Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-12-21


Opened u Calling Fire ut Short
RnnEe-Another Division WIFI Be
MoDfIized.
London, Dec. 17.-'rhc war Office has
received dispatch announcing that
Gen. Butler has met With Il serious re-
verse. losing ten guns. Gen. Butler was
attempting to cross the Tugela river.
Finding it impossible to attain his OBJ
iect he retired in order to avcir greater
Losses. He left eleven guns behind.
The relieving is the text of Gen. Bull
RS dispatch announcing his reverse:
''Buller to Lansdowne: Chieveley, Dec.
Ii, GEO p. MI regret to report ser-
us reverse. 1 moved in full strength
from our camp near Cheveley at o'clock
this morning There are two fordable
PAGES in the Tuegla river, and it was my
Intention to force passage through at
| enc of them. They are about two miles
apart My intention was to force one or
The other with one brigade, supported by
!. central brigade. Gen. Hart was to at
| .ack the left ford, Gen. Hildyard the
right ford and Gen. Lyttleton was to take
TIE center and to support either.
EARLY in the day L saw that Gen. Hart
| would not be able to force a passage and
| directed him to withdraw.
| Gle had, however, attacked with great
yailantry, and his leading battalion. the
Connaught Rangers, ! fear, suffered Il
great deal. Col. I. G. Brooke was seri-
ously wounded. 1 then ordered Gen
| fIildyard to advance. which he did, and
his leading regiment the East Surrey,
occupied Colenso station and the houses
near the bridge. That moment T heard
that the whole artillery 1 had sent to
support the attack, the One Hundred and
sixty-fifth and One Hundred and Sixty
sixth field batteries and six naval twelve
FOUNDER quick-firers, under Col Long,
had advanced close to the river in Long $
desire to be within effective range.
':It proved to be full of the enemy. who
81 edenly opened a calling fire at close
range, killing all their horses ard the
gunncrs " ere compelled to stand to their
guns.
"Some of them took shelter in donga,
and desperate efforts We're made to bring
out the field guns The fire, however.
was too severe, and only two were saved
nv Capt. Sco1ield and some drivers whose
names 1 will furnish
another most gallant attack witt,
three teams was made by an officer,
whose name I will obtain. or the eight
cen horses, thirteen were killed, and as
several drivers We're wounded. / would
not allow another attempt, as 1t seemed
they would be shell mark, sacrificing
life to a gallant attempt to force the
passage.
unsupported by artillery, ordered the
troops to withdraw, which they dlu II
good order.
Throughout the day considerable
force Of the enemy was pressing on my
right flank, but was kept back by
mounted men under Lord Dundonald and
mart of Gen. Barton's brigade. The day
was intensely hot and most trying on the
troops, whose conduct was most excel
lent. We have abandoned ten guns and
lost by shell fire one The losses in Gen.
Harris brigade are, [ fear, heavy, al
though the proportion of severely wound
ed. I hope, is not large. The Fourteenth
and Sixty-sixth field batteries also suf-
fered severe losses. We have retired to
our camp at Chieveley."
Worst Since Indian Mutiny.
London. Dec. 1.-THE news of Gen
Buffers reverse was received so late
that general comment of the morning
papers is confined to perfunctory re-
marks of regret and hopes that Gen
Butler will be able to regain his posi-
ton. This last check is regarded as
the most serious check to British arms
since the Indian mutiny. The Times
says:
"Since the days of the Indian mutiny
the nation has not been confronted
with so painful and anxious a situa
ton. Plainly Gen. Buffers advance is
paralyZed for the moment, as are also
Lord Methuens and Gen. Gatacre's."
The depression over the defeat OF
Great Britain's trusted and idolized
commander is all the greater as, dur
ing the last forty-eight hours there has
been reports of the relief Of Ladysmith
On receiving the news the war Office
decided to mobilize still another divis
ion and to replace the lost artillery
The achievements will be rushed of
as speedily as possible. Fifteen trans
ports are due to arrive at Cape Town
between Dec. Is and Jan. 8, with about
$4,000 troops Of all arms. but unless
Gen. Butler is able to renew the attack
which is extremely doubtful, the Brit
ish generals will be compelled for an
other fortnight OF more to remain prac
tically on the defensive. The latest
dispatches indicate the continued bonn
bardment of Ladysmith, whose posi-
ton is now perilous.
Steamer on the Rocks.