The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-10-27
sYMONS FIGHT AT GLENCOE
Was Not Anything Like the Glow
ing Victory at First
Alleged.
INTENSE ANXIETY FOR NEWS.
General Outline of Battles Fought,
Killed, Wounded and Prls-
oncrs Taken.

LONDON, oct. 2O.-The dispatches
from the front are so diversified and
contradictory that it is difficult to out
line the situation with any degree Of
precision. Three or four main facts.
however, stand out prominently. Gen.
symons' fight at Glencoe was not any
thing like the decisive victory at first
alleged, and Gen. Yule would in all
probability have been annIhllated or
have met with the same fate as the
captured Hussars II he had not re-
treated.
General Whites artillery duel" at
RIetfonteIn was a very severe engage
ment in which the rifle did great execu-
ton and which success was only
achieved at distressing cost. The
bombardment of Mafeking has COM
menced, with unknown result, and the
Beers have got their Hussar prisoners
safely to Pretoria.
Altogether the campaign Is being
pushed by the Beers SO strenuously and
on such sound strateglcal lines that the
situation OF the British must in oil
probability give them cause for deep
anxiety for some time to come.
1t is dISlcult to see how the concen-
trated force at Ladysmlth will be able
to take the aggressive Immediately.
Apart from the fatigue, regiments like
the Gordon Hlghlanders and Royal
Rifles have been practically without
officers since the fights, and 1876 nddl-
tIonal officers have been ordered to
leave England as speedily as possible.
An official British account Of the
fighting at Rtetfontein, given out at
Cape Town, says: "The enemy posted
battery two miles South OF Modder-
spruit and opened with infantry fire at
long range on the British advance
guard, consisting of the Nineteenth
Hussars. This was followed by artll-
lery FIRE directed with considerable ac-
curacy against the British guns. An
action lasting six hours ensued at RIet-
fonteln farm. The enemy were driven
from the hills commanding the roads.
Sir George Whites object being accom-
pllshed, the column returned to Lady.
smith. The enemy is believed to have
suffered. Several Beers own officially
that they lost over 100 killed at Eland-
SlaaGte. Three hundred prisoners
wounded and unwoundcd are In the
hands of the British, Including several
OF high position. The Transvaal force
defeated at ElandsIaagte was the Jo-
hannesburE corps"
othcr Accounts
Other accounts dwell on the severity
OF the rifle FIRE at Rletfontein. They
say that when the Beers finally re-
treated the Lancers cut them of from
their horses and indicted severe loss on
them. The retreat. It is added, ended
in a general rout.
1t is announced in dispatch from
Ladysmith, dated October %, that
strong reinforcements of infantry and
artillery have arrived there from Pie
termarItzburg.
It was also reported that the Beers
were again massIng near Elandslaagte
and that Free State force, several
thousand strong, was occupying Bes-
ters station.
AdvIces from Cape Town to-day show
the assembly at Putiatsu river was at
tended by all the principal BNsuto
chiefs. The resident commissioner, Sir
Godfrey Lagden, was present.
The action OF the paramount chief
LerothodI in pledgIng the nations 10y
atty was entphaticaily confirmed by the
chiefs, urging the claim that they be
regarded az the queens soldiers and be
allowed to share In Great BrItaIn's
struggle. Three cheers were given for
The queen by the thousands Of natives,
led by LcrothodI. The British commits
sIoner discouraged the idea that the
British required assistance and bade
Inc chiefs quell excitement and beware
OF false reports. There is little news
from the western border The Gordon
around Kimberley Ia drawing closer.
but hopes are expressed that flying
SQUADRON viii shortly be sent to lts re-
lief.
The Bocrs have occupied WIndsorton.
an unprotected town. The magistrate
with the consent Of the Inhabitants,
surrendered on demand. conditional
upon the lives and properties Of the
people being respected. 1t is alleged,
however. that the Beers refused to re.
spcct the property Of absentecs. There
Is Intense anxiety for further news
from Mafcking, where 1t is believed n
number OF the officers who were sup
posed to be on furlough Joined Colonel
Baden Powell. The Portuguese author
tiles have reconducted over the Trans
Vaal border 800 white and black prison.
ers whom the Beers released from their
lalIS and turned loose in Portuguese
territory.
h . -.