Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1899-12-11

LOnuOu, DcCs IL Hc Dlilioh AOi SCS
in South Africa have met with q sig
nal defeat. This sensational news
was officially announced from the war
Office at midnight. General Gatacre
admitting that he met serious re-
verse in the attack yesterday morning
on Stormberg, Northern Cape Colony.
The British general says he was mis-
led by the guides as to the Boer posi-
ton and found 'fimpracticable ground"
Apparently he was caught in an am
bush as his casualties as at present
known are alarming. The numbers
of dead and, d,wounded cannot be consid-
cred excessive in the circumstances
but the enormous numbers reported
missing suggest that the engagement
must not have been unlike that of
Nicholson's Mex, when General White
lost so heavily.
General Methuen's army Is known
to have been heavily reinforced at
Modder River with infantry, cavalry
and artillery, while General Wau
chopes' Highland brigade has been
largely increased in the number of
bayonets available for frontal attacks.
The necessity of this costly method of
warfare has been obviated by the pres
ence of full brigade of cavalry com
manded by General Darlington
General Buffers admirers laugh at
the idea that he would attempt to
force the passage of the river at the
point where the Beers are the strong
est. They assert that he would mask
that crossing with heavy artillery as
soon as Howitzers are sent up from
Durham but the main body of the army
will go over higher up after a feint
has been made lower down and the
enemys position will then be turned,
Ladysmith relieved and the retreat OF
the Free Staters to mountain passes
cut off.
London, Dec. 11-Later details re.
garding the disaster to General Cat
acres column show that but for the
magnificent work of the British artil
lery the disaster would have been far
more extensive as the incessant Boer
fire, in the midst of the repulsed in
fantry would ultimately have led to
disorder which only escaped develop
ing into rout through the batteries
of artillery occupying the successive
positions covering the retreat, thus
drawing portion of the Beers gall
ing fire.
Apparently the British were set an
impossible task and were treacher
ously guided. After trying march
and being under arms for sixteen
hours they attacked the wrong part
of the Boer position where the hill is
* impregnable and the Burghers were
estimated to number 5000, instead of
$500, as spies reported There is lit
tie in the story to mitigate the intense
humiliation caused by the episode,
which was almost the exact counter
part OF the battle of Nicholson's Mex.
The war office was besieged with anx-
ious relatives but they secured no in
formation there.
The affair caused most depressing
influence everywhere, not excepting
the stock exchange, where consols
were the lowest in many years and
South African securities slumped
not so much on account of the military
reverse which is retrievable, but ow-
ing to the profound apprehension as to
the political effect. No great surprise
would now be felt if General Cat
acres reverse resulted in Cape Colony
becoming afiame from end to end.
Modder River, Cape Colony, Dec. 10.
"A naval 4 4 inch gun took up po
sition north of the camp this after
noon, while a Howitzer battery was
posted southeast on the left of the
Beers. Both opened hot fire with
Lyddite.
The Beers sharply replied with a
dozen guns thus unmasking their po
sition which was the object of the
British manoeuvre. After an hours
airing the Boer guns were silenced-
The Howitzers searched the trenches,
then threw shell after shell upon the
Aiils. the explosion of Lydite causing
he whole ground. over an@extensive
area to rise in the air In dense brown
clouds. A Boer long gun was disman-
tied. 1t now appears that the Beers
intend the next fight to take place at
Magersfontein. Apparently Spytfon
tein is not defended or the Beers are
unwilling to unmask their position
there. as replies to British artillery
were all from guns at Magorsfontein