The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1899-11-09
DOERS' BIG VICTORY.
The British. Forces Led Into a
Gigantic Trap.
DEAD AND WOUNDED.
Repetition OF Mrjuba Hill Disast"r-The
E"y"i Irish Fu.iieers, n Mountain Bat
t-ty and tho Gloucesterrhire Regiment
Aft"r sufi-ripe Heavy Losses in Killed
and Wounded, surrender.

London, (Dy Cable. )-General Joubert
conmander-in-chief of the Boer army, has
completely outgeneraled General White,
commander Of the British forces In Natal,
and inflicted n crushing blow upon the
British at Ladysmlth. History repeats IT.
self. and the disaster which has overtaken
the British is repetition OF Majuba Hill,
though on larger scale.
In a movement ordered by General White,
with view to protecting the left flank OF
his forces, the Royal Irish Fusileers. noun
tain battery and the Worcestershire Regi-
mcnt was surrounded by the Beers. They
fought desperately, n large number were
killed ard wounded and forty-two officers
and all the rest OF the force OF 800 to 1000
men were taken prisoners.
The disaster also cost the British six
seven-pound guns, which will be OF great
help to the Beers In field operations.
It Is reported that the Beers also lost
heavily, some estimates placing their loss at
over nine hundred in killed and wounded,
but these reports are not confirmed.
General Joubert continued to press the
advantage he had gained. There was fierce
lighting Mt Umbanene, n few miles from
Ladysmith, and several shells crashed into
the town, setting houses on fire. The Beers
reoccupied the old position held by their
heavy artillery. which General White re-
ported as having been silenced by the guns
of the naval brigade from the Powerful.
The bombardment of the town and the
steady, strong advance OF the Boer forces
numbering over 10000, will likely force Cen
eral White to evacuate and retreat, and It Is
feared that even overwhelming defeat and
ruin may befall the entire British army in
Natal.
Censored dispatches from Ladysmith re-
port that the Beers are closing in, and that
the situation Is one of grave anxiety. One
despatch says:
beyond doubt the Boer retirement was
ruse to draw General White into the hilly
country and away from the British camp"
This last sentence is significant, and con-
firms the opinion of military experts here
that General White is allowing himself to
be outgencraled by Commandnnt General
Joubert.
From the scanty advices received 1t ap-
pears that the two regiments were allowed
to march into trap set for them by the
Beers. 1t Is simply case OF the Boer spider
aud the guileless British fly. In fact, the
whole engagement OF Monday seems to have
been brought on by CommGndant General
Joubert, who skilfully conceived gigantic
trap, out OF which, as the official despatch
shows, Sir George White only escaped with
difficulty.
General White advanced with the idea Of
driving the Beers from the hill seven miles
out, which General Joubert made an osteL-
tatious show OF fortifying.
The Boer commander lefta force sufficient
to draw General White on, while the mass Of
the Beers he moved stealthiiy round tue
British right, to deliver flank attack and to
endeayor to cut off General White from
Ladysmith. The British commander su, =
ceeded in beating Off the attack, but only
with great difficulty, and during the turl.-
ing movement his troops suffered from a
danking fire.
Harsh things are said in military circles Of
the British tactics, which have made possible
the ambush OF the Eighteenth Hussars at
Glencoe, and now the loss OF two fine regi-
ments. 1t is feared that Sir George White Is
no match for the Beers In that cunning by
which Boer tactics are conceived, and 1t Is
pointed out that II the British commanders
continue to lead their men in obvious traps,
further disasters must be looked for