, 1899-12-14
GATACRE DEFEATED
LED INTO A TRAP BY RoERs.
He Attacks n Biz Force and Only Escapes
After n Hot Fight Having Lost ooo
Men.

Molteno, Dec. 10.-1 p. m.|General
Gatacre, commanding the army IN Cen
tIal Cape Colony, in his first battle met
with a eriou defeat early this morn
ing, after an all-night march, that Tor
n time looked line complete annihila-
ton. A large part of his army, now
ever, by heroic efforts, managed TO ex-
tricate itself from the ambush into
which the column had fallen, ana re-
treated rapidly and in some
to the main camp at Molteno, after los
ing over 600 officers and men captured.
1t is feared n great number were lett
dead and wounded on the field.
The willy Beers led the British into a
neat trap by furnishing General Gaia
ere and spies with information that
enemy's camp at Stormberg could be
easily taken by surprise and captured.
He was told that II Beers there num-
bered only $500 and that they We're in
a weak position. General Gatacre de
termined to make an early morning
march with a strong column and strike
a rapid and decisive blow.
The troops chosen for this undertake
ing were the Second Royal Irish Rifles,
the Second northumberland Fusilliers,
the Kings ShrOpshires, the Second
Royal Berkshires, acting as mounted
- III A'AA
We marched out smartly, but eau
tlously. from Putterskraal, and got
within w 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 a hail of
bullets from behind low ridges to the
front and on the right tanks. The re-
ccptiOn as too warm 10 Withstand,
and the Irishmcn leading General Cat
acre quickly sought shelter behind a
kopje. fortunately near. The other
troops did the same. But even this
shelter was untpnable. being covered
by numerous Bocr cannon. which We're
more powerful than supposed,f and the
Beers Shclled us nut of the position.
The mounted infantry We're some dis
tance Off. but by hard riding and a
long dctOur they succeeded in joining
the main body behind. and the British
again rctreated. this time TO Il second
kOpie, hut still we We're poorly covered
from Il rain of rifle fire, and the big
Boer guns threw shells unpleaSantly
around us.
our field batteries swung into line
ana ulN splendid WORK Keeping inc
Beers of while we sought Il better pO-
sition half ii mile aNvay. Here we found
good shelter. and he infantry quickly
got into position and opened fire nj
long range, while the mounted infantry
We're sent out to try 10 get the Beers
right flank up.
This time we suffered little loss, but
a new danger suddenly appeared.
The Beers who nmbushed were in
front. and on Il right flank. But now
there came down from the north Il
strong command. all mounted, who
menaccd the British left flank. Genera
Gatacrr sent the Irish and Northum
bcrlan | regiments to meet them. and
the result was a disastrous defeat.
They dashed straight into the dead
ly fire of IL number of machine guns
which the Beers had placed in IA con
cealed position. 1t was evident that wt
We're caught in Il nasty position. ant
the Irishmen and Northumberlands go
back as best they could. each with Bon
men gone, many of whom were cap
tured.
How many We're killed and wounded
we do not know.