Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1899-12-11
BRITISH DEFEATED.
Gen, Gatacre'S Troops Led Into
Ambush by Beers.
British Loss Heavy In KILLED,
Wounded and Missing.
Destructive Fire 10 Business Portion Of
Augusts, Ga.
nEAru ov raMN unYp waan
DEATH OF coMmAsDER WOOD.

| London, Dec. 1.-THE British forces II
south Africa have me. with signal de
feat. This sensational news was official
lJ announced from the war office III mid
night, General Galacre admitting that b,
had met u serious reverse In an attact
yesterday morning on St0fmberg IL
northern Cape Colony. The British gen
eral says that he WAS misled by guides u,
10 the Boer position, and found 'impfsc
ticable ground" Apparently he wa,
caught In ambush rs his casualties al
present known are alarming. The nun
bers OF dead and wounded cannot bs con
sidered excessive under the eircum.
stances, but the enormous numbers rs.
ported missing suggest that the engage
ment mus not have been unlike that OF
Nicholsons Mex, when General White
lost 80 heavily.
General Methuen's army Is known TO
hsye been heavily reinforced on Modder
river with infantry, cavalry and artillery,
while General Wauchops's Highland
brigade greatly increased the number OF
bsyo onets available for frontal attacks.
The necessity for this costly method Of
warfare has been obvistei by the pres
ence OF full brigade OF cavalry, com
manded by General Bsbington.
aenersl Buffers admirers laughed at
the idea that he would attempt to force
the passage OF the river at q point where
the Beers were strongest. They assert
that he will make that crossing with
heavy artillery soon as the howitzers are
sent up from Durham, but that the main
body OF the army will 20 over higher up
after feint IL made at lower point,
and the enemy's position will be turned
and Ladysmith relieved. and the retreat
OF the Free Ststers t. the mountain
passes cut of.
DETAILS OF THE DISASTER.
London, Dec. ll.-Later details regard
Ing the disaster TO General Gatacre's
column show that but for the magniti-
cent work Of the British artillery, the
disaster would have been far more ex-
pensive, ~ the incessant BOer fire In the
midst Of the repulsed infantry, ulti-
mately led TO disorder which only es-
capped developing into r0ut, through
batteries OF artillery occupying success
sive positions covering the retreat, thus
drawing q portion OF the Beers CALLING
FIRE.
Apparently the British were set an i'm.
possible task and were treacher0usly
Bu'uous hisct y uyiuk hbICus uciuk uu
der arms Of sixteen hours, they attacked
a strong part OF the Bosr position on u
hill considered impregnabls and the
burghers were estimated 10 number six
thousand instead Of 2,50o NJ reported.
There Is little In the story to mitigate
the intense humiliation caused BY the
episode, which was almost an exact
counterpart Ct the battle OF Nich0ls0n's
Mex. The war Office was besieged with
anxious relatives but they secured
no Information there, The affair has
caused q most depressing influence
everywhere, not excepting the stock
exchange, where consols we're the
lowest In many years and South African
securities slumped not 10 much on ac-
count OF the military reverse which IL
retreivable, but owing to the profound
apprehension rs to the political effect.
No great surprise would now be felt II
General GatAcre's reverse resulted In
Cape Colony becoming ahame from end
to end.
ANOTHER BATTLE.
Modder River, Cape Colony, Dec. TO-
A naval AZ inch gun took up position
north OF the camp this afternoon, while a
boWitzer battery was posted southeast on
the left Of the Beers. Both opened hot
fire with lyddite.