The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-12
British Losses to Date, 566 Killed,
2,O27 Wounded and 1,077 Miss
ing Prisoners.
sKIRMIsHEs NEAR C0LENs0
THE HILLS THICKLY OCCUPIED BY
GENERAL JOUBERT,s SOLDIERS.
Railway Bridge Observation-Disclosures
ers Of Ladysmith Reported to Be
short OF Food and whisky.


news has been received to remove the
mystery overhanging General Gatacre's re-
treat from stormberg. He has not yet for
warded the promised additional message.
and the censorship has prevented the cor
respondents from explaining the matter.
While It appears to be generally admitted
that General Gatacre is inclined to over
work his men. Lord Durham's remarks are
considered as In rather bad taste. Until
General Gatacre has given his explanation
IL il felt that considerable allowance must
be made for the extreme difficulty of get
tants are in strong sympathy with the
enemy.
Stormberg Is described as stronger posi-
ton than Laings Mex. The only road
winds through l. ~ hills and fianking Is
impossible. Cole erg Is also said to be an
almost impree ole position, and as no
troops are liable to reinforce the col
umns acting A those directions. 1t becomes
evident tb General Gatacres misfortune
or error III delay the invasion of the
Free State. perhaps. some weeks. It is ex-
ceedingly probable that he will be COM
PEELED TO retire to Queenstown and to wait
for reinforcements. which can hardly reach
him until Sir Charles warrens division ar
rives at the Cape. The first detachments
VIII sail on Saturday next. Even IL General
French Is not compelled to retreat, he will
be obliged to pause in his advance. 1t now
in hot ha
which is being mobilized at Aldershot, will
also be sent to South Africa
But for the magnificent work Of the Brit
ish artillery the Stormbers disaster would
have been far more extensive, as the in
cessant Boer shell fire in the midst of the
repulsed infantry ultimately led to disor-
der, which only escaped developing into
rout through the operation of artillery oc-
cupyfng successive positions covering the
retreat, thus drawing a portion of the
Beers CALLING fire. Apparently the Brit
ism were set an impossible task and were
treacherously guided. After a trying
march and being under arms sixteen hours
they attacked the wrong part Of the Boer
position, where the hill was impregnable,
and the burghers were estimated TO num-
Der 5000 men instead of $500. as the spies
had reported.
There Is little In the story 10 mitigate
the humiliation occasioned by the episode
which was almost an exact counterpart of
the battle OF Nicholson's Mex. The War
Once was besieged yesterday by anxious
relatives. and the successive editions of the
newspapers were eagerly scanned. Men
and women were equally persistent In
nleadfnx m buf ha
ties either do not possess any or are not
prepared to publish 1t at present. The af-
fair caused the most depressing influence
everywhere. not excepting the Stock Ex-
change, where consols were at the lowest
price in many years, and South African
securities slumped, not so much on account
OF the military reverse, which is retriev-
able, but owing 20 the profound apprehen-
sicn as to its present effect. No great sur
prise would be felt if General Gatacre's
reverse resulted In Cape Colony becoming
aname from end to end.
No news has yet been received confirming
the Boer report OF the capture OF fifty
prisoners at Modder river from Lord Me-
thuen's column.
II is just two months since the Transvaal
ultimatum was delivered. Nine engage
ments have been fought and the British
have lost 56S killed. 2,027 wounded and 1877
missing or prisoners.
The War Office has issued a notice that
after Jan. a deduction will be made from
the pay of soldiers serving in South Africa
In the case Of privates pence per day
Tor wives and penny for each child; in
the case OF sargeants pence per day for
wives and pence for each child. .ese
sums nave thus far been paid by the gov
ernment. The order indicates the belief
that the campaign Will be long one.
II Is announced from Cape Town that
the Beers have succeeded in repairing the
Leeuwfontein bridge between Stormberg
and Burghersdorp. which the British de-
stroyed on retiring. Commandant Swanpol.
who commanded the Boer forces at Storm
berg. has been replaced by Scotchman
named Robertson