Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-11-02
TRAPPED BY Beers.
Terrible Disaster to the British
Force at Ladysmith.
TWO WHOLE REGIMENTS CAPTURED.
Gloom Prevails In Gloucestcrshire anu INC
North Of Ireland-Large Reinforce
ments to he Sent to the Brit
tsh Army in South Africa.

London. Nov. IAN ominous curtain
has again descended upon affairs In
Natal. No dispatch except the official
kilograms of Gen. Sir George stewart
White has thus far been permitted TO
mention the disaster Of the capture oy
ne Boers of 1900 to 1900 men and SIX
screw guns, and no telegram from
Ladysmith has been received in Lon
don since the advices from the British
commander. This gives rise to a BELIEF
that communications have already been
cut in which event some time must
elapse before details regarding British
losses are received.
The Daily Chronicle, referring eol'
torially to the situation, says;
Ia the patent failure Of the campaign and tne
terrible humiliation OF the British army we Gun
cn,v vaguely hope that Sir George White, IN
the hard DAYS that lie before him, may 90 apie
~ mia Ladysmith. Retreat would be on un-
dertakink which the imagination iaiis 70 erasp
II this war Is to be war OF vengeance We snal
have TO wipe out q disaster before wh'cn 'nc
memory OF Majuba fades away. me empire 10
face to face with q repulse comparable only 70
me surrender Of Burgoyne to the embattled
farmers OF our American colonies. II the catas-
tronhe calls forth something better than music
hall patriotsm we may come 70 reckon " III
timely lesson well earned for the good OF our
souls !,
There is no general desire evinced
on the part Of the morning papers to
criticise Sir George White harshly
pending the arrival Of further details
On the contrary the disposition is to
admire his manly courage in assuming
full responsibility.
The disaster has caused a feeling
akin to CONSERVATION, and in Glouces-
tershire and the north OF Ireland
where the captured regiments were re-
cruited. the blacklist gloom prevails,
families awaiting with beating hearts
the names Of the killed and wounded,
which are fully expected to reach a
hirh figure Public anxiety was in
creased by a special dispatch from
Ladysmith published in the late edi-
tons Of the London afternoon papers
to the effect that before darkness Mon
day the Beers reoccupied the old posi-
ton held by their heavy artillery,
which Gen. White had reported
silenced by the guns OF the naval
brigade from the Powerful, and had
opened fire again. From the scant ad-
vices received up to II p. m. it seems
tolerably certain that the disaster was
q simple repetition Of the battle OF
Maiuba hill, though on large scale
The two regiments were allowed t6
march into trap set for them by the
Beers. 1t Is simply case OF the Boe'
spider and the guileless British fly.
About 5000 fresh troops will arrive
at Cape Town on Sunday next from
England and will be available to rein
force Sir George White. Transports
will arrive there daily until by thu
end Of next week $4,000 troops viii
have been landed in South Africa
These men are intended for Gen. 81
Redyers Buffers army, but they vii
undoubtedly be detached to Natal !
the situation there should become per
ilous. The British army will eventual
ly reach the huge total Of S9,6S4, o
which 50, e34 will be regulars and tn
other 10000 miscellaneous, but excel
lent colonial troops.