Gilpin observer., 1899-11-02

1
Tenth mountain battery and the Glou-
| cester regiment, sent against the Beers
Monday, has been surrounded and cap
| tured by the Beers. British officials
| confirm the news. Whites left wing,
which surrendered to the Beers, is be-
lieved to consist of 1000 men with
eight guns. News of the disaster was
received with stupefactiOn in military
circles.
London, Oct. 31.-All England is star
tied to-day at the news of the first Sc
we're disaster to the British.
General White, wiring from Lady
smith at midnight, reports as follows:
THE column sent to guard the hill on
our left flank, including the Royal Irish
| Fusileers, the Tenth mountain battery
and Gloucester regiment, We're sur
rounded in the hills and after losing
heavily had to capitulate.
THE casualties have not yet been as
certained. A Boer orderly came in our
lines this evening under n flag of truce,
with letters from the survivors of the
captured column asking assistance to
bury the dead.
II fear there is no doubt of the truth
Of the report of the columns capture.
| Il formed the plan in the working
out Of which the disaster occurred and
1 am alone responsible. The troops are
not blameworthy, as their position was
untenable.''
| Among those captured are Major
| Adye of Whites staff, Lieutenant Colo
mel Majors, and all the captains and
lieutenants of tile Irish Fusileers: ma
jors, captains and leutenants Of the
Gloucester regiment; Major Bryant of
the Royal artillery. all the lieutenants
Of the Mountain battery and also Chap
lain Irish of the Fusileers.
The news of the capture of Whites
left wing in what was evidently an
important movement fills every one
with the greatest alarm for the safety
of Ladysmith. How White came to
subject his left 10 such n disaster is al
most forgotten in the question of what
| Will he do now. He has lost almost 20
per cent. of his fighting force and eight
| OIL his nifty guns at one crack. YeSter
day he had every available man en-
gagged agninst the Beers, and. reading
| between the lines of the official report
and dispatches of English correspond
ents, he had all he could do to get back
to his base at Ladysmith after making
his sortie. 1t is apparent White can
not gain in an attempt to take the often
sive against the Beers. He had hoped
to march out and strike blow along
the column of the enemy that would
prevent the attack on all sides and give
him the upper hand. He lost his left
wing in attempting this plan. He must
now fall behind trenches and try to
hold his base. He is opposed by force
far superior numerically, and which is
inspired by the coup of bagging the
| British left. 1t Is not improbable White
will fall back on ColenZo to secure
better position, though Englshmen be-
| lieve he will defend Ladysmith to the
last ditch, and in view of his great loss
yesterday will die before surrendering
| Brussels, Oct. 31.-Dr Leyds made
an important statement as to the de-
mails of the London newspapers of the
| reports that British were Ievying re
cruits among the native population of
South Africa.
/ Il formally accuse Great Britain"
said DIR. Leyds. "of arming the col
| Ored races of South Africa against the
Beers. and l make this accusation with
due sense of its gravity and an abso-
| lutte knowledge of its accuracy"
Cape Town, Nov. There is now
great danger of an uprising of the
Dutch. in Cape Colony and another
Cabinet meeting is to be held immc-
| diately. The Cabinet officers are thor
| Oughly alarmed over this phase of the
situation.
London. Nov. 1, 4 n. m.-No news
can be had from Ladysmith. 1t is
feared that the town has been sur
rounded by the Beers, who have been
seen to the southwest of it. 1t is now
deemed certain that the Beers have
cut the wires and stopped railroad
| communication south of Ladysmith.
isolating the British forces under Gen
eral White.
The last dispatches received before
communication was suddenly cut off
told of the Beers gathering I'm consider
able force at Dewdrop. southwest of
Ladysmith. and OF large forces of them
advancing over the Helpmakaar road.
A big camp of Beers is to he formed
between Harrismith bridge and Pot
gietre camp. Mt Dewdrop.
The South African News at Cape
Town received In the afternoon mes
sage from Lndysmith saying that "A
battle Is proceeding mt Umbanbane. II
few miles from there, and that several
shells have dropped into the town. 1t
was believed that General White con
templated retreating to Icetermaritz-
burg while the railroad was open. That
chance seems to have vanished on nc1
count of the Quiciness and activity
with which the Beers got to the south
of Ladysmitl and cut OFF General
Whites line of supplies and only road
to retreat.
About G.OO0 fresh troops will arrive
mt Cape Town on Sunday next from
England ana will be available to rein
force Sir George White. Transports
will arrive there daily after Sunday
until by the end OF next week $1,000
troops win have been landed In South
Ifrica. These men are intended for
;cncral Sir Rcdvcrs Buffers army. but
hey will undoubtedly be sent to Natal
( the situation there should become
rrIlous. The British army will event
ally reach the huge total of s0.G3i. OF