The Monte Vista journal., 1899-12-16
GATACRE DEFEATED
LED INTO A TRAP BY sozas.
He Attacks Big Force s.d Osly Esoapss
After . Hot Fight Having Lost eoo
Aea

Molteno, Dec. 1O.-1 p. m.-General
Gatacre. commanding the army In Cen
tral Cape Colony, In his first battle met
with a serious defeat early this morn
Ing, after an all-night march, that for
time looked line complete annihila.
ton. A large part Of his army, how.
ever. by heroic efforts, managed to ex-
tricate itself from the ambush into
which the column had fallen, and re-
treated rapidly and In some confusion
to the main camp at Molteno. after los
Ing over 600 officers and men captured.
1t Is feared great number were left
dead and wounded on the field.
The willy Beers led the British into q
neat trap by furnishing General Gata-
ere and spies with Information that
cnemy's camp mt Stormberg could be
easily taken by surprise and captured.
He was told that the Beers there num-
bered only 900 and that they were In
weak position. General Gatacro de-
termined TO make an early morning
march with n strong column and strike
q rapid and decisive blow.
The troops chosen for this undertake
ing were the Second Royal Irish Rifles.
the Second Northumberland Fusilliers,
the Kings Shropshircs, the Second
Royal Berkshircs. acting rs mounted
infantry. and field batteries "a and a.
We marched out smartly, but eau
tlously, from Puttcrskraal, and got
within two miles OF Stormberg without
the slightest Indication OF Beers. But
In this hot-bed of Boer sympathy there
are hundreds OF colonists ready to give
Information Of every British move to
the enemy.
Our forces were proceeding cautious
ly. when suddenly we met hail Of
bullets from behind low ridges TO the
front and on the right fianks. The re-
ccption was too warm to withstand,
and the 1rishmcn leading General Cat
acre quickly sought shelter behind Il
kopje. fortunately near. The other
troops did the same. But even this
shelter was untenable. being covered
by numerous Bocr cannon, which Were
more powerful than supposed. and the
Beers shelled MS out of the position.
The mounted Infantry We're some dis
tance on. but by hard riding and n
long detour they succeeded In Joining
the main body behind. and the British
again retrcatcd, this time to a second
kopjc. but still we were poorly covered
from rain OF rifle fire. and the big
Boer guns threw shells unplcasantly
around us.
Our field batteries swung into line
and did splendid work keeping the
Beers OF while we sought IA better po-
kition half n mile away. Here we found
good shelter. and the Infantry quickly
got into position and opened fire mt
| long range, while the mounted Infantry
were sent out to try to get the Beers
right flank up.
This fine we suffered little loss, but
n new danger suddenly appeared.
Tie Beers who ambushed were In
front. and on our right flank. But now
there came down from the north n
strong command. NIL mounted. who
mcnaccd the British left flank. General
Gatacrc sent the Irish and Northum-
bcrland regiments TO meet them. and
the result was a disastrous defeat.
They dashed straight into the dead.
ly fire OF n number OF machine guns,
which the Beers had placed In n con.
ccaled position. II was evident that We
were caught In nasty position, and
the lrishmcn and Northumbcrlands got
back ns best they could. each with 800
men gone. many Of whom were cap
tured.
How many were killed and wounded.
We do not know.