The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-01

LONDON. Nov. IAN ominous curtain
has again descended upon affairs in Natal.
No dispatch, except the official kilograms
of General Sir Geo. Stewart White, telling
OF the loss by capture of two regiments
and a battery. has thus far been permitted
to mention the disaster and no telegram
from Ladysmith has been received in Lon
don since the advices from the British COM
communications have already been cut, in
which event some time must elapse before
details regarding British losses are received.
II the War Office officials have received in
formation on this point they have refrained
from publishing It.
General Whites estimate that the British
losses were about ninety is evidently quite
separate from the probable losses in killed
and wounded among the captured battalions.
On this point there is the greatest suspense
among the relatives of the prisoners. 1t Is
supposed the stampeding OF mules meant
the carrying away of the reserves of am
munition and that the troops capitulated
after firing the rounds which each man car
ried.
Dispatches received before General
Whites reports were given out indicated
the Beers were closing in on the beleaguered
British force at Ladysmith. One dispatch
from Cape Town. dated 1880 o'clock yes
terday afternoon. said: The South African
News publishes the following from Lady
smith: "a battle is proceeding at the foot
Of Umbanbane, a few miles from Lady
smith. Several shells have dropped into the
town."
LOSSES OF THE BOERS.
special dispatch from Ladysmith re-
ceived here sail the Beers suffered severely
during Mondays engagement. some persons
estimating their loss at nine hundred to one
thousand killed and wounded. The legisla-
tive building at Durham has been trans
formed into a hospital for the Boer and
British wounded. who will be treated alike.
Reports are current in London that Gen.
White may retire to Pietermaritzburg while
the railroad is intact. There is no diverg-
ence of opinion in military circles as to the
advisabilty of such step.
In the absence of news the morning pa
pers are reduced to speculation as to how
the disaster occurred. The general opinion
is that misuse OF the cavalry was the real
reason for the fall into the Boer trap. Ap-
parently there was no cavalry TO watch over
the safety OF the missing column. The
Morning Post. pointing out how near the
British were to "a still greater disaster 81
says: In capturing the column the Beers
also had the Devonshire regiment practical
ly at their mercy. and little more daring
would have made a bad business much
worse, and. seeing that force strong
enough to scoop up a couple Of infantry
battalions could have put itself practically
between Sir George White and his camp
We may be very thankful that things to-
day are not more serious than they are
The lesson has been severe one. 1t is hu
initiating TO find a nation OF farmers beat
Ing soldiers at their own game but the
sooner proper respect is had for Boel
strategy and tactics. the better for oul
forces in Natal"
AT WHATEVER COST.
This SOLDERING note is struck by all tn
morning papers to-day. together with ex
pressions of a determination to carry tn
matter through at whatever cost.
The Daily Chronicle. referring EDITORIAL,
10 the situation. says: In view of tn
patent failure OF the campaign and the ter
Tible humiliation OF the British army. W
can only vaguely hope that Sir Georg
White. In the hard days that lie before him
may be able TO hold Ladysmith. Retrea
would be an undertaking which the imaR
inaIion fails 10 grasp. II this war is 20 b
a war of vengeance We shall have 10 wip
out a disaster before which the memory Q
Msjuba fades away. The empire is face I
face with a repuise comparable only 10 IN
surrender OF Burgoyne 10 the embattle
farmers OF our American colonies. II tn