The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1899-12-16

publishes the following dispatch from
Gen. Forestier-Walke at Cape Town:
"Gatacre reports: Deeply regret to
inform you that 1 met with serious re-
verse in attack on Strombcrg. l was
misled as to the enemy'S position by
the guides and found impracticable
ground"
1t is hardly too much to regard Gen.
Gatacre's repulse near Stormberg as
the most serious defeat British arms
have yet sustained in the whole cam
paign. Already the official advice show
that two men were killed and nine Of
ficers and seventeen men were wound
ed and nine officers and J9G mel are
missing. But it is evident the worst
is not yet known. The proportion of
wounded and killed is SO small when
compared with the missing. who are
undoubtedly prisoners in the hands of
the Beers. that the supplementary list
of casualties is awaited with sc:io"s
misgivings. 1t is also feared there We're
serious losses of guns and equipment.
The most serious aspect of the affair
is the effect it is likely to have on the
Dutch in Cape Colony who have been
wavering whether to throw their lot
with the Beers. The Dutch farmers
are now likely to join the rebellion.
The disclosure of such Il strong force
about Stormberg was quite unexpected.
Doubtless Den. Getacre WAS the vic
tim Of treacherous guides. But the
movement points also to the absence of
proper cavalry scouting.
Story of the Disaster.
Moltcno. Cape Colony. Dec. 12.-';an.
Gatacre left Putter's kraal by train
for Molteno and then proceeded by
forced march twelve miles toward
Stormberg. He had 1000 men. inrlud-
ing the northumberland fllsilccrs. the
Royal Irish rifles and two batteries of
field artillery. The British We're IN
molested by the Beers until the Boer
position was reached. when a hot fire
was unexpectedly opened upon the ad-
vancing column. The engagement be-
gan at 4:15 a. M. At Z II. H.. after Il
| sharp artillery duel. the British retired.
They are now marching toward Mol
teno. Gen. Gatacre found the enemy's
| position impregnable. 1t was impossi-
BILE for the British infantry to get at
the Beers. Gen. Gatacre's movement
may be termed a reconnaissance In
force. Its object was to ascertain the
strength Of the position of the Beers,
who were strongly intrrnched along
the Stormberg range. The column ar
rived safely within a couple Of miles
of its destination. the only incidents Of
the march being an occasional sudden
call of s'halt' under the belief that the
Beers were near. Suddenly a terrific
FIRE opened simultaneously on the Brit
ish front and right flank. The Royal
Irish rifles. which formed the advance,
Sought Shelter
behind a neighboring kopje and were
speedily joined by the remainder OF
the column. 1t was soon found, how
ever, that this position was also COW
cred by Boer guns. which were more
powerful than had been supposed. The
troops. therefore, found Il safer posi-
ton about half a mile away. two bat
teries in the meantime engaging the
Beers and covering the troops in their
withdrawal. The action now became
general at long range and a detach-
ment of mounted infantry moved
northward with a view of using Cat
linss on the enemy's right flank. Sud-
denly q strong commando was seer
moving from the north and the Royal
Irish rifles and the northumberland
regiment were sent out to meet it. 1t
was soon discovered. however. that n
Beers had machine guns well placed
and the British We're compelled to face
a terrible fire. Finding it impossible
to hold the position in the face OF an
enemy apparently superior in position
in numbers and in artillery. II
British retired on Molteno, the Beers
following up the retirement closely and
firing two big guns to bear on the re-
firing column. 1t is believed here that
the British casualties were not serious.
Communication With Ladysnith.
Frere Camp, Natal, Dec. 12.-Helio.
graphic communication with Lady
smith continues daily. Gen. Schalk-
berger and Commandant Louis Bothl
are in command of the Boer forces in
yesting Ladysmith. Their horses are
said to be in poor copdition. A heavy
report was heard in the direction OF
Colenso yesterday. The sound was fol-
lowed by a big cloud of smoke. Thc
~supposition is that the enemy had
blown up the highway bridge.
Victory for h British.
Ladysmith, Dec. -. - The British
troops made a sortie between l and 2
O'Clock in the morning. They crawled
I'm a ravine and stormed and carried
Lombardskop, which was held by the
Beers and on which were placed a
Creusot gun and a Howitzer. These
euns were destroyed with dynamite:
The British captured a Maxim gun and
then retired. The Lancers, Hussars
and Guards made q sortie west OF La
dysmith at daybreak under cover Of a
heavy artillery fire, which the Beers re.
turned briskly. The British afterward
returned to Ladysmith. The Boer
losses are reported to have been slight:
A strong burgher column has crossed
the Tugela river at Colenso with the
obiect Of attacking the British and the
court column.
Beers Repulsed Mt Kimberley.
- 90 IA T. -.,~r@A~A