The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-12-16
STILL ANOTHER DEFEAT
For the British Troops in the South
African Campaign.
THE BOERs CAPTURE TEN GUNS
And Destroy Another by shell Firr.
Britons TRIED 60 Cross TuReIR river.
Hut Were Compelled 60 Abandon
the Afteu,ut After UeaNv Iosg

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Britons TRIED 60 Cross TuRein River,
Hut Were Compelled 60 Abandon
the Attempt Aftcr Heavy Loss.
London. Dec. l6.-The war Office has
received a dispatch announcing that
General Butler has met with a serious
reverse, losing eleven guns. General
Butler was attempting to cross the
Tugela river Finding e impossible
to effect his object. he ordered a re-
tirement In order to avoid greater
losses. leaving the guns behind
Following is the text of General
Buffers dispatch announcing his re-
verse. dated Chieveley camp. Dec 10:
81 regret TO report a serious reverse.
I moved In fun strength from our
camp, near Chieveley. at 4 o'clock this
morning There are two fordable
places in the iugela river, and II was
my intention to Iorce 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. General Hart
was to attack the left DRIFT. General
Hildyard the right road and General
Lyttleton was to take the center and
TO support either.
EARLY I'm the day saw that Cen
eral 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 battal-
ion, the ConnaugLt Rangers. fear.
suffered a great deal Colonel I. c.
Brooke was seriously wounded.
81 then ordered General Hildyard
TO advance, which he did. and his lead
ing regiment the East Surrey. occu-
pied Colenso station and the houses
near the bridge
AT that moment ! heard that the
whole artillery l mad sent to support
the attack-the Fourteenth and Sixty
sixth field batteries and six naval 70
FOUNDER quick firers-under Colonel
Long. had advanced close to the river
in Longs desire to be within effective
range. II proved to be full Of the
enemy. who suddenly opened a CALLING
fire at close range, killing all their
horses, and the gunners we're compell-
ed to stand to their guns. Some OF the
wagon teams got shelter for the troops
in donga, and desperate efforts were
made to bring out the field guns. The
fire, however. was too severe, and only
two were saved by Captain Schofield
and some drivers.
Another most gallant attempt with
the teams was made by an officer whose
name | will obtain. OF the 16 horses
13 we're killed. and as several drivers
were wounded | would not allow an
other attempt. as 1t seemed that they
would be a shell mark, sacrificing life
TO a gallant attempt to force the pas
sage
unsupported by artillery. l directed
the troops to withdraw. which they did
in good order.
Throughout the day a considerable
force of the enemy was pressing on my
right flank but was kept back by
mounted men under Lord Dunronald
and part OF General Barton's brigade
The day was intensely hot and mos
trying on troops whose condition wa.
excellent.
I'VE have abandoned ten guns anC
lost by shell fire one. The losses in
General Hart's brigade are, I fear
heavy, although the proportion Of Sc
yerely wounded is, hope, not large.
1.-THE Fourteenth and Sixty ninth
field batteries also suffered severe loss
es. We have retired to our camp at
Chieveley."
This latest check is regarded as the
most serious event in Great Britain's
military history since the Indian mu-
tiny.
No independent reports Of the en-
gagement have yet been allowed to
come through, but General Buller's
own dispatch tells the sad tale in suf-
fcient outline to show that the British
have been entrapped again by the as
tute Beers,
II was not anticipated that General
Butler would make a frontal attack
No criticisms of his movements are
made, however, since apparently he
suffered a repluse rather than a defeat
and did not push the attack here, but
broke II of in the middle, so as to save
a useless sacrifice of life. II is ex.
pected that he will renew the attach
shortly
Immediately on receiving the news
the war office decided TO mobilize still
another division and to replace th'
losses OF artillery. The necessary re-
Inducements will be hurried of as
speedily as possible
The latest dispatches indicate tn,
continued bombaTdment of Ladysmith
| whose position is now periious.