New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-02

BRITISH GENERALS OFFICIAL REPORT
OF MONDAYS OPERATIONS.

London, Nov 1.-The British War Office to-
day made public Il dispatch received from Gen
eial White describing the operations on Monday.
1t was follows;
, Ladysmiih. oct. 81. 7:2O p. nj took out
from LaaNsmlth a brigade OF mounted troops,
TWO brigade divisions of The ROYAL Artillery, the
Nalai fi'ld Battery and two hrigadcs Of in
iantry, to reconnOtIe in force the enernv's main
position to the north. and. if the opportunity
Should oiicr, TO capture the hill behind Far
quharS Farm, which had on the previous day
neen held In strength by the enemy In con-
h.cuoh win this advance. column consisting
or the lvth Mountain Artillery. four half COM
lahles of the Gloucestcrs and six companies of
the Royal Irish Fusilicrs the whole under
lluet"nant Colonel Carleton and Major Adye,
Deputy Assistant Adjutant General. was dis
nght UP Bells Spruit and seize Nicholson s
Mex or some position near Nichols0n's Mex
thus turning the cncmys right flank.
Inc main advance was successfully carried
out the objective Of the attack being found
evacuated. and an artillery duel between our
heil batteries and the enemys guns of position
and MaXims is understood TO have caused heavy
loss 10 the enemy. The reconnaissance forced
the enemy TO fully disclose his position and
after strong counter attack on our right the
infantry brigade ana cavalry had been ropulscd.
'he troops Were slowly Withdrawn 10 camp.
pickets being left o. observation. Late in the
engagement the naval contingent, under Cap
tain Lambton. Of II NJ. :. Powerful. came into
"cN"h ana slenced with their extremely ac-
curate fire the cnemys guns Of position.
The circumstances which attended the move
menis OF Lieutenant Colonel Carleton's column
are not yet fully known but from reports rc-
ceiNed the column appeared To have carried out
lhe hlEnt march unmolested until within two
miles Of Nicholsons Nck At this point two
powders rolled from the hill. and a few rifle
shots stampedcd the infantry ammunition mules
Inc stampede spread 10 the battery mules
which broke loose from their leaders and got
away with pra tiCallv the whole Of the gun
equipment and the greater portion Of the rogi-
mental small arm ammunition The reserve
was similarly lost;
The infantry battalions. however fixed havo-
nets and. accompanied by the personnel of the
artillery. seized hill on the left of the road two
miles from the Mex with hut little opposition.
There they remained unmoested till dawn the
time being occupied In organizing the defence
of the hill and constructing stone sangars and
walls as cover from fire. At dawn a skruish-
ing attack on our position WAS begun by the
enemy but made no way until $3.50 a. m when
strong rcinforcements enabled them to rush to
the attack with great energy. Their fire became
Very searching and two companies Of the
GlOucesters in an advance position were ordered
range. the losses ON our side becoming very
numerous.
At > j. m our ammunition was practically cx-
hausted the position was captured and the sur
vivcrs Of the column fell into the cnemys hands
The enemy treated our wounded with humanity
General Joubert at once dispatchng a letter to
me offering a safe conduct 10 doctors and am
balances TO remove the wounded. 4 medical
wounded were dispatched to the scene Of action
from Ladysmith last night and the ambulance
at dawn this morning.
The want Of success of The column was due
70 the misfortune Of the mules stampcding and
the consequent loss Of the guns and small arm
ammunition and the reserve.
The official list Of casualties and prisoners will
he reported shortly The latter are understood
10 have been sent by rail to Pretoria.
Tie security Of Ladysmith is in no way af-
fected