The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-10-31
DISASTROUS.
CONTINUED from First Page.l


Office officials is likely to be again sew
erely commented upon.
The daily Telegraph has the following
account of the Ladysmith engagement
from it's special correspondent at the
front:
AN indecisive reconnaissance occur
red today. General Sir George stewart
White advanced before daybreak Mon
day with all the available forces from
Ladysmith, moving toward the IlnLa
Inonyu. Two brigades were command
ed by Colonels Hamilton and Howard
and another with General Sir Areh1balo
Hunter. went toward Bulwan, while
two regiments, guided by Major Adye,
marched on our extreme left Deyoho
the old camp.
THE Beers were found to be in
great force at all points. Although We
had seven batteries of artillery, their
fire failed entirely to crush that OF tne
enemy, until our infantry, the t1Ith
LancerS, pluckily rode across the en-
emy's front and feigned a retreat.
This, however, failed to entice the en-
envy out, the Beers only replying with
a shell fire.
Colonel Hamilton had to reinforce our
right with three batteries and the Cor
don Highlanders the Devonshire reg1-
ment and the Manchester regiment at
intervals. Our artillery then changed
front and a severe artillery duel then
euSued, the guns generally supporting
the reinforcing infantry as they ad-
Vanced.
Two batteries remained in action
against the twelve FOUNDER and quick
hrers of the naval contingent came into
action The enemy had field pieces,
machine guns and 100 FOUNDER
General White in the afternoon with
drew his forces upon Ladysmith. The
losses on the Boer side were consider
able"
HELP IS COMING.
London, Oct. 31.-The war office has
sent the following dispatch to Gen.
Butler: Three extra battaliOns of foot
and one mountain battery with re-
serves, will leave England during the
course of ten days to make good the
casualties.
HARD BLOW TO ENGLAND.
London, Oct. 31.-While minor re-
verses were not wholly unexpected,
nothing like the staggering blow Cen
eraI Joubert delivered to General
Whites forces yesterday was antici-
pated. The full extent of the disaster
is not yet acknowledged, if it is known
at the war office. The loss in effective
men must be appalling to a general who
is practically surrounded. Two of the
finest British regiments and mule
battery deducted from the LadySmith
garrison weakens it about a fifth of it's
total strength and alters the whole sit
uation very materially in favor of the
Beers, who have again showed them
selves stern fighters and military Stra-
tegists of no mean order. The disaster
cost the British from 1900 to 1000 men
and six 7-pOund screw guns, and as the
Boer artillery is already stronger than
imagined, the capture of these guns
will be a great help to the Beers.
Further news must be awaited before
it is attempted to fix the blame where
belongs. General White manfully ac-
cepts all the responsibility for the dis
aster, which apparently was at least
partially due to the Stampeding OF the
mules with the guns.
From the list it will be seen that AZ
officers were made prisoners, besides a
newspaper correspondent, J. Hyde.
The interest in the news was univer-
sal, perVading all classes and conditions
of London's pOpulace. The newspaper
extras were eagerly read in business
houses on the streets and by women
in their carriages.
Then there was a rush to the war Of
flee, which by noon was surrounded
with private carriages and hansoms,
while many of the humber class of
people came on foot, all waiting and
watching for the names they held dear.
Never was the old saying, "Bads news
travels quickly" better exemplified
here than today. BY noon gloom and
bitter sorrow prevailed throughout the
British metropolis.
At the government offices no effort
was made to conceal the feeling of dis
may prevailing. One official said to a
representative of the Associated Press:
1T is inexplicable and I am sorry to
say that its moral effect is inestima-
BILE. We have lost heavily in many
wars and have had regiments almost
tured, and by Beers, it is terrible"
An official of the war Office said to
a representative of the Associated
Press:
1.-The disaster is more likely due to
the craze of our younger officers to dis
tinguish themselves, obtain mention in
the dispatches and earn the Victoria
cross than to the fault of that SPLEEN
General in
spite of his aVOwaL''
AS the day wore on the crowd around
the war office swelled to enormous pro-
portions and at Gloucester, the home
of many of those engaged, the widest
excitement prevailed.
The special editions of the local news
papers were speedily exhausted and the
same thing occurred at Bristol and 9TH
soon after the engagement at Rietz-
fOntein, where the GlOucestershires
suffered heavily, brought the keenest
sorrow to households all over the coun-
ty, whose name the regiment bears.
BOERS AFTER KIMBERLEY.
Cape Town, Oct. Sit is reported
from Barkly- West that the Beers are
constructing forts around Kimberley
for the purpose of Smelling the town.
WHITE MAY RETIRE.
London, Oct 31-Reports are cur
rent here that General White may re-
tire to Pietermaritzburg while the rail-
road is intact. There is much diverg-
ence of opinion in military circles as to
the advisability of such a step.
BOER LOSSES.
London, Oct 31-A special from
Ladysmith says: The Beers suffered
severely during the engagement, some
persons estimating their loss at 900 to
], 900 killed and wounded.
STOCKS COLLAPSE.
London, Oct 31-The disaster at
Ladysmfth had an immediate effect on
the stock exchange here, where consols
fell Il South African securities drop
ped heavily, Rand lines falling points.
Rio Tintos fell q.
The afternoon newspapers made only
brief editorial comments on the news