Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-11-08
VICTORY FOR BoERs.
Two British Regiments and Guns Cap
}tured in q Fierce Battle-Re-
port of Gen. White.

London, Nov. 1.-The war office has
received dispatch from Gen. White,
commanding the British forces at
Ladysmith, reporting that the Royal
Irish fusileers, No. 10 mountain battery
and the Gloucestershire regiment were
surrounded in the hills by the Beers
and, after losing heavily, obliged to-
capitulate. 1t Was reported that the
Beers suffered severely during the en-
gagement, some persons estimating
their loss at 900 to 1000 killed and
wounded.
London, Nov. 2.-The British war
office wednesday made public dis
patch received from Gen. White, de-
scribing the operations of Monday. 1t
was as follows:
"Ladysmith. Oct. g. - Took out from
Ladysmlth a brigade Of mounted troops.
two brigade divisions of the Royal artil-
lery, the Natal field battery and two brig
AIDES OF infantry. to reconnoiter in force the
enemy's main position to the north and, If
the opportunity should offer, to capture the
hill behind Farquarhar's farm, which had,
on the previous day, been held in strength
py the enemy. In connection with this ad-
vance column, consisting of the Tenth
mountain artillery, four half companies of
the Gloucesters and six companies of the
Royal Irish fusileers, the whole under
Lieut.. Col. Carlton and Maj. Adye, deputy
assistant adjutant general, was dispatched
at II p. m. on the 29th, to march by night
up Bells spruit and seize Nichoson's Mex
or some position near Nicholson's Mex,
thus turning the enemy's right flank.
The main advance was successfully car
ried out the objective of the attack being
found evacuated. and an artillery duel be-
tween our field batteries and the enemy's
guns of the position and maxims is under
stood to have caused heavy loss to the
enemy. The reconnaissance forced the
enemy to fully disclose his position and,
after strong counter-attack on our right,
the infantry brigade and cavalry had been
repulsed, the troops were slowly with
drawn to camp, pickets being left on OBJ
servation Late in the engagement the
naval contingent, under Capt Lambton, of
II. M. S. Powerful, came into action and ST.
fenced, with their extremely accurate fire,
the enemy's guns Of position.
The circumstances which attended the
movements of Lieut.. Col. Cartons COL
umn are not yet fully known, but from re-
ports received the column appears to have
carried out the night march unmolested,
until within two miles of Nicholson's Mex
At this point two powders rolled from the
hill and few rifle shots stampeded the in
spread to the battery mules, which broke
loose from their leaders and got away with
practically the whole Of the gun equipment
and the greater portion Of the regimental
small-arm ammunition.
'The reserve was similarly lost.
1.-THE infantry battalions, however, fixed
bayonets and. accompanied by the person
mel of the artillery, seized hill on the left
of the road, two miles from the Mex, with
but little opposition. There they remained
unmolested till dawn, the time being oc-
cupied in organizing the defense of the hill
and constructing stone sangars and walls
as cover from fire. At dawn skirmishing
attack on our position was commenced by
the enemy. but made no way until $50 a.
m, when strong reenforcements ena bled
them to rush to the attack with great en-
ergy. Their fire became very searching and
two companies of the Gloucesters in an
advance position were ordered to fall back
The enemy then pressed to short range.
the losses on our side becoming very
numerous.
"At three p. m. our ammunition was prac-
tically exhausted, the position was cap
tured and the survivors of the column fell
into the enemy's hands. The enemy treat
ed our wounded with humanity, Gen.
Joubert at once dispatching letter to me,
offering a safe conduct to doctors and am
balances to remove the wounded. A med
ical officer and parties to render first aid
to the wounded were dispatched to the
scene of action from Ladysmith Tuesday
night, and the ambulance at dawn
Wednesday morning.
THE want of success of the column was
due to the misfortune of the mules STAN
peding and the consequent loss of the guns
and small-arm ammunition reserve.
The official list of casualties and pris-
oners will be reported shortly. The latter
are understood to have been sent by rail to
Pretoria.
The security of Ladysmith is in no way
affected"
The concluding sentence of Gen.
Whites dispatch, relating to the safety
of Ladysmith, was received here with
certain reserve, in view of the fact
that similar official assurances were
given recently at Dundee and Glencoe,
and there is intense anxiety for further
news of the reported renewed attack,
which is not mentioned in the official
dispatches.