Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1899-12-21
british AGAIN DEFEATED.
Gen. Butler Fooled in an Attempt
to Cross TugeIa River
ELEVEN HEAVY GUNS LOST.
Leader to Whom the British Nation Was
Looking for Victory Proves Incompe-
tent-Anows HIS Artillery to Fan
Into q Boer Ambuscade.

verse sustained by Gen. Butler at TIL
gela river. 1t was everywhere believed
that Butler would be able to achieve a
decisive victory, relieve Ladysmith and
cause to be forgotten tie previous ill
success Of British arms.
ID Gen. Butler planned to cross the Tu-
gela river, but the deadly fire Of the
I Boer forces rendered it impossible, and
( he withdrew his forces in order to
avoid greater losses. Ten guns were
captured by the Beers. Following is
verse:
Butler to Lansdowne, Cheveley
Camp, Dec. 15.-I regret to report Sc
rious reverse. moved in full strength
from our camp near CheVeley at 4
o'clock this morning. There are two
fordable places in the Tugela river,
and it was my intention to force pas
sage through at one of them. They
are about two miles apart.
my intention was to force one or
the other with one brigade, supported
by central brigade. Gen. Hart was to
attack the left drift, Gen. Hildyard the
right road and Gen. Lyttleton was to
take the center and support either.
Early in the day | saw that Gen. Hart
would not be able to force passage.
and | directed him to withdraw. He
had, however, attacked with great gal
lantry, and his leading battalion, the
Connaught rangers, fear suffered a
7 a.
riously wounded.
Il then ordered Gen. Hildyard to ad-
vance, which he did, and his leading
regiment, the East Surrey, occupied
Colenso station and the houses near
the bridge. At that moment l heard
that the whole artillery l had sent to
support the attack-the Fourteenth
and Sixty-sixth field batteries and six
naval twelve-pounder Quick-tirers, I'M
der Col. Long-had advanced close to
the river in Longs desire to be within
effective range. 1t proved to be full Of
the enemy, 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 troops
in a donga, and desperate efforts were
being made to bring out the field
guns.
THE fire, however, was too severe,
and only two were saved by Capt.
Schofield and some drivers whose
names l will furnish.
Another most gallant attempt with
three teams was made by an officer
whose names l will obtain. OF the
eighteen horses thirteen were killed,
and as several drivers were wounded
/ would not allow another attempt, as
it seemed that they would be she'll.
mark, sacrificing life to gallant at
tempt to force the passage, unsupport-
ed by artillery. I directed the troops
to withdraw, which they did 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 Dundonald
and part of Gen. BartOn's brigade. The
day was intensely hot and most trying
on the troops, whose conduct was eX-
Cellent. We have abandoned eleven
guns and lost by she'll fire one. The
losses in Gen. Harris brigade, fear,
are heavy, although the proportion of
severely wounded, hope, is not large
The Fourteenth and Sixty-sixth field
batteries also suffered severe losses.
We have retired to our camp at Cheye-
ley"
Realize What the Struggle Means.
London, Dec. 1S.-The immediate
consequences of Gen. Buffers reverse
are very disheartening. Among the
few experts who have as yet heard the
news the opinion prevails that it will
be impossible for him to proceed to
the relief of Ladysmith, and the
gravest fears are entertained lest Gen.
White may be compelled to surrender
the city.
The appalling news startled Great
Britain as nothing has done in recent
times. From now on the country will
go to war as if the life Of the empire
depended on the issue, as it truly does.
Pretoria has now become as vital to
the preservation of the British empire
as the possession of Bombay, Mel
bourne or London itself.
The struggle in South Africa will
now be treated as a great war, which
it is, and not as an expedition. Great
Britain will now mobilize the militia
and colonial troops, and also call for
volunteers, II necessary. She will pour
soldiers and guns into South Africa
without number. But the first thing
she will do is to call halt There
will be no further attempt to invade
the Boer republics until a great army
is massed in Africa, and more than a
month must elapse before this can be
done.
After midnight the war Office au-
thorized the statement that arrange
ments would be made for the early
dispatch Of the Sixth and Seventh divi-
sions, and for replacing the losses OF
artillery.
Transports VIII Soon Arrive.
Fifteen transports are due to arrive
at Cape Town between Dec. IL and Jan
s, with about $1,000 troops of all arms
but unless Gen. Butler is able to renew
the attack, which is exceedingly doubt
full, the British generals will be com
PEELED for another fortnight or more II
remain practically on the defensive.
The latest dispatches indicate the
continued bombardment Of Ladysmith
whose position is now perilous.
The news from Kimberley and Mafe.
king is still reassuring. each garrison
ram alninn In Rna Anhtinr fern.