The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1899-12-21
The south African War.
Gen. Butler reports serious defeat,
December 18th, as follows:

December 18th, as follows:
81 regret to report a serious reverse.
/ moved in full strength from our camp
near hievley at 4 O'clock, Friday morn
ing. There are two fordable places in
the Tugea river and it was my inten-
ton to force passage through one of
them. They are about two miles apart.
MY intention was to force one or the
other with one brigade, supported by a
central brigade. Gen. Hart was to at
tack the left drift, Gen. Hildyard the
light road and Gen. Lyttleton was to
take the centre and to support either.
Early in the day l saw that Gen. Hart
would not be able to force a passage;
and | directed him to withdraw. he
had, however, attacked with great gal
lantry and his leading battalion, the
Connaught Rangers, l fear suffered a
great deal Col. |. q. Brooke was seri-
ousy wounded.
II then ordered Gen. Hildyard to ad
vance which he did, and his leading
regiment, the East Surray, occupied
olenso station and the houses near the
bridge. At that moment | heard that
The whole artillery had sent 10 support
the attack-the 14th and 10Th field bat
teres and six naval II FOUNDER quick
firers-under Col. Long, had advanced
close to the river in Longs desire to be
within effective range. 1t proved to be
full of the enemy who suddenly opened
a CALLING fire at close range, killing all
their horses ana the gunners were COM
PEELED 10 stand to their guns. some of
the wagon teams got shelter Tor the
troops in donga and desperate efforts
were made to bring out the field guns.
The fire, however, was too severe and
only two were saved by Captain Scho-
field and some drivers
"Another most gallant attempt with
three teams was made by an officer. OF
the IS horses Is were killed and as sew.
eral drivers were wounded, | would not
allow another attempt, as it seemed
they would be shell mark, sacrificing
life to a gallant attempt to force the
passage.
Unsupported by artillery, l directed
the troops to withdraw which they did
in good order.
"Throughout the day considerable
force of the enemy was pressing on my
right flank, but was kept back by
mounted men under Lord Dundonald
and part of General Barton's brigade.
The day was intensely hot and most try
ing to the troops, whose conduct was
excellent.
1--WE have abandoned ten guns and
lost by she'll fire one. The losses in
Gen. Hunts brigade are, l fear, heavy,
although the proportion of severely
wounded is, hope, not large.
The fourteenth and sixty eighth field
batteries also suffered severe losses.
" g have retired to our camp at Chiev-
ley"
AS result of the British reverses the
whole country to the northward is vir-
tually in state of rebellion. The ma
tives there as well as those in Basuto
land, are said to be much disturbed and
to be losing heart regarding the strength
of the British
The revised list of the British casual
ties at the battle of Magersfontein shows
the total to be 963, of which 10 were Off
GERS "The Black Watch" was the
heaviest sufferers. Of the rank and file
AZ we're killed, 1872 were wounded and
l IL are missing.
Gen. Butler reports to the war office
that his losses in Fridays engagement
were: Killed, 81; wounded, 667; miss
ing, 348; total of 1897.
The imperial government has accept.
ed the offer to the Dominion govern
ment to send second contingent to the
Transvaal. The minister of militia in
making the announcement said that
while it is not specified in the cable
what is required the contingent will
likely be largely made up of cavalry and
artillery. The contingent will be sent
without delay. The cabinet is consid-
ering the matter.
Gen. Lord Roberts and his staff will
sail for South Africa on the Dunottar
Castle, Saturday.
ished revised list of the casualties in
the battle of Magersfontein, giving 81
additional killed.
Baron Roberts of Kandahar and Wa
terford, commander of the forces in
Ireland, has been appointed to the chief
command in south Africa, with Gen.
Lord Kitchner of Khartoum, as his
chief of staff.
Gataere has removed his troops and
stores to Starksroom from Putters
kraal. French has established head
quarters at Arundel.
"Black week." as last week is now
universally called at London, has evil
IDENTITY aroused the government and the
war office to full sense of their respon-
sibility and of the magnitude of the task
before them. The papers unanimously
applaud this awakening, despite the fact
that they recognize that the heroic
measures now decided upon SAVIOR rather
of weakness than strength.
1t was high time that something very
energetic was done. The British losses
in killed, wounded, prisoners and miss
ing through the campaign, now reaches
the enormous total of 1880.
The tragic circumstances of the APP
pointment of Lord Roberts almost sim
ultaneously with the announcement of
the death of his promising son, who was
one of the Tagula river victims, excite
the deepest sympathy.
1t is thought that many more Cape
Dutch than at first supposed have al
ready joined the Transvaalers Some
estimate that Gen. Joubert has at least
100000 men. A more conservative es-
innate places his force at $4,000.
The Philippines.