Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1899-11-08
Beers Win Complete Victory in the
Suburbs Of Ladysmith,
BRITISH LOSS GREAT
The Beers Capture Many Guns Of the
British, but Lose Themselves
lleayiy-Dcfeat II Crushing
BLOW TO England.

received a dispatch from General Whlte
commanding the British forces at Lady
smith reporting that the Royal Irish
fusileers, number 10 mountain bat
terry. and Gloucesterahire regiment were
surrounded in the hills by the Beers and
after losing heavily, were Obliged to ca
,pitulate.
The following is the text of General
Whites dispatch to the war Office;
'I.adysmith Oct 49, 1895 p. nj
have to report disaster to a column sent
by me 20 take n position on the hill lying
to tho left of troops In these operations
the Royal Irish fusileers. number 10
mountain battery, and the Gloucester
shire regiment were surrounded in the
hills and after losing heavily had to Ca
pitulate. The casualties have not vet
been ascertained. A man of the fusil-
,eers, employed as a hospital orderly,
came in under flag of truce with let
ter from the survivors OF the column
who asked for assistance to bury the
dead. fear there is no doubt of the
truth of the report, formed the plan
In the carrying out of which the disaster
occurred and alone am responsible for
the plan. There is no blame whatever
to troops rs their position was untena-
Bile"
A special dispatch from Ladysmith
says the Boers suffered severely during
the engagement; some p-rsons estlmat'
ing their loss at 800 to 1000 killed and
wounded.
While minor reverses were not wholly
unexpected, nothing like The staggering
blow General Joubert delivered to Gen.
Whites forces Monday were anticipated.
The full extent Of the disaster has not
yet been acknowledged, If it is known
at the war Office The loss of effective
mon must be appalling to General
White who is practically surrounded.
Two of The finest British regiments and
NJ ole battery deducted from the Lady
smith garrison, weakens it about fifth
,of it's total strength and alters the whole
situation very materially IN favor of the
beers who have again shown themselves
stern fighters and military stra re. lists of
no mean order, The disaster cost the
British from 800 to 5000 men and six
7-pound screw guns, and as the Boer ar
tillery is already stronger than imag.
lined, the capture OF these guns will be
~ crraat hahn tp the I2Oara
Further news must be awaited before
it is attempted to fix the blame where it
belongs. General White manrully ac-
cepts ell responsibility for the disaster,
(which apparently, at least, is partially
due TO the stampeding of the mules with
the gums.
From the list it can be seen that 40
officers were made prisoners, besides a
newspaper correspondent, J. Hyde.
Interest in the news is universal. per-
vading all classes and conditions of
London's populace. Newspaper extras
are eagerly read in business houses on
the streets and by women In carriages,
Then there was rush to the war office,
which by noon was surrounded with
pi vate carriages and hansoms, while
many humber people came on foot all
watching and waiting for the names
they held so dear
1t was learned by the Associated Press
that the war Office has orGered the Sec.
Ond army corps to be in readiness to be
called out Military officials have not
yet decided whether a contamination of
OF the plan will be necessary, but they
are determined to have everything in
readiness, either for denomination in
Europe, or to show GreGt Britain's ca
FATALITIES for sending an even larger
force to the scene of action, Until the
Tece pit of the news from the Ladysmith
disaster the latter course was consid-
cred out of the question. but now there
10 no knowing what steps will bs de-
cided upon
Never was the old saying. bad news
travels quickly" better exempted here
By noon gloom and bitter sorrow pre-
vailed throughout the British metrop-
obs AT the government offices no eff
ROIe was Hi"uo W SouOeai Vho ieeiHB VI
dismay prevailing. One official said to
a representative of the Associated
Press:
ut is inexplicable and l am sorry to
say the moral effect is inestimable. We
have LOST heavily in many wars and had
regiments almost wiped out. but to have
regiments captured, and by the Beers
it is terrible
An.ofiicial of the war Office said; '
The disaster is more likely due to a
craze of our younger officers to distin-
guisn themselves, 10 obtain mention in