The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1899-10-26
A BRITISH RETREAT.
General Yule Abandons Dun
dee and Glencoe.
BOERS CREATLYOUTNUMBER ENGLISH
Lopdon's worst Fears Are Realized.
1t Is Believed the Government Is
Withholding News-Cnpe Town
Advices More Favorable.

patch from General Sir George Stewart
White, dated Ladysmith, Oct 24 to the
Marquis of Lansdowne, secretary of
state for war, received last evening at IL
o'clock, was posted at the war Office soon
after midnight:
Information received yesterday show
ed that the Beers had established them
selves in considerable numbers in an ex-
ceedingly strong position west of the
main road leading from Ladysmith to
Dundee.
II also had information that the Dun
dee force, formerly commanded by Gen
eral Symons and since his wound COM
manded by General Yule. was falling
back on Ladysmith by way of the Help
makaar road, Beth and the valleys of the
Waschbank and Sunday rivers and was
expected to reach Sunday River valley
today.
81 therefore moved out with a strong
force to cover the movement Of Yule's
column. The enemy was discovered
about seven miles out of Ladysmith in
position of exceptional natural strength
west of the road. When he saw that
preparations were being made against
him, he opened fire with one gun with
great accuracy.
Our artillery soon got into position,
and the gun was silenced. Our troops
We're ordered to occupy a strong ridge
parallel to the enemy's position, but
nearer to the road
Il confined my efforts to occupying
him and hitting him hard enough to pre-
vent his taking action against Yue's
column. Numbers of the enemy fled to
the west, and the firing had practically
ceased Mt = O'clock"
The war office dispatch seems to real
lie the worst fears. General Yule has
abandoned not only Dundee but Glen
coe also. and, so far as present news
would indicate, he has neither joined
General White nor reached Ladysmith.
General Whites successful action" an
nounced, in parliament by Mr.. Wyndham.
seems to resolve itself into a mere en-
gaging of the attention of the Free State
troops while General Yule is slipping
southwark.
1t is evident from the official dis
patches that both Commandant General
Joubert's column on the north and the
Orange Free State troops on the west
now occupy strong positions and that
nothing binders the Beers from follow
ing up General Yule's retirement and
getting around Ladysmith from the
southeast. Until re-enforcements arrive
it seems that General White is obliged to
concentrate on Ladysmith.
1t is believed that the government has
other dispatches that have not yet been
published
The Cape Town correspondent Of The
Daily Mail, telegraphing at 9.45 p. m.
yesterday, says:
General Yule has performed a bril-
liant strategica movement. BY a swift
march to the south, leaving Glencoe emp
ty, he has effected a junction of his
forces with those of Sir George Stewart
White slightly to the north of Lady
smith.
1.-The two are now in a position to offer
battle. l believe the first attack will be
made on the large Free State force which
entered Natal by way of Tintwa pass
and which has since been harassing La
dysmth. The military authorities de-
cided that by joining their forces the two
generals would be better able to cope
with one large force at time than by
having two small detachments to oppose
simultaneously two big Boer forces.
Accordingly, after defeating the Free
State troops, they will offer battle to
miles now separate the two Boer forces.
Hence the need for swift and telling ac-
ton.
"The two sections of the Boer army to-
gether outnumber the entire British force
by three to one. Hard fighting is certain
at very early date. Our men are conf
dent and there is much enthusiasm.
The Daily Mail publishes the following
description of the battle of Elandsaagte
from its special war correspondent, Mr..
u. w. Stevens, filed at Ladysmth:
The battle was brilliant, complete
success. The Beers numbered from 200
to. 1000 and probably had about 100
killed and $50 wounded.
"The fight itself was like a practical
illustration Of handbook tactics. each
arm represented doing its proper work TO
perfection. The Gordon Highlanders in
their attack advanced in magnificent or
der. They were Immediately saluted with
heavy fire, which told from the first.
"Their major fell with bullet in his
leg, but as he lay where he fell he lit n
pipe and smoked placidly while the ad-
vance continued. AS man after man
dropped supports were rushed into the
firing line, our men darting from cover
to cover, splendidly led and ever advanc-
ing.
Yet as ridge after ridge was won the
Highlanders still found new ridge CON
fronting them and thus they fought their
bleeding way until the final ridge was
neared, with nearly every officer down.
Then, slammng every available man
into the firing line, Manchesters, Devons
and Light Horse all mixed, with bugles
chanting the advance, bagpipes shrieking
and the battle confused surge, our men
swept forward, and the position was won.
Meanwhile squadrons Of lancers and
dragons Tapped round the Boer left
flank, catching the enemy as they retired
in disorder, gorng and stamping them to
pieces. And the commando was not"