The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1899-1900, 1899-12-20
BoERs Wm AGAIN.
RE1ff.h Fsrees Under Gen. BuIIer Meet
serlOas Reverse xeaF COIenso--
Eleven Guns Are Lest.


London, Dec. 1s.-The war Office has
received dispatch amounting that
Gen Builer has met with = serious re-
verse Gen Butler was attempting 10
cross the Tugeia river. Finding it i'm
possible 10 effect his object, be ordered
3 retirement in order to avoid greater
losses he left II guns behind. The fol-
lowing is the text Of Gen Buller's dis
patch announcing bis reverse:
-B1iler 70 LsnsdoUre: chieTely Camp.
Dee FL regret 10 report a serious re-
Tsrss- moved IN full strength from cur
camp rear Chisyeiy al four o'clock this
nO-zing- Tnsre are two fordable plaess in
the Tugsls river, and IL was my intention
20 force a passage through at one Of them
They are about tEo miles apart Ny inten-
fi01 was 70 force one or the other with one
brigade, supported By a central brigade
Gen Harr vas 70 attack the left drift. Gen
Hldyard- the right road. and Gen- Lyt-
flst0n was 10 take the center and TO sup
pa-1 ether Early II the day ! saw that
cea- Hz-1 would not be able TO force pas
sage. and directed him TO withdraw. He
had. however. attacked with great gal
iantry. snd his leading battalion. the Con-
nargh- rangers. fear. suffered a great
deal Col 1 G. Brooke was seriously
wounded then ordered Gen Hildyard 70
advance. which be did. and his leading reg
iDsnr. the East Surrey. occupied colenso
station and the houses near the bridge.
AT that moment heard that the whole
artillery ] had sert 20 support the attack
/ the Four1senth and Sixfy-sixth neld bat
fs-ies and six naval lz-pounder quiekfrerE.
undsr Col Long. had adysneed close 10 the
river. in Longs desire 70 be within effective
range Il proved 20 be fun Of the enemy.
| WHO E15dealy 0psaed CALLING fire al close
range. kIli-g all their horses. and the gun
ners were compelled 70 stand 10 their guns.
Some of the wagon teams got shelter for
troops in 2 eO-gz, and desperate Efforts
were beng made 10 bring out the field
guns The drs. however. vas too severe.
and Only TWO were saved By Capt Seho-
fed AID sons drivers whose names viii
furnish Another most gallant attempt
with fhrss teams Was made b. an ofieer
whose name i viii obtain
-'Of the Is horses u we're killed. and as
several drivers were wounded. would not
allow saOihsr attempt as IL seemed that
they would be shell mark. sacrificing life
70 a gallant attempt 70 force the passage
Unsupported 5y artillery. ] directed the
troops 20 withdraw. which they did. In good
or5er.
-Thro1gh0u: the day considerable force
q the enemy Was pressing On my r1gH
fax. but was kept hack By mounted men
under Lord Dund0nzid and part OF Cen
Bar1oz's brsgzds. The day was intensely
hot and Dost trying On the troops. whose
coasucr was exeeIlen1- We have aban-
5o1ed ten guns and lost by shell fire one
The Losses in Gen Harris brigade, fear.
\ - II
! Fe-Ely wounded, I hope. Is nOt .zrge- Inc
FOur-eenth and Sixfy-ninth fed batteries
also sE1ersd severe Losses We have re-
tired 70 or camp al chisTely."
London. Dee 16.-The news Of Gen.
Buller's reverse was received 50 late
that morning newspaper comment il
confined 10 PerfunetOry expressions Of
extreme regret and disappointment
and Of the necessity Of eslmneSs and re-
doubled efforts TO retrieve the position.
The latest check is regarded as the most
serious event In Great Britain military
history since the Indian mutiny. The
Standard says the BOer -eOmmandanis
hare shown themselves able 10 give Oul
generals useful but expensive lessons
IN modern tactics"
NO Independent reports Of the en-.
gagenen1 have yet been allowed tc
come through but Gen Buller's Owl
dispatch tells the sad tale in sufficient
outline 10 show that the British have
been eutrapped again by the astut'
BOers- II MAS not anticipated that Gen
Butler would make a frontal attack
yO criticisms Of his movements ART
made. however. since apparently hs
suffered repulse rather than defeat
and did lot push the attack home, bui
broke II or in the middle 50 as to save
q useless sacrifice Of life II is expected
that he viii renew the attack shortly.
Immediately On receiving the news
the Ear Ofsee decided 10 mobilize still
EBotber division and 10 replace ths
losses Of artillery. The necessary reen.
forueDeufs viii Be hurried OF as speed
fly as possible Fifteen transports az,
due 10 arrive At Cape Town between De
eenber Il and January 6, with asout
1900 troops Of all arms. but unless
Gen Butler Is able 10 renew the attack
which Is exceedingly doubtful. the Brit
ish generals viii he eOEpelled for an
other fortnight on more 70 remain
practically On the defensive