The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1899-12-21
The British War Office Receives
Intelligence of Another De-
feat in South AfJica.
THEY LOST ELEvtN OF THEIR GUNS.
A Sharp Engagement Took Place at
Chievely Camp in Which the Beers
Had the Best of It.
Gen. Butler Was Attempting to Cross
the Tugela Riyer-Erindi 1t
Impossible He Ordered q
Retirement.

TeccINeu u ulSpdtCn announcing Iudt
Gen. Butler has met with serious
reverse, losing ten guns.
Gen. Butler was attempting to cross
the Tugela river. Finding it impossi-
BILE to effect his object he ordered
retirement in order to avoid greater
losses. He left II guns behind.
The following is the text of Gen.
Buffers dispatch, announcing his re-
verse:
"Buller to Lansdowne, Chievely
Camp, Dec. IS, 6:2O p. MI regret to
report a serious reverse. I moved in
full strength from our camp near
Chievely at A o'clock this morning.
There are two fordable places in the
Tugela river, and it was my intention
to force a passage through at one of
them. They are about two miles apart.
MY intention was to force one or
the other with one brigade, supported
by a central brigade. Gen. Hart was
to attack the left drift, Gen. Hildyard
the right road and Gen. Lytleton was
to take the center and to support
either. Early in the day saw that
Gen. Hart would not be able to force
a passage, and / directed him to with
draw. He had, however, attacked with
great gallantry, and his leading bat
talon, the Connaught Rangers, fear
suffered great deal. Col. l. G. Brooke
was seriously wounded
II then ordered Gen. Hildyard to
advance, which he did, his leading
regiment, the East Surrey, occupied
Colenso Station and the houses near
the bridge. At that moment 1 heard
that the whole artillery 1 had sent to
support the attack, the 14th and 66th
field batteries and six naval 12-pound-
er quick-firers, under Col Long, had
advanced close to the river in Longs
desire to be within effective range.
It proved to be full of the enemy,
who suddenly opened a calling fire at
close range, killing all their horses,
| and the gunners were compelled to
stand to their guns. Some of the
wagon teams got shelter for troops in
p donga and desperate efforts were
being made to bring out the field
| guns.
"The fire, however, was too severe
and only two We're saved by Capt.
Schofield and some drivers whose
names l will furnish.
another most gallant attempt with
! three teams was made by an officer
whose name l will obtain. OF the IS
! horses 13 were killed. and as several
drivers were wounded, would not al
low another attempt, as it seemed
that they would be shell mark, sac
rificing life to gallant attempt to
force the passage. Unsupported by ar
tillery | directed the troops to with
draw, which they did in good order.
''Throughout the day considerable
force of the enemy was pressing onmy
right flank, but it was kept back by
mounted men under Lord Dundonald
and part of Gen. Barton's brigade
The day was intensely hot and most
trying on the troops. whose conduct
was excellent. We have abandoned 1C
guns and lost by shell fire 1. The losses
in Gen. Hart's brigade, l fear, are
heavy, although the proportion of Sc.
verely wounded, ! hope, is not large
The 14th and 66th field batteries alsC
suffered severe losses. We have retired
to our camp at Chievely."
London, Dec. 17.-As might have
been expected, the desperate state OF
the British arms in South Africa, as
revealed by the defeat of Gen. Bull
Ter at Tugela river, where at one
stroke he lost treble the number OF
guns Wellington left in the hands OF
Napoleon during the six years fight
ing in the Peninsula, while adding
to the determination of the author
tiles to send every available man tc
the front, caused something in the
nature of momentary panic among
the public.
The Evening Standard declares the
situation calls for all the equanimity
determination and perseverance OF
the empire, and demands the immedi
ate calling out of all the volunteers
The Star urges the communicating
"of all the great English Atlantic lin
ers for the transportation of rein
forcements." and says the country
must ''set herself the task of pluck
ing victory out of defeat"
Queen Victoria was greatly con
cerned about the latest reverse. The
commander-in-chief Lord WolSeley
was at Windsor Castle when the new.
arrived, and he took special trair
back to London.
The revised list of the British casu
alties at the battle of Magersfonteir
shows the total to be 963, of which
number 70 were officers.
Refused to Sign Enlistment Articles
Vallejo, CAL, Dec. 15,-SiNty re
cruits of the United States ship Hart
ford have refused to sign articles o
enlistment, because as they claim, tn,
government charges them with tn,
cost of their uniforms and clothes
Trap and Wing Shot Dead.
Beloit, Wis, Dec. 16.-John A. Ruble
famous as trap and wing shot, wh'
has participated in all great shotgun
contests of the country, died Friday