Connecticut western news., 1899-11-02
BRITISH MEETDISASTER
General White Outgeneraled by
 the Boers.
TWO BATTALIoNs ARE CAPTURED.

TWO BATTALIoNs ARE CAPTURED. Situation Extremely Critical-List of
 officers of the Unfortunate Battal-
 ions, the Royal Irish FusiIeer- and
 the Glouoester Regiment. London, Nov. 1.-The Daily Telegraph thus summarizes the situation in Natal: "The fate of the Gloucesters, the Royal Irish fusileers and the mountain battery whose mules stampeded is no longer in doubt. These troops were surrounded in the hills after losing heavily and had to capitulate.
 General White. in his dispatch, pub lished yesterday. mentioned the fact that this column had not returned with the main force after a reconnaissance A hospital orderly, coming into the camp under flag of truce with a request for assistance to bury the dead, was the first to make known the fate of the missing battalions and their artillery, who only yielded after desperate struggle.
 General White adds that he alone is responsible for the plan which led to the disaster; that the troops were without blame. as their position was untenable.
 
 "Forty-two officers and a newspaper correspondent have been captured. The strength of the two regiments was proba- bly, about 750 each. The Irish fusileers stormed the heights of Talana and lost heavily. They must have been further depleted by inval;ding as a result of the trying march from Glencoe to Lady smith. At Reitfontein the Gloucesters bore the brunt of the fight, so they must have gone out Sunday night not much over TOO strong.
 With a mountain battery of four guns there would be under 100 men. The to- tai loss. therefore, would be about 1900 men.
 Three battalions and one mountain battery, with reserve men, will leave Eng land in ten days to make good these cas- ualties in South Africa. The regiments are the Suffolk, Essex and Sherwood Foresters. The reserves required to bring up the units to war strength are warned to join not later than the 9th inst.
 More Naval Guns Going to White.
 More guns are being landed from the Powerful to strengthen General Whites position. With easy sea communication from the Cape and the railway perfectly intact from Durban, Ladysmith may ss- sume that the recent losses will very promptly be more than repaired.
 Commander In Chief Butler landed at Cape Town yesterday, where he received an extraordinarily enthusiastic reception.
 General White has now about 12,0OO troops. his command including a naval contingent, with deadly quick firing guns.
 "The army corps, which will ultimately number nearly 5o.000 men, including the three battalions placed under orders yes terday, will commence landing at the Cape about Nov. 10.
 'The British force at present in South Africa. not including Sir George Whites command, numbers about 13,OOO."
 General Whites Report.
 The following is the text of General Whites dispatch to the war office:
 "Ladysmith. Oct. 30-10:35 p. m.-I have to report a disaster to the column sent by me to take a position on hill to guard the left flank of the troops. In these operations today the Royal Irish fusileers, No. 10 mountain battery and the Worcestershire regiment were sur rounded in the hills and, after losing heavily. had to capitulate. The casualties have not yet been ascertained.
 "A man of the fusileers, employed as a hospital orderly. came in under a flag of truce with letter from the survivors of the column. who asked for assistance to bury the dead. I fear there is no doubt of the truth of the report
 'I formed a plan, in the carrying out of which the disaster occurred, and I am alone responsible for the plan. There is no blame whatever to the troops, as the position was untenable."
 Omcers of Captured Regiments
 General White, in a subsequent dis patch, says:
 "The following is . list of the officers taken prisoners:
 Staff Major Adye.
 Irish Fusileers-Colonel Carleton. Ma jor Mum, Major Kincaid, Captain Bur rowes, Captain Rice. Captain Silver, Lieutenant Heard, Lieutenant Southey, Lieutenant Phibbs, Lieutenant McGreg- or. Lieutenant Holmes, Lieutenant Kel- ly, Lieutenant Dooner, Lieutenant Ken tish. Lieutenant Kinahan. Lieutenant Jeudwine and Chaplain Matthews. "Of the above Captains Rice and Sill yer and Lieutenant Dooner were wound ed Worcestershire Regiment - Major Humphrey. Major Capel-Cupe. Major Wallace, Captain Duncan. Captain Con- ner, Lieutenant Bryant, Lieutenant Mis- bit, Lieutenant Ingham. Lieutenant Da- ", Lieutenant Knox, Lieutenant Tem- pie, Lieutenant Radice, Lieutenant Breul, Lieutenant Hill, Lieutenant Short, Lieu tenant Smith, Lieutenant Mackenzie, Lieutenant Beasley and Lieutenant Gray.
 "Of the above Captains Duncan and Conner were wounded.
 Royal Artillery-Major Bryant. Mountain Battery-Lieutenant Wheel CT. Lieutenant Nugent, Lieutenant Moore and Lieutenant Webb"