Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-12-16

This latest outbreak is regarded as the
most serious event in Great BritainS
military history since the Indian mutiny.
The Standard says:
General Buffers dispatch is deplora-
BILE reading. It is now the familiar story
of concealed Beers and of British troops
marching up blindly almost to the very
muZzles of the enemy's rifles. 1t cannot
be doubted that the moral effect will be
to a~ggravate our difficulties over the
whole field Of operations.
The country has discovered with an
noyance and surprise that subduing Boer
farmers is about the hardest work we
have entered upon since the indian nlu-
tiny. Their commandments have shown
themselves able to give our generals
useful but expensive lessons in modern
tactics"
The Times says:
"Since the day of the Indian mutiny
the nation has not been confronted with
SO painful and annoying a situation.
Plainly, General Buffers advance is par
alyzed for the moment as completely as
Lord Methuen's and General Gatacre's.'
The depression over the defeat of Great
Britain's trusted n idolized commander
is all the greater, as during the last 4S
hours there have been reports of the
relief of Ladysmith. Yesterday the war
office allowed it to be understood that
! the position of affairs in Natal was en-
tirely satisfactory. The reaction is all
the more pronounced on this account.
The gloomy information came too late
to reach the service clubs and only a few
journalists and stragglers We're waiting
at the war office. 1t had hardly been
realized until now even after the ex-
perience of the week that General Butler
could fail.
leak through regarding his preparations,
but the public waited patiently in the
confident belief that he was taking such
time and precautions as would assure
success.
No Independent reports of the engage
ment have yet been allowed to come
through, but General Buffers own dis
patch tells the sad tale in sufficient out
line to show that the British have been
e%ntrapped again by the astute Beers. 1t
was not anticipated that General Bulle,
would make a front attack. No criticism
of his movements are made, however,
since apparently he suffered a repulse
rather than a defeat, and did not push
the attack home. but broke it off in the
middle so as to save a useless sacrifice
of life.
1t is expected that he will renew the
attack shortly. Immediately on receiv-
ing the news the war office decided TIC
mobilize still another division, and tC
replace the losses of artillery. The
necessary achievements will be hurrieo
Oft as speedily as possible.
Fifteen TRANSPORTS are to arrive al
Capetown between December II and Jan
uary s, with about 5000 troops of al
arms, but unless General Butler is able
to renew the attack, which is exceed
ingly doubtful, the British generals viii
be compelled for another fortnight OF
more to remain on the defensive.
The latest dispatches indicate the con
tinued bombardment of Ladysmith
whose position is now perilous.
Major General Sir Herbert Charlie:
Chormside has been appointed to com
mand the Fourteenth brigade in the Sew
enth division.
, The list Of casualties among the non
commissioned officers n men in tn
!. fight at Magersfontein, just issued
shows So killed, 253 wounded Cl severe
ly), and rs missing. This, however, i
apparently not a complete list.