The Holly chieftain., 1899-12-15
GATACRE DEFEATED
LED INTO a TRAP BY BoERs.
Ne Attacks . Big Force and Only Escapes
After . Hot Fight Having Lost 500
Men

MoIteno, Dec. IU.-l p. m.-General
Gatacre, commanding the army In Cen
tral Cape Colony, in his first battle met
with serious defeat early this morn
ing, after an all-night march, that for
q time looked line complete annihila-
don. A large par. of his army, how
ever, by heroic efforts, managed to ex-
tricate itself from the ambush into
which the column had fallen, and re-
treated rapidly and in some confusion
10 the main camp at Molteno, after los
Ing over GOO officers and men captured.
1t is feared great number were left
dead and wounded on the field.
The willy Beers led the British into n
neat trap by furnishing General Gata-
ere and spies with information that
enemy's camp at StOrmberg could be
easily taken by surprise and captured.
He was told tina; the Beers there num-
bered only $500 and that they were in
weak position. General Gatacre de-
termined to make an early morning
march with strong column and strike
a rapid and decisive blow.
The troops chosen for this undertake
ing We're the Second Royal Irish Rifles,
the Second northumberland Fusilliers,
the Kings Shropshires, the Second
Royal Berkshires. acting as mounted
infantry, and field batteries "A and II.
We marched ont smartly, but eau
tiously, from Putterskraal, and got
within two miles of Stormberg without
the slightest indication of Beers. But
in this hot-sed of Boer sympathy there
are hundreds of colonists ready to give
information Of every British move to
the enemy
Our forces We're proceeding cautious
ly. when suddenly we met hail of
bullets from behind low ridges to the
front and on the right tlanks. The re-
ception was too warm to Withstand,
and the 1rishmen leading General Cat
acre quickly sought shelter behind
kopJe, fortunately near. The other
troops did the same. But even this
shelter was untehable. 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 were 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 better po-
sitiDn half n mile away. Here we found
good shelter, and the infantry quickly
got into position and opened fire at
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
a new danger suddenly appeared.
They dashed straight into the dead
ly fire Of n number of machine guns,
which the Beers had placed in con-
cealed position. 1t was evident that we
were caught in nasty position, and
the Irishmen and Northumberlands got
back as best they could, each with 800
men gone, many of whom were cap
tured.
There was nothing now to do but re-
tire. which we did as best we could.
The Beers numbered al least 5000, had
the best ground, and plenty of guns,
while we were thirteen miles from
home. General Gatacre knew 1t would
le fight every step Of the way, but
British discipline alone saved the
army. There was no confusion, or dis
order, after we started back, and ev-
cry man was in his place. The long
retreat was carried on in perfect order.
The most serious aspect Of the affair
is the effect it is likely to have on the
Dutch in Cape Colony, who have been
wavering as to whether to throw their
lot with the Beers. Hosts of the north
erp farmers are now likely to join the
rebellion. The defeat is also serious,
because it will delay the junction Of
General Gatacre with General French
at Naauwpoort. The plan was for
their combined forces to relieve the
pressure on Lord Methuen's column.