The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-03
BRITISH LOSE HEAVILY,
AND INFANTRY Rrc(I-
MENF SUHROUNUED AND TAKEN.
hundrrd" Kllltd-Disnstcr Which StnriIc.
All EnEiand-G"n. Whlto Assumes
tho Fun Responsibility.


London, Octohor 3l.--Thc war
oIlico has received dispatch from
tcnrral White, commanding tho
British forces at Ladysmith, report.
ing that tho Royal Irish FusiIscrs, ten
mountain batteries and tho Glouccs.
ter regiment wcro surrounded in tho
hills by the Doors, and after losing
heavily wcro Obliged TO captulatc.
General White adds that tho casual.
ties have not boon asccrtained yct
Thc following is tho text of Gene.
raj Whites dispatch to the war Office:
II have to report disaster TO tho
column sent by NO to take q position
on hill lying to tho left of tho
troops In thrso operations today
tn" foyal Irish Fusilccrs, number
ing ton mountain batteries, and tho
Gloucrstcrshiro regiment, wcro sur.
rounded in the hills, and uftor losing
heavily, had to capitulatc. Tho cas-
ualt"s have not yet been asrortuincd.
"a man Of the fuslcers employed
as hospital orderly camc in nndcr
flag Of truce with letter from tho
survivors Of tho columns, who asked
for assistance to bury the dead
"l fear thcro is no doubt Of tho
truth OF tho report. formed Il plan
III tho carrying out Of which tho dis.
nstcr occurred and | am alone ro
sponslhlo for tho plan. There is no
blam" whatever to the troops, rs the
| position was untonablo."
General White sends list Of tho
officers taken prisoners, forty one in
all, Somo of whom were wounded.
Whilo General White assumes all
tho responsibility, it is thought hero
that tho disastcr is moro likely the
result of tho crnzo OF young officers
to distinguish themselves.
1t is learned by tho associated
press that tho war Office has ordered
Il second army corps to bo in roadi-
moss to bo called out.
Tho disaster had Immediate effect
on tho stock exchange whore South
African securities dropped heavily.
Throngs Of visitors remained 1T
tho war Office all day. Tho most ex-
citing scenes wcro witnessed and
women were hoard to gasp, "Thank
God, he is alive nt any rato," as they
found tho names Of somo beloved
ones in tho list OF prisoners.
BY noon gloom and bitter sorrow
prevailed throughout tho British
metropolis. Ono official said to a
representative of tho associated press:
"lt IS incxplicablo and am sorry
to say its moral effect is inestimable.
We have lost heavily in many wars
and havo had regiments almost wiped
ont but to havo two regiments cap
tured, and by tho Doors! 1t is terri
blc.'
A special from Iadysmith says the
Beers suffered severely during tho
engagement, somo persons estimat-
ing their loss at 500 to 1000 killed
and wounded.
Tho full extent of tho disaster is
not yet acknowledged if it is known
at tho war Office. Tho loss in effect
i've mon must be appalling to tho gen
oral, who is practically surrounded.
Two Of the finest British regiments
and n mule battery deducted from
tho Ladysmith garrison weakens it
about ono fifth Of its total strength
and alters tho whole situation mate
rally in favor Of tho Beers, who hayo
again shown themselves stern fight
ors and military stratogists of no
mean OrQOr
Tho disaster cost tho British from
1900 to 1000 men and six seven
pound screw guns, and as tho Boer
artillery is already stronger than inn
ngined the capture of tho guns will
bo great help to tho Boors. Fur
thcr ncws will bo awaited before it
is attempted to fix the blame where
it belongs.
--4t1
fo.J