Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-16

vance, which he did, and his leading
regiment, the East Surrey, occupied
Colenso station and the houses near
| The bridge
AT that moment I heard that the
whole artillery | had sent to support
the attack--the fourteenth and sixty
sixth field batteries and six naval
twelve-pounder quckhrers, 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.
and the gunners were compelled to
stand to their guns. Some Of the wa
gon teams got shelter for troops In a
donga and desperate efforts were being
made TO bring out the field guns.
THE fire, however, was too severe
and only two were saved by Capt.
Scholneld and some drivers whose
names ] will furnish.
Another most gallant attempt with
three teams was made by an officer
whose name | viii obtain. OF the
eighteen horses thirteen were killed
and as several drivers were wounded
It seemed that they would be a shell
mark. sacrificing life to a gallant at
tempt 10 force the passage UnsuD-
ported by artillery, directed the troops
10 withdraw, which they did in good
order
Throughout the day a considerable
force Of the enemy was pressing on my
right flank, but was kept back by
4 .ul
and part Of Gen. Barton's brigade The
day was intensely hot and most try
Ing on the troops, whose conduct was
excellent
We have abandoned ten guns and
lost by shell fire one. The losses In Gen.
Harris brigade are, | fear, very heavy,
although the proportion Of severely
wounded / hope, II not large, The
fourteenth and sixty-sixth field bat
teries also suffered severe losses. We
have retired to our camp at Chieveley."
The news OF Gen. Buffers reverse
was received so late that newspaper
comment this morning is confined to
perfunctory expressions Of extreme re-
greet and disappointment, and Of the
necessity Of calmness and redoubled ef-
forts TO retrieve the position This lat
cts check is regarded as the most seri-
Gus event In Great Brltain's military
history since the Indian mutlny.
The Standard says: Gen, Buffers
dispatch is deplorabe reading. 1t is
the now familiar story Of concealed
Beers and Of British troops marching
up blindly almost TO the very muzzles
Of the enemy's rifles. II cannot be
doubted that the moral effect viii be
10 aggravate our difficulties over the
whole field Of operations, The country
has discovered with annoyance and
surprise that subdulng Boer farmers is
about the hardest work We have en-
tered upon since the Indian mutiny.
Their commandments have shown them
selves able to give our generals useful,
but expensive lessons In modern tao
ties"
The Times says: "Since the day OF
the Indian mutiny the nation has not
been confronted with so painful and
anxious situation. Plainly Cen Bull
ler's advance is paralyzed for the mo-
ment, as completely as Lord Methuen's
and Gen. Gatacre's."
The depression over the defeat OF |
Great Britain's trusted and idolized |
is all the greater as, dur |
ing the last forty-eight hours. there |
had been reports Of the relief OF Lady |
smith. Yesterday the war office al