The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-17
Lost Nearly Eleven Hundred Men in the Re-
verse Sustained at Tusela River.
London Was At First Almost Panic Stricken At The Disaster but
Determination Now Evinced Is to Garry Out the
Programme at No Matter What Cost.

ana summary OF the totals or the c0DuHl-
ties Of the Tugela river engagement posted
at about midnight, the war ONCE processes
not to have any news from the seat OF war.
| while the censorship evidently blocks other
channels Of Information.
Three Reverses within = Week.
Never within the range OF the longest
| memory has Great Britain suffered three
successive military reverses In single week
and hence II IL not surprising that notes Of
anxiety should be heard amid the general
chorus OF press expressions Of grim philoso-
ply and resignation.
Dfnerent views ON II.
Mr.. Asouith's speech at Newcastle last
evening fairly expresses the moderate aver
age opinion OF the situation. more radi-
cal view, which, however. has few open
followers, was echoed by Sir Wilfrid Law
son in an address to the liberals of Carlisle.
He accused the government after bringing
the country to the verge Of war with
America, Russia. Germany and France. OF
having plunged It into war in South Africa
through Incompetent diplomacy. He
thought the people should insist upon the
government stating its terms so that every
one might see what II was fighting for.
The Sunday papers mostly follow the lead
Of yesterday morning and afternoon jour-
mails In their comments on the situation.
At the army and navy and other clubs,
the general impression prevails that the
check Ii only temporary.
militia and Volunteers Nav ~ Uesd.
The government is proh6bH voiced ~
Right Hon. walter Long, president u the
board of agriculture. who speaking ~ the
~y.k IN
ing. intimated that the cabinet committee
on national defense had considered the ad-
visibility Of utilizing the militia and volun-
teeFs for service abroad. He emphatically
asserted that the government In no way
attempted to interfere with the generals In
their military operations.
Some say that another 100000 troops arc
wanted, and. declarpd Mr.. Long. II the
them they say 4 Will be wanting II its
duty 10 the country. For his own part.
Mr.. Long said, he failed to see that the
necessity had arisen. but II It does arise
the 10000 win be Forthcoming. and they
will be sent.
Buller's List OF Casualties.
Gen. Butler reports to the war ofice
that his losses in yesterdays engagement
were: Killed. So; wounded, e67: missing.
| 34S a total of 1907.
The war Office late tonight issued the
| following list of Gen. Buffers casualties:
Killed: Field artillery-capt. A. Fl. Ba-
| con and Lieut.. 8. c. b. Henry. Inniskil-
| lin Fusiliers-Maj. j. M. w. Charley and
| Capt. Frank c. Lotus. Medical corps
| Capt. M. I. Hughes. Thornycrofts mount
| ed infantry--Iieut. G. M. Jenkins. Lieut..
| the Hon. F. H. s. Roberts. son OF Lord
| Roberts, OF Candahar and Winterfords.
Oficers wounded--Devonshire regiment,
| &: Rife brigade (the Prince Consort's
| OWN, 1; Fifth brigade STAFF, l; Inniskillin
rusiliars s; Border regiment. 8: Con-
| naught Rangers, Q; Dublin Fusiliers. 8;
| Irish Fusiliers. 1; horse artillery, !; held
artillery, S; medical corps. I; mounted In
| fantry, 8: Natal Carbineers. 2; South Az
| rfcan Light Horse, 2.
The wounded include Capts. N. J. Good
win. ]. F.. Radcliffe, P. u. w. Vigors,
| Hon. st. LegeT Jarvis A. ]. Hancock.
w. F. Horr. r. J. Beckley. ]. p. g. Pro-
byn r. M s. Lewan, ]. z. r. Brush, n.
D. white Thompson, H. l. Reed, F. A. q.
Fdton and w. N. Congreve: Majs. r. N.
q. Heygate, A. w. Gordon and F., A. B.
Racington; Coils l. G. Brooke, Long H.
Hunt, and Lieut.. Ponsonby Of Thorny-
crofts mounted infantry.
Oficers taken prisoner or missing: Field
artillery, Ave; Devonsh.re regiment. three:
Essex regiment, One' foyai Scols iushieiS'
six; Royal artillery. three
Flag for American Hospital Ship.
The West India docks were gay this af-
ternoon with about 5000 prominent people
present including number of royal per-
sonaees on the occasion Of the presenta-
tion of the queens flag to the American
hospital ship Maine. The Duke Of Con-
naught, surrounded by the ladies OF the
committee on the poop deck, presented the
flag to Lady Randolph Churchill. He said
that IN the name Of the queen he thanked
the American men and women "here and
on the other side' who had so nobly con-
tributed to help the English sick and
wounded.
Lady Randolph Churchill replied thank
ing the queen and the Duke of Connaught.
The bishop of Isiington blessed the ship
and the flag was hoisted by the duke.
After several unsuccessful tugs he broke
out the stops and an immense Union Jack
/ with a red cross in its center flew out In
the sunshine. The 'Star-Spangled Ban
ner" and "God Save the Queen" were
played by the Scots hand The crowds
cheered and the lockers crowded along the
banks Joined in the applause.
Reconnoissance From Modder River
MODDER RIVER, Dec. 15.-The Ninth
brigade. under Col. Pole-Carew, the gren.
| adler guards and a squadron of the
| Twelfth made q reconnaissance this morn
T, ing, supported by the Seventy-sixth bat
terry of howitzers on the center and right,
and four naval twclve-pounders on the
| left. A AZ naval gun on the right opened
| fire at $50. While the brigade deployed
across the plain. the howitzers shelled the
| Boer trenches and searched the ridges, the
naval gun doing the same.
The Beers unmarked two guns. one OF
which was dismantled by the naval gun.
| and the second Of which it was impossible
| to touch. No one was killed, although a
| shell fell In the midst OF four of the North
| cumberland regiment. causing al to fai.