The Springfield herald., 1899-12-15
GATACRE DEFEATED
LED INTO A TRAP BY soERs.
He Attacks "A Big Forge ana on'y Escapes
After u Hot Fight Having Los' oo"
Men.

MoIteno Dec. 1O.-1 p. m.-General
Gatacrc, commanding the army In cen
tral Cape Colony, in his first Dattle met
with n serious defeat early this morn
ing. after an all-night march, that Tor
a time looked line complete annihila-
tion. large part of his army, how
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 CONFUSION
TO the main camp at Molteno, hiteI os-
ing over 900 officers and men captured.
1t is feared great number were lett
dead and wounded on the field.
The willy Beers led the British INTO
neat trap by furnishing Geherai ph'a
ere and spies with Information that
enemy's camp at Stormberg could be
easily taken by surprise and captured.
He was told that the Beers there num-
bered only $500 and that they were IN
n weak position. General Gatacre de-
termined to make an early morning
march with n strong column ana strlKe
a rapid and decisive blow.
The troops chosen for this undertake
ing were the Second Royal Irish rifles,
the Second northumberland Fusilliers,
the Kings Shropshres, the Second
Royal Berkshires. acting as mounted
v,
We marched out smartly, but eau
tiously from Putterskraal. and got
within two 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 hhll OF
bullets from behind low ridges to the
front and on the right tanks. The re
ception was too warm to Withstand,
and the Irishmen leading General Cat
acre quickly sought shelter behind
kopje, fortunately near. The other
troops did the same. But even this
shelter was untenable, being covered
by numerous Boer cannon, which were
more powerful than supposed, and the
Beers shelled us out of the position.
The mounted infantry were some dis
tance off, but by hard riding and
long detour they succeeded In Joining
the main body behind, and the British
again retreated, this time to second
kopje, but still we We're poorly covered
from a rain of rifle fire, and the big
Boer guns threw shells unpleasantly
| around us.
Our field batteries swung into line
and did splendid work keeping the
Beers off while we sought a better po-
| sition half mile away. Here we found
good shelter. and the infantry quickly
got Into position and opened hre ut
| long range. while the mounted infantry
were sent out to try to get the Boer's
right flank up.
| This time we suffered little loss, but
new danger suddenly appeared
The Beers who ambushed were IN
front, and on our right flank. But now
| there came down from the north a
strong command, all mounted, who
menaced the British left flank. General
| Gatacre sent the Irish and Northum-
berland regiments to meet them, and
| the result was disastrous defeat.
They dashed straight into the dead
| ly fire of II number of machine guns,
which the Roers had placed In n con-
| cenled position. 1t was evident that we
| We're caught in II nasty position, ana
the Irshmcn and Northumberlands got
back as best they could, each with 800
men gone, many of whom were cap
| tured.
How many We're killed and wounded,
| we do not know.
| The disclosure of such n strong force
at Stormberg was quite unexpected.