The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-12-20

When the HIGH lnders met the muir
derout point blank fire of the Beers
about two hundred we're moved down.
The Black Watch regiment on re-
forming, was only eble to muster 100
men. The Beers also lost heavily in
the trenches and also in the wire en-
tanglements when they came into the
open in an attempt to make flank at
tack on the British The terrific Brit
ish artillery fire provoked no response
except from the Boer rifles until four
O'Clock in the afternoon, when the Cor
don Highlanders formed up to renew
the attack on the entrenched kopje.
They advanced with the utmost gal
lantry to attack the Beers close to the
place where lay their dead ard wound
ed comrades of the Highland brigade.
The British reverses are more severe
than any one expected. Methuen has
only weeks provisions and is in seri-
GUS danger of isolation. London is
taking the defeat bad y, aud the news
papers are flooded win letters criticiz-
ing the war Office methods. The daily
Mail calls for an investigation of the
causes of British reverses. There are
signs that Chamberlain will be made a
scapegoat for plunging the country into
war prematurely.
CAPE Town, Dec. 14.-An official
report from Gatacre at Sterksroom
gives additional casualties at Stormberg
fight on Sunday. The Irish rifles lost
2 Ulcers wounded, 10 men killed, %
wounded Northumberland fusileers,
II killed, 81 wounded. Most of the
wounded are in the hands of the en-
envy.
GIBRALTAR, Dec. 14.-Three hun
bred British guuners were ordered to
proceed at once from here to the Cape.
LONDON, Dec. Is The war off oe is
still without late news from Ladysmith.
The general belief is that the large
Boer forces Lord Methuen encountered
at Magerstontein were partly drawn
from Natal and that Gen. Butler will
strike d blow before these have time 10
return.
The newspapers are calling upon the
government to employ Cunard and
White Star steamers as transports in
getting more men to the Cape as speed
| lily as possible. Forty thousand men
could still be sent from England with
out calling upon the militia for foreign
service. The militia effective is 100,-
600 and from this body 10000 carefully
selected could easily be spared for
South Africa. Moreover the colonies
are again proffering assistance.
Speaking at Unionist meeting, held
last night in London, Rear Admiral
Lord Charles Beresford said he told
tn society of state for war, long ago,
that Il e government was not sending
enough troops to the Transvaal. This
war is one of the biggest upon which
we have ever embarked owing to the
surrounding political crcum stances"
he said, land if necessary every moth
er's son among US must 90 to the
front. British pluck and money will
win and then with equal rights for all
the British flag must fly over the whole
of South Africa"
A despatch from Mndder river says
ambulances, under flag of truce, are
collecting the wounded and burying
the dead who fell at Magerstontein
Brig. Gen. Wauchope, who lead the
Highland brigade was found dead, shot
in the chest and thigh. Several
wounded Beers were taken to the Bris-
toll hospital.
The side OF the hill ard the lmmedi-
ate neighbOrhood OF the Boer trenches
showed dead bodies all about. One
wounded Boer informed the cores
pondent of the Associated Press their
loss was terrible. The whole Scsndi-
navian contingent was destroyed. Judg-
ing from information cleaned from the
Boer wounded and from prisoners
taken in different parts OF the field the
Boer losses must exceed 700, The de-
struction wrought by the naval guns
was enormous. Word was passed
along the Boer lines to prepare to re.
treat at nightfall All confess that it
was their greatest loss during the war.
The British troops have returned u
Modder river owing to the lack of
water near the position held Yesterday
FRERE CAMP, Dec. l3-Firing with
big guns commenced today at Colenso.
The British also began thanking
movement toward Chieveley south of
the river. The B lers are in very
strong position. Their photographers
last night signalled joco ,ely, "send
White reinforcements."
LONDON, Dec. 10 -Methuen re-
ports that three Highland Brigade Off
GERS reported missing were killed, and
three wounded officers have since died.
This brings the fatalities among Off
GERS of the "Blsck Watch" in Mondays
battle up to sixteen.