Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1899-12-21

| q. d.
war office has received a dispatch an
nouncing that Gen. Butler has met
with a serious reverse, losing ten guns.
Gen. Butler was attempting to cross
Tugela river and finding it impossible
to effect his object, he ordered retire
ment in order to avoid greater losses.
Butler on the Disaster.
London, Dec. 16.-Following is the
text of Gen. Buffers dispatch an
nouncing his reverse: 81 regret to re-
port serious reverse. l moved in full
strength from our camp near Chieve-
ley at this morning. There were two
forbade places in Tugela river and il,
was my intention to force a passage
through one of them. They are about
two miles apart My intention was to
force one or the other with one bril-
gade, supported by the central bril-
gade. Gen. Hart was to attack the
left drift, Gen. Hildyard to take the
right road and Gen. Lyttleton was to
take the center and support either.
Early in the day | saw Gen. Hart
would not be able to force the passage
and 1 directed him to withdraw. He
had, however, attacked with great gal
lantry, his leading battalion, the Con
naught rangers, | fear suffering a
great deal Gen. Ingbrooke was SER
iously wounded. | then ordered Gen.
Hildyard to advance which he did.
His leading regiment, the east Surrey,
occupied Colenso station and houses
near the bridge. At that moment /
heard that the whole artillery l had
sent to support the attack had adj
vanced close to the river to be within
effective range. 1t proved to be full
of the enemy, who suddenly opened n
calling fire at close range, killing all
their horses and the gunners were
compelled to stand to their guns.
Some of the wagon teams got shelter
for the troops and desperate efforts
were being made to bring out the
field guns. The fire, however, was too
severe only two were saved by Captain
Schofeld, and some drivers. Another
most gallant attempt with three teams
was made. OF IS horses Is were killed
and as several drivers were wounded /
would not allow another attempt as it
seemed they would be a shell mark,
sacrificing life to a gallant attempt to
force a passage unsupported by artil-
lery. | directed the troops to withdraw
which they did in good order.
Throughout the day a considerable
force of the enemy was pressing on my
right flank but was kept back by
mounted men under Lord Dundonald,
part of Gen. Barton's brigade. The
day was intensely hot, and most trying
on the troops whose conduct was ex
ceilent We have abandoned ten guns.
The losses in Gen. Hunts brigade are,
fear. heavy.
Butler Too Was Trapped.
London Dec. 16.-The news of Gen.
Buffers reverse was received so late
that the morning newspapers COM
ments are confined to perfunctory ex-
pressions of extreme regret and disap-
pointment and of the necessity of calm
ness and redoubled efforts to retrieve
the position. This latest check is re-
garded as the most serious event in
British military history since the In
dian mutiny. The Standard says:
THE country has discovered with an
noyanee and surprise that Subduing
the boer farmers is about the hardest
work we have entered upon since the
Indian mutiny. Their commandants
have shown themselves able 70 give
our generals useful, but expensive les
sons in modern tactics" The Times
SAYS: Since the days of Indian mutt (
ny the nation has not been confronted
with such a painful. anxious situation. I
Plainly Gen. Buffers advance is paral- /
wed for the moment as completely as
Lord Methuens and Gen. Gatacre's."
The depression over the defeat of Great
Britain's trusted and idolized com
mander is all the greater as during the
last As hours, there have been reports
OF the relief of Ladysmith. The reac-
ton is all the more pronounced on
this account. 1t is hard to re-