The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-12-13
In SOUTH AFRICA.

Elandslaagte after they had thrown |
down their arms is receiving cOnfrma- |
ton in private letters from the Lam |
GERS themselves. The Times publishes |
one officers letter es follows: CATER |
the enemy were driven out one of our
squadrons pursued, got right in among
them In the twilight, and most excel
lent pig sticking ensued for about ten
minutes, the bag being about sixty"
LONDON, Dec. 1.-THE war office
publishes the following despatch from
Gen. Forester Walker, at Cape Town:
"Gatacre reports: deeply regret to
inform you that met with serious re-
verse in the attack on Stormberg.
was misled as to the enemy's position
by the guides and found impracticable
ground"
LONDON, Dec. lit is hardly too
much 10 regard General Gatacre's re-
pulse near Stormberg as the most Sc
rious defeat the British arms have yet
sustained in the whole campaign. Al
ready the official advices show that two
men were killed, nine officers and IL
men were wounded, and nine officers
and 536 men are missing. But it is
evident that the worst is not yet known.
The proportion of wounded and killed
is so small when compared with the
mlssing-who are undoubtedly prison.
ers in the hands of the Boers-that the
supplementary list of casualties is
awaited with serious misgivings. 1t Is
also feared that there were serious loss
es of guns and equipment.
Gen. Gatacre had 1000 men and two
batteries of field artillery. The British
were unmolested by the Beers until
the Boer position was reached, when
hot fire was unexpectedly opened upon
the advancing column. The engage
ment began at Ais A.. At A. M
after a sharp artillery duel, the British
retired. They are now marching
toward Molteno. Gen. Gatacre found
the enemys position impregnable 1t
was impossible for the British infantry
to get at the Beers.
While retiring, Gen. Gatacre's force
arrived within two miles of its destina-
ton in safety. Suddenly terrific fire
opened simultaneously on the British
front and right flank. The Royal Irish
Rifles, which formed the advance,
sought shelter behind a peighboring
kopje and were speedily joined by the
remainder of the column. 1t was
found, however, that this position also
was covered by Boer guns, which were
more powerful than had been supposed.
The troops, therefore, sought safer
position about half mile away, two
batteries in the meantime engaging
the Beers and covering the troops in
their withdrawal.
The action now became general at
long range and detachment of mount
ed infantry moved northward with a
view of getting on the enemy's right
flank. Suddenly strong commando
was seen moving from the north and
the Royal Irish Rifles and the North
cumberland regiment were sent to meet
them. Ii was found the Beers had ma
chine guns placed and the British were
compelled to face terrible fire. Find
ing IT impossible to hold the positioo in
fnce Of an enemy apparently superior
in position, numbers aud ~ lllcry. the
British retired on M9lteno, the Beers
following up the retirement, closing aud
bring two big guns 10 bear on the re-
firing column.
The most serious aspect OF the stf1ir
is the effect il is likely to have on the
Dutch IN Cape Colony wdo have beeu
wavering as to whether to cast in their
lot with the Boers. Hosts of the north
ern farmers are now likely to join the
rebellion. The defeat il also serious be-
cause it will delay the junction OF Gen,
Gatacre with Gen. French at Naauw.
poort. The plan was for their combined
IN vel W, 1 q mr. ON | ord
Methuen's column.
Ii is impossible to give the number
of British killed. Ii is believed TO he
small. Several hundred men are miss.
ing, but it is believed they are prison
oners.
MoLTENo, Dec. 10 (delayed) Gen.
Gatacre was completely surprised by
the Beers at Stormberg to-day, but his
column did not falter under fire. The
Royal Irish r tles and Northumberland
Fusileers charged the Kopje where the
Beers were located and reached the
top. They found the Beers on three
sides, however, and were forced down
the hill. The British artillery monop-
oliz d the sction until il was seen to be
hopeless, when retreat was ordered.
Some of the British advance were una
bic to rejoin the column. The Beers
pursued the retreating British, but
their firing at long range accounts for
80 few British casualties.
LONDON, Dec. u No further news
has been received to remove the mys-
terry of Gen. Gatacre's retreat from
Stormberg. He has not forwarded the
promised additional message and the
censorship has prevented the cores
poudents from explaining the matter.
Stormberg is described as a stronger
position than Laings Mex. The only
road winds through lofty hills and
fAnking is impossible. Colesberg is
also said to be an almost Improbable
position and as no troops are available
TO reinforce the columns acting in
those directions, it becomes evident
that Gen. Gatacre's misfortune or err
ror will delay the invasion of the Free
State, perhaps some weeks. Ii is
probable he will be compelled to retire
on Queenstown and wait for reinforce
ments which can hardly reach him until
Sir Charles Warren's division arrives at