Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-12-11
BRITISH REVERSE
General Gatacre Meets a Disastrous
Defeat By Beers in Northern
Cape Colony
BRITISH MISLED BY GUIDES
Slump in Oonsols at London Stock Ex,
change-Feared That Boer Victory Will
Set Ahame An Insurrection in
Cape Colony.

London, December 1.-THE British
forces in South Africa have met sig
nal defeat. This sensational news was
officially announced from the war office
at midnight, General Gatacre admitting
that he met serious reverse in an at
tack yesterday morning on, Stormberg,
in northern Cape Cnlory@ The British
general says he was misled by guides as
to the Boer position, and found i'm
practicable ground" Apparently he was
caught in an ambush, as his casualties
as at present known are alarming. The
numbers of dead and wounded cannot
be considered excessive in the circum-
stances, but the enormous numbers re-
ported missing suggest the engagement
must not have been unlike that of Mich
olson's Mex, when General White lost
so heavily.
General Methuen's army is known to
have been heavily re-enforced at the
Modder river with infantry, cavalry and
artillery, while General Wauchope's S
Highland brigade largely increased the
number of bayonets available for 'front.'
al attacks The necessity of this costly
method Of warfare has been obvated
by the presence of a full brigade of cav
airy commanded by General Darlington.
General Buffers admirers laugh at the
idea that he will attempt to force the
passage of the river at the point where
the Beers are strongest. They assert
that he will mask that crossing with
heavy artillery as soon as the Howitz-
ers are sent up from Durham, but the
main body Of the army will go over
higher up, after feint made lower
down, and the enemy's position will be
turned, Ladysmith relieved, and the re-
treat of the Free Staters to the noun
tain passes cut off
London. December 11.-Later details
regarding the disaster to General Cat,
acres column show that but for the
magnificent work of the British artil-
lery the disaster would have been far
more extensive, as an incessant Boer
fire in their midst repulsed the infantry
and ultimately led to disorder which
only escaped developing into a rout
through the batteries of the artillery oc-
cupying successive positions covering
the retreat, thus drawing a portion OF
the Beers CALLING fire.
Apparently the British We're set an
impossible task, and were treacherousl, :,
guided. After a trying march, being un-
der arms sixteen hours, they attacked
the wrong part of the Boer position
where the hill was impregnable and the
burghers were estimated to number
5000 instead of $780, as spies reported
There is little. in the story to mitigate
the intense humiliation caused by the
episode, which was almost the exac1
counterpart of the battle at Nicholson's
Mex. The war office was besieged Witf
anxious relatives, but they secured nj
information there. The affair has causet
most depressing influence everywhere
not excepting the stock exchange
where consols went the lowest in many
years, and South African securities
slumped not so much on account of tn
military reverse, which is retrievable
but owing to profound apprehension al
to the political effect. No great surpris'
would now be felt if General Gatacre
reverse resulted in Cape Colony becom
ing afame from end to end.