Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-11-09

turned and then ordered out a large force
of cavalry and infantry to advance upon
the Boer positions. Whites forces fol-
lowed up the supposed advantage, but
soon found themselves face to face with
q large army of Beers, who We're all well
armed and full Of fight. The fighting
ragged fercely until shortly before noon,
when White withdrew without having
forced the Beers within their laagers
and with a heavy loss.
The column of troops, consisting of the
Irish Fusi.eers, the Tenth Mountain bat
terry and the Gloucester regiment, sent
against the Beers Sunday, was sent
rounded in the hills and after losing heav-
ny, had to capitulate. A Boer orderly
came in to the British lines in the even
Ing under a flag of truce with letters
from the survivors of the captured col
umn, asking assistance to bury the dead.
Among those captured are Maj. Adye
OF Gen Whites staff; the lieutenant col
onel, the majors and all the captains and
ieutenants of the Irish Fusileers; the
majors, captains and neutenants of the
Gloucester regiment; Maj. Bryant of the
Royal artillery, all the liCutenants of the
Mountain battery and also the chaplain
of the Irish Fusileers. Many of the cap
tured officers and men were wounded.
The Beers in the meantime kept up
their artillery fire, and, besides playing
havoc with the British troops. stampeded
about forty mules used for transporting
the heavy guns. The British were so
busy using their small arms that they
were unable to look after the mules, with
the result that eight cannon were lost
Charge Upon Big Guns.
1t seems Gen. Whites first purpose
was to charge the positions of the Boer
batteries and capture, If possible, the
big guns, which played so important
part at Glencoe. The charge was con-
sidered successful at first, hut upon their
arrival at the point where the Boer guns
had been located the British found them
gone. How Joubert managed to remove
the awkward, heavy weapons is a mys-
terry to the British, as they are said to
weigh fully four tons each with their
carriages.
One London newspaper, trying to ac-
count for the British retirement, SAYS
that presumably the Beers were driven
back until they reached strong positions,
which White naturally refused to attack.
Gen. White reports the stampede hap
pening during the night, as the result Of
battery fighting. But the newspaper
accounts indicate the runaway occurred
during the days action.
England Is Startled.
All England was startled at the news
of the first severe disaster to the British
White, in what was evidently an impor-
tant movement. almost lost 20 per cent
Of his fighting force and eight OF his fifty
guns at one crack. Monday he had ev-
cry available man engaged against the
Beers, and reading between the lines Of
the official report and the dispatches Of
the English correspondents, he had all he
could do 20 get hack to his base at Lady
smith after making his sortie. 1t Is ap-
parent that he had hoped to march out
and strike a blow at one column OF the
enemy that would weaken the attack on
all sides and give him the upper hand He
lost his left wing in attempting this plan.
Three extra battalions of foot and one
mountain battery, with reserves, will
leave England during the course of ten
days to make good the casualties. The
war Office has ordered a second army
corps to be in readiness to be called out
The military officials are determined to
have everything in readiness either for
q demonstration In Europe OF Great
Britain's capabilities or for senfing even
Z larger force to the scene Of action.
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