The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1899-11-02
GREAT BRITISH LOSS
Capture of Two Regiments at
Ladysmith Confirmed.
THE DOERS AGAIN CLOSING H..
London Awnits Further Nc,vs From
the Seat og War with Great
AnNicty-Mnny Homes Al
ready In Mourning.

ready In Mourning.
LONDON. Nov. There was con
tinual stream of callers at the war of
fee until a late hour yesterday, every
body anxiously inQurng regarding Mon
days casualties. but the war office de-
clared that nothing had been received
since Sir George Whites dispatch com
municating the news of the capture of
the Royal Irish fusilccrs and the Glou-
cestershirc regiment.
This delay in getting further intclli-
gcnce is attributed in part to the break
down of the east coast cable, but 1t
stands to reason that the war office must
be possessed of further news. which it is
probably not thought advisable should
be published as yet.
The following is the text Of General
Whites dispatch to the war office:
Il have to report disaster to the col
umn sent by me to take II position on Il
hill to guard the left flank of the troops.
In these operations the Royal Irish fuSi-
lccrs, No 10 mountain battery and the
Worcestershire regiment were surround
ed in the hills and. after losing heavily
had to capitulatc. The casualties have
not yet been asccrtaincd.
"a man of the fusiccrs, employed rs a
hospital orderly, came in under II ilag or
truce with II letter from the survivors OF
the column. who asked for assistance to
bury the dead. | fear there is no doubt
of the truth of the report.
II formed plan in the carrying out of
which the disaster occurred, and ! am
alone responsible for the plan. There is
no blame whatever to the troops as the
position was untcnnblc.'
The disaster has caused n feeling akin
10 CONSERVATION. and in Worcestershire
and the north of Ireland, where the cap
turcd regiments were recruited. the
blackcst gloom prevails. families await
ing with beating hearts the names of the
slain and wounded. which are fully eX-
pcctcd to reach Il high figure. Many
homes are already in mourning in consc-
puence of losses sustained by these rcgi-
ments in previous engagements.
Public anxiety was increased by spe-
cial dispatch from Ladysmith, published
in the late editions of the London after
noon papers. to the effect that before
darkness on Monday the Beers rcoccu-
pied the old position held by their heavy
artillery. which General White had re-
ported silcnccd by the guns Of the naval
brigade from the Powerful, and had
opened fire again. The dispatch further
says:
"The enemy are again closing in, and
the situation is one of grave anxiety.
Beyond doubt the Bocr retirement Mon
day was Il rusc to draw General White
into the hilly country and away from the
British camp"
This last sentence is significant and
confirms the opinion of military experts
here that General White is allowing him
self to be outgcneralcd by Commnndant
General .Ioubcrt.
From the scanty adviccs received up to
II O'Clock p. m, it seems tolcrably GER
tain that the disaster was n simple repe.
tition of the battle of Majuba Hill,
though on Il larger scale. The two regi-
ments were allowed to march into trap
set for them by the Beers. II is simply
case of the Boer spider and the guile
less British fly In fact. the whole en-
gagement of Monday seems to have been
brought on by Commandant General
Joubcrt, who skillfully conceived gi-
gantic trap. out of which, as the official
dispatch shows. Sir George White only
escaped with difficulty.
General White advanced the idea Of
driving the Beers from Tintwninyonl hill'
seven miles ont. which General Joubert
nnut un Sii'N Va i'i ~ = 'AAS
on Sunday.
The Boer commander left n force sutfi-
cient TO draw General White on, while
the mass of the Beers he moved stealthi-
~ round the British right to deliver a
flank attack and to endeayor to cut OIL
General White from Ladysmith. The
British commander succeeded i'll beating
off the attack, but only with great diff
Guilty, and during the turning movement
his troops suffered from II thanking fire.
Harsh things are said in military cir
cles of the British tactics which have
made possible the ambush of the Eight
ecnth hussars at Glencoe and now the
loss of two fine regiments. 1t is feared
that Sir George White is no match fol
the Beers in that cunning by which Boer
tactics are conceived, and it is pointed
out that if the British commanders con
tinue to lead their men into obvious traps
further disasters must be looked for.
An interview is published with Brit
ish officer, whose name is withheld, but
who is described as "a well known gen
eral, with distinguished record during
fhe Indian mutiny," in the course OF
which he passes severe criticism upon the
conduct of the campaign. Mondays
disaster" says the officer in question. sis
only another proof of serious laundering
Although Sir George White is gooc
regimental commander, he does not seen
to excel in strategy or the management
of n big division. | regard the Glencoe
business as another example of blunder
ing
About G,000 fresh troops will arrive a
Cape Town Sunday next from EnglanC
and be available to re-enforce Sir Georg,
White. Transports will reach there
daily after Sunday until by the end o.
next week $4,000 troops will have landed
in South Africa.
These men are intended for Sir Red
yers Buffers army, but will undoubtcdl,
be detached to Natal should the situation
become perilous. The British army will
eventually reach the huge total of 1868
men and officers, of which 60,G34 will b.
regulars, and the other 10000 will b.
miscellaneous but excellent c0lonia
troops.
The Cuban Hurricane.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 81. - Genera
Greely has received cablegram iron
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