The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-12-11
TRAPPED.
Gen. Gatacre Sustains the Most
Serious Reverse
That Has Come to British
Arms In Africa.
He LOST A REGIMEN
A Victim of the Regulation Tae-
tics of the Beers.
Marched Blindly Onto a Con-
cealed Dutch Army.
FORCED TO RETREAT.
Followed Closely by the Victor
ious and Elated Enemy.
Says He Was Deceived and
Misled by Guides.

Misled by Guides.
London, Dec. 1.-THE war Office pub
fishes the following dispatch from Gen.
Forester Walker. at Cape Town:
"Gatacre reports:
Deeply regret to inform you that 1
met with a serious reverse in the at
tack on Stormberg.'
Il was misled as to the enemy's posi-
tion by the guides and found impracti-
cable ground.
Casualties. 50 far as known at pres
ent are:
Second battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
Wounded: Lieutenant Colonel Eager,
Major Seaton. Captain Bell. Captain
Kelly, Lieut. stephens, Lieut. Bernard
StOn-
Suffolk Wounded: Second
Lieutenant Maynard, u men. Missing,
Captain Weier Lieut.. Christie, Second
Lieutenant Rodney, 290 men.
Seventy fourth field battery-Severe-
" wounded: Lieut.. Lewis, three men.
Slightly wounded: Two men.
SeVenty-seventh field battery-KilI-
ed: One gunner Wounded: Major
PercevaL
northumberland Fusniers-Missing:
Major Stevens.
Captain Fletcher.
Captain Morley.
Second Lieutenant Wake.
Second Lieutenant COulsOn.
Lieutenant Radcliffe.
Three hundred and six nOn-cOmrnis-
stoned officers and men.
Royal Berkshire regiment-Killed
One private.
The remainder of nv casualties will
be wired as soon as ascertained.'
MOST SERIOUS REVERSE.
London, Dec. 1.-THE Times publish
IS the following dispatch from Mol
teno:
Gen. Gatacre attempted to assault
the BOer position at StOrmberg at dawn
today Sunday. The guides led US
wrong, and we We're surprised while in
fOurS and after a very trying night
march. Our retirement was effected in
excellent order, there being no hurry
even at the most critical time. The
NOrthumberlands and Irish rifles be
haved as if on review day. I fear our
losses are heavy. One of our guns We
had to abandon"
1t is hardly too much to regard Gen.
CsataCre's repulse near StOrmberg as
the most serious defeat British arms
have vet sustained in the whole cam
paign. Already official advices show
that two men were killed. nine officers
and II men We're wounded and nine Of
hcers and $40 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 miSsing-WhO are undoubtedly pris-
oners in the hands of the BOers-that
the supplementary list of casualties is
awaited with serious miSgiVingS.
1t is also feared that there We're ser
iOus losses OF guns and equipment.
The NOSE serious aspect of the affair
is the effect it is likely to have on the
Dutch in Cape Colony who have been
Wavering as to whether to throw in
their lot with the Beers Hosts of the
northern farmers are now likely to join
the rebellion. The defeat is also serious
because i'll will delay the junction of
Gen Gatacre with Gen. French at
NaauWport- The plan was for their
forces
on Lord Nethuen's column.
The disclosure of such a strong force
at StOrmberg was quite unexpected.
Doubtless Gen. Gatacre was the victim
of treacherOus guides. But the result
points also to the absence of proper
cavalry scouting.
The British troops who recently oc-
cupied Arundel are advancing. They
have had several skirmishes. but no
casualties. Three miles north of Arun-
dal they found the Beers &, 900 strong.
The Pretoria reports of renewed
fighting at Modder river originated
from the fact that the British with q
tea M Of 81 oxen, hauled a naval gun
70 the top of a high ridge north of
Modder river town, whence they fired
1yddite shells
BRITISH DRIVEN BACK
MOItenO, Cape Colony. Dec. 11-Gen-
eral Gatacre left Putter's kraal by train
for Molteno, and then proceeded by
forced march twelve miles toward
Stormberg. He had 1000 men. including
-
al Irish rifles and two batteries of field
artillery.
The British were UnmOlested by the
Boers until the Boer position was
reached. when a hot fire was unexpect-
edIy opened upon the advancing col
umn
The engagement began at AIS a m
At a. m. after a sharp artillery duel
the British retired. They are now
marching toward AT0lteno. General
Gatacre found the enemy's position i'm
pregnable. 1t was impossible for the
British infantry to get at the Beers.
General Cfatacre's movement may be
termed reconnaissance in force. It's
object was to ascertain the strength of
the position of the Beers. who were
strongly entrenched along the Storm
berg range. He left Putter's kraaI
shortly afternoon, with a fighting force
slightly over 1000 men
Leaving Molteno at 9 o'clock Saturday
evening, he made a memorial Bile night
march over the rocks and veIdt There
was no sound except a steady tramp
and there We're no distinguishing lights.
the bright moon having gone down
about 1880.
The column arrived safely within a
couple of miles of its destination the
only incidents of the march being an