The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1899-11-04
DISASTER 70 THE BRITISH.
Beers Surrounded In the Hills and
Captured Two Fighting Regi-
/ ments and One Battery.
Gen. WHITE TAKES ALL THE BLAME.
He Formed q Plan. the Carrying Out OF
which the Disaster Occurred-England
Promptly Notified Butler That -Four Ex-
ira Batteries WIN Leave In Few Days
TO Make Good the Casualties.


London, Oct. 81.-The war Office has
received dispatch from Gen. White,
commanding the British forces at La.
dysmith, reporting that the Royal
Irish fusiliers' mountain battery and
the Worcestershire regiment were sur
rounded In the hills by the Beers and,
after losing heavily, obliged to cspitu-
late. Gen. White adds that the casu-
alties have not yet been ascertained
Following Is the text Of Gen. Whites
dispatch:
Ihave TO report disaster to the column sent
by me TO take o position on hill to guard the
left flank OF the troops. In these Operations to-
day the Royal Irish fusileers, mountain battery
and the Giouoestershire regiment were sur
rounded In the hills and after losing heavily had
TO oapltulate. The casualties have not yet been
ascertainod.
A man Of the fusiliers employed as hospital
orderly came in under 0 flag OF truce with
letter from the survivors OF the column, who
asked for assistance TO bury the dead l fear
there ia no doubt Of the truth OF the report
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 untenable.
While minor reverses were not wholly
unexpected, nothing like the stagger-
ing blow Gen. Joubert delivered to
Gen. Whites forces yesterday was an
ticipated. The loss In effective men
must be appalling to a general who is
practically surrounded. Two of the
finest British regiments and mule
battery deduced from Ladysmith garri-
son wealxens 1t about fifth Of Its to-
tai strength and alters the whole situa-
tion very materially in favor of the
Beers, who have again shown them
selves stern fighters and military STRAIT
egists Of no mean order. The disaster
cost the British from 1900 to 2,000 men
and six seven-pound screw guns, and
as the Boer artillery is already stronger
than imagined, the capture of these
guns will be great help.
Second Army Corps In Readiness.
London, Oct. Silt is learned that
the war office has ordered second
, army corps to be In isadiness to be
, called out. The military officials have
not yet decided whether the consum
nation of the plan will be necessary
but they are determined to have every
q thing In readiness either for demon
strat;or IN Errona of Great Br,tain',
capabilities or for sending even largel
I force to the scene of action.
To Make GOOD the Casualties.
London, Oct. s1.-The war Office ha
sent the following dispatch to Gen
y Butler: "Three extra battalions o
/ foot and one mountain battery witt
reserves will leave England during th
course of ten DAYS to make good tn
D, casualties
:, Preparing TO Shell Kimberley.
u manG TaE9y ct fEnaanesrais fnars q
b oons,rnc,ing fcrts around Kimberle
r ,or ,he nrrnose ~ shelling the town
white NAV Retreat Again.
!, London. Oct, Sl.-Reports are Gu,
= rent here that Gen. White may retir
TO PietermaritzburR while the railroa