers pressed on
the British flank, but were kept back
by the mounted men under Lord Dun.
donald and a part of General Barton's
brigade.
Losses Are Heavy.
The day was intensely hot and most
trying to the troops, whose conduct
was excellent. The British defeat was
evidently most disastrous, as General
Butler adds that he abandoned ten
guns and lost one by shell fire. The
losses In Harris brigade were heavy,
though the proportion of severely
wounded, 1t is hoped, is not large. The
Fourteenth and Sixty-sixth field bat
teries also suffered severe losses. At
the conclusion of the battel the Brit
ish retired to their camp at Cheveley.