The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1899-12-22

London. Dec. l6.-The following 10
the text OF Gen. Buffers dispatch an
nouncing his reverse:
Butler to Lansdowne: Chievely
Camp, December Is, 6:20 p. IN. l re-
greet TO report serious reverse.
moved in full strength from our camp
near Chievely at fouro'clock this morn
ing. There are two fordable places
in the Tugela river, and il was my in
tention TO force a passage through at
one of them. They are about two
miles apart.
Directed to Withdraw.
My intention was to force one or the
other with one brigade supported by
central brigade. Gen. Hart was TO at
tack to the left drift, Gen. Hildyard,
the right road and Gen. Lytleton was
to take the center and to support eth
er. Early in the day saw that Gen.
Hart would not be able TO force a pas
sage, and l directed him TO withdraw.
He had, however, attacked with great
gallantry, and his leading battalion,
the Connaught rangers. fear. suffered
n great deal. Col. |. q. Brooke was
seriously wounded.
Proved Full of the Enemy.
| then ordered Gen. Hildyard TO adj
vance, which he did. and his leading
regiment. the East Currey, occupied
Colenso station and the house near the
bridge. At that moment i heard that
the whole artillery l had sent 10 sup
pert the attack-the Fourteenth and
Sixty-sixth field batteries and six naval
l2-pounder quick-frers, under Col.
Long, had advanced close TO the river
in Longs desire TO be within effective
range. 1t proved TO be full of the ere
my, who suddenly opened 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 donga, and desperate efforts were
being made TO bring out the field guns.
Gallant. hut UnavaiIinw.
The fire, however, was too severe.
and only two were saved by Capt.
Schofield and some drivers, whose
ms mes i will furnish.
Another most gallant attempt with
three teams was made by an officer
whose name l will obtain. Of the Is
horses Is were killed and several driv-
ers were wounded. 1 would not allow
another attempt as il seemed that they
would be shell mark, sacrificing life
to q gallant attempt to force the pas
sage. Unsupported by artillery, ! di-
rected the troops to withdraw. which
they did in good order.
Heavy Losses Of Guns and Men.
Throughout the day considerable
force of the enemy were pressing on
my right flank. but was kept back by
mounted men under Lord Dundonaid
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 ten guns
and lost by shell fire one. The losses
in Gen. Harris brigade are, ! fear,
heavy, although the proportion of Sc
verely, / hope. is not large. The Four
teenth and Sixty-sixth field batteries
also suffered severe losses. We have
retired to our camp at Chievely.
A Staggering Blow.
London, Dec. 16, 4:40 a. m.-Thc
news of Gen. Buffers reverse was re-
cciyed so late that morning paper com
ment to-day is confined to perfunctory
expressions of extreme regret and dis
appointment and of the necessity of
calmness and redoubled efforts to re-
trieve the position. This latest check
is regarded as the most serious event
in Great Britain's history since the In
dian mutiny.
Useful. but Expensive Lessons.
The Standard says:
Gen. Buffers dispatch is deplorablc
reading. 1t is the now familiar story
of concealed Beers and of British
troops marching up blindly almost to
the very muzzles of the enemy's rifles.
IL can not be doubted that the moral
effect will be to aggravate our diff
culties over the whole field of opera
tons.
1.-The country has discovered with au-
noyance and surprise that subduing
Boer farmers is about the hardest
work we have entered upon since the
Indian mutiny. Their commandants
have shown themselves able to give our
general useful, but expensive lessons
in modern tactics
Painful and Anxious Situation.
The Times says:
''Since the days of the Indian mutiny
the nation has not been confronted
with SO painful and anxious a situa-
ton. Plainly Gen. Buffers advance is
paralyzed for the moment as complete
ly as Lord Methuen's and Gen. Cat
acres"
The depression over the defeat Of
Great Britain's trusted and idolized
commander is all the greater as during
the last 4s hours there has been re-
ports of the relief of Tadysmith. Yes
terday the war Office allowed it to he
understood that the position of affairs
in Natal was entirely satisfactory. The