The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1899-11-03
CAUGHT LIKE RATS.
Two Regiments of Britain's Army
Surrounded and Captured.
The First Real Disaster TO Gen White Oe-
ours a Z Ladysmith, Where Gen. JOu-
bert-s 8Iea Execute q Stagger-
ing RIow-BuIIer Arrives

London, Nov. 1.-The war Office has
received a dispatch from Gen. White,
commanding the British forces at La
dysmith, reporting that the Royal
Irish fusiiiers' mountain battery and
the Glouccst ershire regiment were sur
rounded in the hills by the Beers and,
after losing heavily, obliged 10 capitu-
late. Gen. White adds that the casu-
alties have not yet been ascertained.
Following is the text of Gen. Whites
dispatch:
have to report q disaster to the column sent
BY me to take position on hill 70 guard the
left flank OF the troops In these operations to-
day the Royal Irish fuSileers, mountain battery
and the GloUccStershire regiment we're sur
rounded in the hills and after losing heavily had
TO capitulate- The casualties have not yet been
aScertained.
a man OF the fusiliers employed as a hospital
orderly, came in under q flag OF truce with
letter from the survivors Of the column, who
asked for assistance 70 bury the dead. I fear
there IS no doubt Of the truth Of the report I
formed a plan in the carrying out Of which the
disaster occurred and I am alone responsible
for the plan There is no blame whatever 70
the troops, as the position was Untenable.
While minor reverses were not wholly
unexpected, nothing like the stagger-
ing blow Gen. Joubert delivered to
Gen. Whites forces yesterday was an
ticiPated. The loss in effective men
must be appalling to a general who is
practically surrounded. Two Of the
finest British regiments and a mule
battery deduced from Ladvsmith garri-
son weal1ens it about a fifth of its to-
tai strength and alters the whole situa-
ton very materially in favor of the
Beers, who have again shown them
= "a
egists of no mean order. The disaster
cost the British from 1,5OO to 1000 men
and six seven-pOund screw guns, and
as the BOer artillery is already stronger
than imagined, the capture of these
guns viii be a great help.
Beers Suffered Big Losses.
London, Nov. IA special dispatch
from Ladysmith says the Beers suffered
severely during the engagement, some
persons estimating their loss at 900 to
1000 killed and wounded
Gen. White is said to be supplied
with plenty of food and ammunition
and backed by a force as good as was
ever sent into the field BY England.
Gen. Sir Redvers Butler viii land at
Cape Town to-day. Large numbers of
troops are expected to follow Gen. Bull
Ter to South Africa in short order and
by the middle of November his entire
army of 10000 men will be afeld and
ready for service. What Gen. Buffers
initial move viii be Is unknown. Gen.
White is certainly in dire need of rein
fOrcements, while Mafeking, Kimber-
ley and several smaller towns are be-
sieged and in danger of being taken
any day.
To Make Good the Casualties.
London, Nov. 1.-The war Office has
sent the following dispatch to Gen.
Butler: Three extra battalions OF
foot and one noun tain battery witt
reserves viii leave England during the
course Of ten days to make good the
casualties"
White May Retreat Again.
London, Nov. Reports are cur
rent here that Gen. White may retire
to Pietermaritzburg while the railroad
is intact. There is much divergence of
opinion in military circles as to the adj
visibility Of such a step.
Preparing TO Shell Kimberley.
Cape Town. Nov. lit is reported
from Barl1ly-West that the Beers are
constructing forts around Kimberley
for the purpose Of Smelling the town.