The Irish standard., 1899-11-04
A SERIOUS REVERSE.
Boer Farmers Bling Disaster to
British Soldiers.
Whites Command Caught In n Trap
Mt Lndysmith-T.vo of His Crack
Regiments Cupturcd-Nevvs of
the Battle Hard to obtain.

the Battle Hard to obtain.
London, Nov. 1.-The war Office has
received dispatch from Gen. White,
commanding the British forces at
Ladysmith, reporting that the Royal
Irish fusiliers, No. 10 mountain battery
and the Gloucest crshire regiment were
surrounded in the hills by the Beers
and, after losing heavily, obliged to
capitulate. Gen. White adds that the
casualties have not yet been ascer-
tanned.
Gen. White Takes All the Blame.
The following is the text of Gen.
Whites dispatch to the war office:
'Iadysmith, Oct SOL have to report a
disaster to the columns sent by me to take
a position on hill to guard the left flank Of
the troops. In these operations to-day
the Royal Irish fusilers. No. 10 mountain
battery ard the Worcestershire regiment
We're surrounded in the hills ard after los
ing heavily had to capitulate. The CASUAL
ties have not yet been ascertained.
"a man of the fusliers, employed as =
hospital orderly, came in under flag OF
truce with letter from the survivors of
the column, who asked for assistance TO
bury the dead. l fear there is no doubt Of
the truth of the report.
II formed plan. in the carrying out of
which the disaster occurred. and am alone
responsible for the plan. There is no blame
whatever to the troops. as the position was
untenable."
Hunter to Succeed White.
The disaster to Gen. White will result
in his removal from the head of affairs,
il not his court-martial. Field Marshal
Lord Wolseley cablcd to Gen. Butler,
advising him to appoint Gen. Sir Archi-
bald Hunter to succeed White in COM
mand at Ladysmith. Hunter is a vet
eran of the Soudan and Whites second
in command.
Boer Loss Heavy.
A special dispatch from Ladysmith
says the Beers suffered severely during
the engagement, some persons estimat-
ing their loss at 900 to 1000 killed and
wounded.
No Further News.
No dispatch, except the official tele-
gram of Gen. Sir George Stewart White,
has thus far been permitted to mention
the disaster, and no telegram from
since the advices from the British COM
mander. This gives rise to belief that
communications have already been cut,
in which event some time must elapse
before details regarding British losses
are received. If the war Office officials
have received information on this point
they have refrained from publishing it.
Gen. Whites estimate that the British
losses were about 90 is evidently quite
separate from the probable losses in
killed and wounded among the cap.
tured battalions.
A DOer Ruse.
Public anxiety was increased by a
special dispatch from Ladysmith, pub
lished in the late editions of the Lon.
don afternoon papers, to the effect that
before darkness Monday the Beers re.
occupied the old position held by their
heavy artillery, which Gen. White had
reported silenced by the guns of the
naval brigade from the Powerful, and
had opened fire again. The dispatch
further says: 1.-THE enemy are again
closing in, and the situation is one OF
grave anxiety. Beyond doubt the Boer
retirement Monday was ruse to draw
Gen. White into the hilly country and
away from the British camp"
White Outgencrnled.
This last sentence is significant, and
confirms the opinion of military ex
perts here that Gen. White is allowing
himself to be outgeneralcd by Com
mandant General Joubcrt.
From the scanty adviccs received ur
to II o'clock p. m, it seems tolcrahl,
certain that the disaster was simple
repetition Of the battle of Ma.uha llill
though on larger scale. The two reg
imcnts were allowed to march into {:
trap set for them by the Beers. 1t i.
simply Il case Of the Rocr spider and the
guileless British fly. In Fact, the whole
engagement of Monday seems to have
been brought on by Commandant Gen
eral Jouhert, who skillfully conceived
a gigantic trap, out of which, as the
official dispatch shows, Sir George
White only escaped with difficulty
Gen. White advanced with the idea o.
driving the Beers from the hill, sever
miles out, which Gen. Joubert made ar
ostentatious show of fortifying on Sun
day. The Boer commandant left fore.
sufficient to draw Gen. White on, while
the mass of the Beers he moved stealth
lily round the British right, to deliver {
flank attack and to endeavor to cut of
Gen. White from Ladysmith. The Brit
ish commander succeeded in beating of
the attack, but only with great diff
Guilty, and during the turning move
ment his troops suffered from a flank
ing fire.
Reinforce mcnts EN- Route,
About 5000 fresh troops will arrive al
Cape Town on Sunday next from Eng
land and will be available to reinforce
Sir George White. Transports will ar
rive there daily after Sunday, until by
the end of next week $4,000 troops viii
have been landed in South Africa
These men are intended for Gen. Sill
Redvers Buffers army, but they will
undoubtedly be detached to Natal if thu
situation there should become perilous
The Feeling in France.
Abroad, especially in France, no pain'
is taken to disguise the satisfaction fel
in consequence of the British rebuff
In Paris every means of spreading tn,
news was utilized. Some of the NOR,
dignifed papers adopted respectful
and sympathetic tone, but the majority
were overjoyed. The editor of tn,
Patria hunp tho TranSvaol and Or,, ~.