Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1899-12-14
A BRITISH DISASTER.
Con. oa,acrc's Forcc Suffers Sc
rious Rcpu,se
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MotrkNo. Cape Colony. sunday. Dec.
io.--Gcn. Ca,acrc left Pu,tcr's kraal by
train Tor Moltcno. and then proceeded
by forced march twelve miles toward
Stormbcrg lie had ..ooo men. includ.
ing the Northumberland Fusiicers, the
Royal Irish Rinc. and two batteries of
field artillery.
The British were unmolcsfei by the
isocrs until the ,oer position was
reached. when a ho, hrc was unex-
pectedly opened upon the advancing
column.
The engagement began At s.is am.
Al am. after n sharp artillery duel,
the British retrrated. They are now
marching toward Molteno. ten. Gatacrc
found the cncmys position imPrcg
nablc. II was impossible for the British
infantry To get At the Beers.
STA Hundred Missing.
LoNpoN. Dec. 1.-THE war Office pub
fishes the following dispatch from Cape
Town.
Gatscrc reports; deeply regret to
inform you tha, | met with a serious
reverse In the attack on Stormhrrg. |
was misled as to the cnemy's position
by the guides and found impracticable
ground.
Casualties, 40 far a. known. arc;
Second battalion. Royal Irish Rifles
Wounded: Lieut.. Col. Eager. Mai.
scaton. Capt. Bell. Capt. Kelley, Lieut..
stephens. Lieut.. Harnardston
suffolk Regiment Wounded; Sec.
ond Lieut.. Maynard. twelve men Miss
ing. Capt ". Ruir. Lieut.. Christie.
Second Lieut.. Rodney, two hundred
and ninety men.
Seventy fourth Field battery Sc
vcrely wounded: Lieut.. Lewis. three
men. Slightly wounded; Two men
Seventy seventh. old battery
Killed; One gunner: wounded. Maj.
Percival.
Northumberland fusilccrs Miss.
ing; Maj stevens. Capt, Fletcher. Capt.
Morley. Second Lieut.. Wake Second
Lieut. Coulson. Lieut.. Radcliffe. Three
hundred and six non-ccnmissioncd Of
iccrs and men.
Royal berkshire Regiment Killed;
One private.
Gen. Gatacr,'s movement may be
termed n reconnaissance Ia force. Its
object was to ascertain the strength Of
the position OF the Bocrs, who wcrc
strongly -ntrcnehed along the Storm
berg range. lie left Put,er's kraal
shortly after noon yesterday with
lighting force slightly over 1000 men.
Leaving Moltcno at last evening. he
made a memorable night march over
the rocks and veldt. There was no
sound except a steady tramp aud there
were no distinguishing lights. the
half past eleven.
The column arrived safely within
couple of miles of its destination. the
only incidents uf the march being an
occasional sudden call Of halt" under
belief that the Beers were near. sud
denly terrific fire opened simultanc-
ously ON the British front aud right
flank. The Royal Irish Rifles. which
formed the advance. sough, shelter be-
hind neighboring kopjc and were
speedily joined by the remainder Of the
column. Ii was soon found. however.
that this position also was covered by
Boer guns, which were more powerful
than had been supposed. The troops,
therefore sought n safer position, about
"a half mile away. two batteries in the
meantime engaging the ioers and COW
ering the troops in their withdrawal.
The action now became general at
long range and detachment Of mount.
ed infantry moved northward with a
view of turning gatling on the enemy'S
right flank. Suddenly "a strong com
mando was seen moving from the north
aud the Royal Irish Rifles and the
Northumberland regiment were sent
out to meet II.
II was soon discovered. however. that
the Beers had machine guns well-placed
and the British were compelled To face
n terrible fire.
Finding ii impossible to hold the POI
sition In the face Of an enemy apparent
ly superior In position. numbers and ar
tillery, the British retired ON Molteno.
the Beers following up the retirement
closely and bringing two big guns to
bear ON the retiring column.