Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-12-20
BODRS DEFEAT BUTLER
Another Severe Blow to British
in South Africa.
LOSE ELEVEN or THEIR BIG GUNS.

LOSE ELEVEN OF THEIR BIG GUNS.
General Butler Had Planned to Cross the
Tugeiu River but the Deadly Fire of the
Boer Forces Rendered Ii Impossible
and He Was Compelled to Withdraw
Belief Expressed That Joubert Will
Now Make Attack Upon Ladysmith.
London, Dec. 1S-General Butler has
met will Il very serious defeat. This
most sensational news was announced
from the war office about half an hour
after midnight in dispatch from the
British comma lder-in- chief himself. 4
General Butler says he moved in full
strength from the camp near Cheveley \
Friday morning at 4 o'clock. There
were, two fordable places in the Tu-.
gela, and it was his intention to force
passage through one of them. They
are about two miles away, and his OBJ
ject was to force one or the other with
one brigade, supported by the central
brigade. General Hart was to attack
the left drift and General Hildyard
the right road, and General Lyttleton
in the center to support either.
Gallant Attack by Hart.
Early in the day General Butler saw
that Hart would not be able to force
passage and he directed him to with
draw. He had, however, attacked
with great gallantry, and his leading
battalion, the Connaught rangers, suf-
fered a great deal. General Butler
then ordered General Hildyard to ad-
vance, which he did. and his leading
regiment coupled Colenso station and
the houses near the bridge. At that
moment General Butler heard that the
whole Of the artillery he had sent back
to that arm, namely, the Fourteenth
and SiXty-fifth field batteries and six
naval 12-pounder Quick-firing guns,
were out of action. 1t appeared that
Colonel Long, in his desire to be with
in effective range, advanced close to
the river, which proved to be full of
Beers, who suddenly opened CALLING
fire at close range, killing all Of their
horses, and the gunners were COM
PEELED to stand to their guns.
Boer Fire Too Severe.
Some of the wagon teams made shell
ter for the troops in donga, and q
desperate effort was made to bring
out the field guns, but the Boer fire
was too severe, and only two were
saved. OF eighteen horses thirteen
were killed, and as several of the driv-
ers were wounded, General Butler de-
cided not to allow another attempt,
as it seemed they would be a shell
; mark, sacrificing life to gallant at
tempt to force a passage across the
river unsupported by artillery. The
British general then directed the
troops to withdraw, which they did in
good order throughout the day. A
' considerable force of Beers pressed on
! the British flank, but were kept back
by the mounted men under Lord Dun
donald and part of General Baritone
J. brigade.
r Losses Are Heavy.
n The day was intensely hot and mos
. trying to the troops, whose conduct
was excellent. The British defeat was
e evidently most disastrous, as Genera
d Butler adds that he abandoned tel
!. guns and lost one by shell fire. Tht
!, losses in Harris brigade were heavy
though the proportion Of severed!
e wounded it is hoped, is not large. TIL,
J. Fourteenth and Sixty-sixth field bat
teries also suffered severe losses. A
: the conclusion of the battel the Brit
% ish retired to their camp at Cheveley
MAY NOW ATTACK LADYsMITH.
q Probable That Joubert Will Take Ad
4 vantage of Buller's Defeat.
q London, Dec. 1s.-The Beers ar,
= in better position to take Ladysmitl
= than ever before. The only way Bull
l. Ter can possibly come to Genera
y Whites assistance is over the Tugel,
n river. Even If he had the men ant
l. guns needed, the bridge is destroyed
|, and the Beers are in full control Of tn,
4. only fords. Joubert is now free to 8,
ahead and attack White without fea
Of interruption by Butler.
The Beers, being the attacking force
might not under ordinary circum
stances come out as well as when OF
q. the defensive, but with the doubl
inspiration of Dingaan's Verslagal
d day and the rout of Butler, added t
ot flush the Boer victories over Gatacr
and Methuen and the hope to captur
q the British stronghold and put an en-
:, to the war, they will probably go int
u the fight more sanguine than ever 1
the history of the Transvaal.
10 METHUEN is CHECKED.
p. Suffers Heavy Reserve at the Hands Of til
:, beers.
W Landau hoo 1S-T roviSad liot n