The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1899-11-03


London. Nov The lioers have de-
ilvered staggering blow TO the British
at Ladysmith Apparently by superior
strategy the british have been led into
a trap aud suffered serious loss In CON
sequence. loss which may place them
at the mercy Of the lioers.
A portion Of General whites force
near l.adysmith were surrounded in
the hills. and. after losing heavily,
were Obliged to captulate.
This disaster cost the british from
son 10 1000 men and ,iN seven-pound
screw guns. aud as the ilocr artillery
IL already stronger than imagined the
capture Of these guns will he n great
help 10 the llocrs
Commander White reports M follows.
II have to report disaster 10 the
column sent by me to take position
on bin to guard the left flank Of the
troops In thrsc operations the Royal
Irish Fusilerrs. No. 10 mountain bat
terry and the Glouccstcrshirc regiment
were surrounded in thchills. aud, after
losing heavily. had To capitulntc. The
casualties have not yet been nsccr-
talncd man Of the rusilcers en-.
ployod as a hospital orderly came In
under Dag Of truce with o. letter from
the survivor, of The column, who asked
for assistance 10 bury the dead. fear
there ]. no doubt Of the truth Of the
report
II formed plan in the carrying out
of which the disaster occurred, and
am alone responsible Tor the plan
There Is nu blame whatever TO the
troops. as the position was untcnablc 70
While minor rcyerscs we're not wholly
unexpected. nothing like the staggcr.
log blow GENERAL loubcrt delivered to
General Whites forces was anticipated
The full extent Of the disaster Il MOI
yet acknowledged, " II Is known at the
war office. The loss la effective men
must be appalling to general who Is
practically surrounded Two Of the
finest british regiments aud mule
battery deducted from the l.adysmith
garrison weakens II about one-Gfth Of
iis total strength. aud alters the whole
situation very materially In favor Of
the lioers, who have again shown
themselves nts-uu oeUters ant uilh.
tary strategists OF NO mean order.
Further news must be awaited before
IL Is attempted to IN the blame where
II belongs. General white mAnfully
accepts all the responsibility for the
disaster which apparently was at least
partially due To the stampeding Of the
mules with the guns, From the list II
Will be seen that forty.two officers
were made prisoners, besides u news
paper correspondent, j. II. llcyde.
Al the government offices no effort
was made To conceal the feeling OF dis
may prevailing one official Ia quoted
rs saying;
ut IA ineNplicablc, and am sorry to
say that IL moral effect IL incstimable.
We have lost heavily la many wars,
and have had.regimcnls almost wiped
out, but 10 hate regiments captured,
and by the Boers, II is terrible"
The throngs OF visitors AT the war
office remained all day. Anxious peo-
pie practically fought their way to the
notice board. Most affecting scenes
were witnessed Many women were
heard to gasp THANK God. he's alive
at any rate, :" IA they found the name
of some beloved one on the list Of pris-
oners. The sidewalks were packed
with solid masses awaiting their turn
to enter.
There was a continuous stream Of
callers at the war office until "A late
honr, everybody anNiously inquirlng
regarding casualties, but the war office
declared that nothing had been re-
ceived since Sir George whites dis
patch communicating the capture OF
the Royal Irish fusileers aud the
worcestershire regiments This DELAY
In getting further intelligence il al.
tributed In part TO the break down OF
the east coast cable.
Al Interview Is published with n
britihh officer, whose name is withheld.
but who IA described ns "well.known
general with n distinguished record
during the Indian mutiny." In the
course OF which he passes severe criti-
eism upon the conduct OF the ampaign.
Yesterdays disaster, says the officer,
rs only another proof OF serious blum.
dering Although Sir George White is
a good rcgimental commander, he doe,
not seem To excel Ia strategy or the
management Of a big division. regard
the ulsncoe business as another exam.
pie OF blund ering.
naer. Ann., nrlll.h r.rri,nr,