The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-11
THE ATTACK UNEXPECTED
0yS.s 5qe Hundred English Sol
diers Missing.
ys
dGAGEMENT LASTED THREE HOURS
Finding it Impossible to Face the Ter,
rife Fire of an Enemy in Super
ior Position, General Ga
racre Retreated

London, December 11.-(4:45 a. m.)-It Is
hardly too much to regard General Cat
acres repulse near stromberg as the most
serious defeat British arms have yet sus-
tanned in the whole campaign.
Already the official advices show that two
men were killed, nine officers and seventeen
men were wounded and nine officers and
five hundred and ninety-six men are miss
dng. But DIT is evident that 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 Boers-that the supple
mentary list of casualties is awaited with
serious m1sgivings.
1t is also feared that there were serious
losses of guns and equipment.
The most serious aspect of the affair Is
the effect 1T DIS likely to N1ave on the Dutch
in Cape Colony, who have been wavering
as ITO whether to throw in their lot with
the Beers. Hosts of the northern farmers
are now likely to join the rebellion. De-
feat is also serious because 1t will delay the
junction of General Gatacre with General
French at Naauwpoort The plan was for
their combined forces to relieve the press
ure ON Lord Methuen's column.
Force Na5 Unsuspectcd
The disclosure of such a strong force at
Stromberg was quite unexpected. Doubt
less General Gatacre was the victim of
treacherous guides. But the result points
also to the absence of proper cavalry scout
ing.
The British troops who recently occupied
Arundel are advancing. They have had
several skirmishes but no casualties. Three
miles north of Arundel they found the
Beers 1000 strong.
The Pretoria reports of renewed fighting
at Modder river originated from the fact
that the British with a team of thirty-two
oxen hauled a naval gun to the top of a
high ridge north of Modder River town,
whence they fired the lyddite shells on
the Boer position at a range of 6,700
yards, where the enemy was apparently
constructing an emplacment for a fort.
The lyddite shells appeared to do immense
damage The Beers retired but the incl
dent Is interesting as showing that the
Beers are still in position quite close to
Modder river.
The engineers report that it would take
two months to rebuild the iron bridge.
Lord Methuen is still compelled TO ride
about in dog cart as his wound prevents
him going on horseback. Should the rains
destroy the temporary bridge there Is
enough rolling stock the north side OF
the river to serve Lord Methuen's purpose.
1t is reported that the Beers are busy
making entertainments at Spytfontein. Sew
eral tiers of work are beginning to appear
at the foot of the heights. The force fired
on by the British naval gun is believed to
form the right wing of the enemy's main
body, thrown froward for patrolling and
scouting purposes.
Boers Entrenching at Spytfontein
1t is reported that the bad water at
Spytfontein threatens an epidemic of ty-
phoid.
Kimberley reports all quiet there up to
December T. and that the pressure of the
investment is diminished.
dispatch from Capetown to the Daily
Mail, dated Thursday, December Z, says:
t'News that chiefs Khama, Linchwe.
Bathoen and Secheli, with their people in
Bechuanaland, have risen to attack the
Beers seriously complicates the situation.
1t is probable that the Basutos and other
trbesmen will follow their example,"
.
GATACRE,S REPORT