The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-11-01
Two REGIMENTS CAPTURED
Forty-two Officers the Royal Irish Fusers, the Gouces-
tershire Regiment and Battery No. Ten Caught
in the Trap Set by the Beers.


1-otgietere Farm Camp, at Dewdrop,
which it is said, will extend four miles.
An Englshman, who has arrived at
Aiwal North, from Pretoria, whence
he was expelled by way of Bloemfontein
says that when ne left Pretoria all the
stores there were carrying on business as
usual President Kruger was still there,
and he did not see any wounded at Jo-
hannesburg. Some of the T'ransvaa
papers are still published and contain
glowing accounts of the successes of the
-noer army, saying that Kimberley and
Mafeking are expected to fall at any
moment, while Bechuanaland is com
quered and annexed; that the republican
arms are also successful in Natal, and
t4Iat the burghers are continuing their
victorious march south, capturing Brit
ism prisoners and stores.
The papers admit that the battle of
lagndslaagte was reverse for the Beers,
who lost thirty killed had many wound
ed, and that eighty-five Beers were
made prisoners.
Iadysmith, according to Nthe Boer
newspapers, is soon to be taken.
The Engishman added that the Beers
are absolutely confident of their ultimate
triumph, and believe the whole Of Natal
is already practically III their hands.
A dispatch from Nryburg, dated Octo
Der 18th, gives a report of a speech OF
Commandment Delarey when hoisting the
1Boer flag there He declared that the
flag of the Republic was now floating
over the whole country north Of the
Grunge River and that the British flag
would never again fly there until hoisted
over the dead bodies of the burghers.
Complete order prevails at Vryb,mg.
Advices from Kimberley. under date of
Octboer 9th, received through a dis
patch rider at Orange River, October
Both, report that all the wounded are pro-
crossing favorably. 1t also appears that
they are unable to blow mp the piers of
the Modder River Bridge the Beers
are demolishing them stone by stone.
They have blown UP practically every
clllvert on the Modder River to the
Orange River. AN armored train,
strongly supported, made a reconnais-
sance October 9th and found the Beers
still at Spyfontein.
There was an extraordinary military
parade at Aldershot yesterday, when 10
traction engines and forty trucks We're
inspected previous to their departure for
South Africa. A stretch of sandy, rocky
road was selected for the tests, and gave
an excellent chance to observe the points
of the engines. A deep ditch and banks
two and three feet high were safely ira
versed. Though, at times, the whole
sank axle deep, other engines pulled out
the hapless ones Twenty-four of these
engines viii be dispatched to South
Africa.
ANOTHER BATTLE BEGUN.
Cape Town, Oct. 31-12:10 p. m.-The
South Africa News publishes the follow
ing dispatch:
.Ladysmith Oct 31.-A battle is pro
ceeding at the foot Of Umbanbane, a few
miles. from Ladysmith. Several shells
have dropped into the town.
WHITE MAY FALL BACK.
London, Oct. 31.--Reports are current
here that General White may retire tel
Pietermarltzburg while the railroad is
intact. There is much divergence of
opinion in military circles as to the advis
ability of such step.
FELL INTO THE BOER TRAP.
London, October 31-The War Office
has received a dispatch from General
White commanding the British forces al
Ladysmith, reporting, tllat the Royal
Irish EIusiliers, Number Ten Mountain
battery and the Worcestershire regimen;
were surrounded in the hills by the
Beers and, after losing heavily, obliged
to tlpitulate.
General White says that the casual
ties have not yet been ascertained.
The following is the text of General
Whites dispatch TO the War Office:
"Ladysmith, October 31.-I0:35 +. NJ.
II have to report disaster to the col
umn sent by me to take a position OH
hill 10 guard the left flank Of the
troops. In these operations today the
Royal Irish Fusiliers. Number Ten
mountain battery and the Gloucester
shire regiment We're surrounded in the
hills and after losing heavily had TO
capitulate. The casualties have not yet
been ascertained.
"a man of the Fusiliers, 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. fear there is me
doubt of the truth of the report
Il formed II plan i'll the carrying ont
of which the disaster occurred, and
alone am responsible for the plan. There
is no blame whatever to the troops, az
the position was untenable."
General White. in a subsequent dis
patch gives the names of the officers
taken prisoners. They number forty