Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1899-11-02

smith mas been received In London since
the advices of the British commander.
This gives rise to the belief that COM
munication has been cut, in which event
some time must elapse before details re-
garding British losses are received.
If the war Office officials have received
information on this point they have re-
Trained from publishing it. General
Whites estimate that the British losses
were about so sevidently quite separate
from the probable losses in killed and
wounded among the captured batta}icns.
On this point there is the greatest sus-
pense among the relatives of the pris.
onefs. 1t is supposed the stampedlng
mules carried away the reserves of am
munitlon and that the troops capitu-
lated after firing the rounds each man
carried. In the absence of news, the
morning papers are reduced to specu!a-
tion as to how the disaster occurred.
The general opinion is that a misuse of
the cavalry was the realreason of the fall
into the trap. Apparently there was no
cavalry to watch over the safety of the
missing column.
The Morning Post pointing out how
near the British We're to a "still greater
disaster says: "In capturing the col
umn the Beers also had the Devonshire
regiment practically at their mercy and
little more daring would have made a
bad business much worse, and seeing
that force strong enough to scoop up
couple of infantry battalions could
have put itself practically between Cen
eral White and his camp we may be
very thankful that things today are
not more serious than they are. The
lesson has been severe. 1t is humiiat-
ing to find nation of farmers beating
soldiers at their own game, but the
sooner proper respect is had for Boer
strategy and tactics the better for our
fortunes in Natal y
This SOLDERING note is struck by all the
morning papers today, together with
expressions OF determination to carry
the matter through at whatever cost.
The Daily Chronicle, referring editor
tally to the situation, says:
In view Of the patent failure of the
campaign and the terrible humiliation
of the British army we can only vaguely
hope that Sir George White in the hard
days that lay before him may be able to
hold Ladysmith. Retreat would be an
undertaking which the imagination
| fails to grasp. If this war is to be a
war OF vengeance we shall have to wipe
out disaster before which the memory
of Majuba fades away. The empire is
face to face with a repulse comparable
op5y to the surrender of Burgoyne to
| tn0 c,abattted farmers cf our American
colonies" !"
Two Battalions Missing.
General Whites dispatch, which was
dated 4:30 today, read: II employed all
the troops here except the obligatory
garrison before the works I sent a
mountain battery, the Royal Irish Flu.
sileers and the Gloucesters to take up a
position on the hills to clear my left
flank. The force moved at / yesterday
morning and during some firing the bat.
terry mules stampeded with some of tie
guns, which, however, l hope torecover
These two battalions have not returned
but are expected this evening.
81 detailed two brigade divisions OF
field artillery and five battalions of in.
fantry aided by cavalry, under General
French, to attack, a position on which
| the enemy yesterday mounted guns
We found this position evacuated, but
our force was attacked with consid-
cradle vigor by what believe were
General Joubert's troops. They had
many guns and showed in great mum
bers. Our troops were all in action
and we pushed the enemy back seyera.
miles, but didnot succeed in reaching
his laager. Our losses are estimated at
between so and 100, but those of the
enemy must have been much greater,
tn are of our guns appearing very
effective.
"After being in action several hours
withdrew the troops and they returned
unmolested to their cantonments. The
enemy are in great numbers and theil
guns range further than our field guns
l now have some naval guns which
have temporarily silenced, and l hope
will permanently dominate the enemy's
best guns, with which he has been
bombarding the town at range Of
over 5000 yards.
1t is reported from Plymouth that the
admiralty is about to mobilize 30 cruis
| erS.
Later accounts Of the first battle and
the evacuation of Dundee do not give
those affairs a roster hue. In the first
battle the Beers captured the Maxim Of
the Eighteenth Hussars, but only afte.
the entire crew of the gun, with one ex.
ception, had been disabled. The sur
vivor effectually damaged the gun.
! Only two officers of the staff of General
Symons came off without wound
WINSlOW ON TRIAL.,
| Alleged NIurderer of Edward T;Ito,