The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-10-22
DEMORALlZED BY DEFEAT
TERRIBLE MORTALITY AMONG
THE BRITISH OFFICERS.
GENER'L SYMONS' WOUND MORTAL
Generals White and French Garry the BOer Po-
siton at EandsIaagte. English Naval
Force Lands at Simon's Town.
Basutos Threaten Beers.

DaSut0S threaten D0eTS,
London, Oct. 21.-The earliest dis
patches regarding Yesterdays battle con-
veyed the impression that the whole af-
fair was over in a couple of hours, the
British artillery silencing the Boer guns
and infantry and then simply charging
right over the hill According to the
latest advices. however. the battle lasted
eight hours, and nearly seven hours
elapsed before the last Boer gun was
put out of action.
The Irish Fusileers and the Kings Ri
f1es meanwhile hao advanced to the as
sault and soon were shooting their way
up the hin, driving the Beers back from
shelter to shelter, until the final rush of
the British carried them to the summit.
1t was a bright clear morning, which
enabled the operations to be followed by
the staff officers without difficulty A
curious fact is that several times a hull
occurred in the firing ON beth sides, the
British infantry apparently taking
breathing space in the stiff climb and the
beers also holding back their fire.
The magnificent practice of the British
guns was an immense help and the sue
cess OF the assault was greatly due there
to. An enormous quantity of ammuni-
ticn was expended
Once the British bayonets showed ON
top of the kopje, the Beers retreated,
and when on descending the other side
they found British battery and British
cavalry outhanlSing them. the retreat be-
came q rout. The British guns follow
ed and. unlimhering from time to time,
threw shells among the flying foe.
The latter did not wait to try conclu-
sions with the haissars and mounted i'm
fantry. Who apparently seldom got near
enough to deliver effective volieys. The
pursuit was continued until dusk, when
the Beers were completely deToralized.
A heavy rain began 10 fall late IN the
afternoon, which naturally impeded ar
tillery work.
1t is striking coincidence that yester-
day was the second anniversary Of n SIM
liar feat of British arms in India. when
the Gordon Highlanders storaned Dargai
Heights.
HEAVY LOSS OF OFFICERS.
London, Oct. 21-The War Office has
ISSUED a list of casualties in the batsle
between Glencoe and Dundee yesterday,
received from the General Commanding
in Natal. Sir George Stewart White,
dated Ladysmith October 21st, APO
a. M:
In addition to Sir William Penn Sy-
mons, who is mortally wounded, two
colonies. three captains and five Heuten-
ants were killed. and colonel three
majors. six captains and ten lientenants
were wounded.
This heavy loss among the officers,
was due. as the latest dispatches from
the front show. to their valiant, but
insensate conduct in sticking to the tradi-
tons Of the British army and refusing to
use the cover of which the men awaited
themselves in stomning the Boer position
on the summit of the kopje.
Among the rank and file the hussars
have seven wounded; the ARTILLERY / kill
ed and three wountled; the Worcestershire
regiment cme wounded; the Kings Rifles
eleven killed and sixty-eight wounded:
the Irish Fusileers fourteen killed and
thirty wounded; the Dublin fusfleers
four killed and foIity-one wounded ana
the Natal c2ice two wounded.
The Outlool; publishes dispatch from
Cape Town. dated yesterday, alleging
that the Beers are not likely to make
any further considerable offensive move
ment. The correspondent says:
"Tney are utterly dcmoralized. and the
men refuse to take risks. They are
growing to distrust the aged joubert.
The mixed mercenaries are proving trout
blesome. The artillery is badly handled
and the administrative department IS re-
yealing marked defects"
The first news for a long time from
Rhodesia comes in telegram from llpll'
dated October 10Th. The dispatch says:
Major PiIson, from Rhodes drift,
with fifty Beers, passed Pont Drift tins
morning, shouting that they world make
the British sit up. Another body OF
Beers has crossed the river ut Baln's
drift and is marching on Macl0utsie,
where the postmaster declares that he
thinks he can hold the Beers at tay.
The garrison is throwing UP entrench-
memts"
This shows that the Beers have thus
far achieved nothing in the direction of
RhodeSia.
PROMOTION FOR SYMONS.
London, Oct 21.-The War Office has
issued the following announcement:
1.-THE Queen has been pleased to mp
prove of the promotion of Colonel, Local
Lieutenant General Symons, command
ing the Fourth division of the Natal
field force, to be Major General Super
numerary to the establishment, for dis
tinguished service in the field"
L e War Office announces that in the