Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-10-31
BRI1AINS DISASTER
Lost Her Two.Finest Regiments and
Battery at the Ladysmith
Engagement.
TWO REGIMENTS CAPTURED
General White Takes the Blame of Sending
The Column to Poor Position
Great Britain Knows the Beers
Are Prepared.


dispatch from General White was re-
ceived at the war office:
'Ladysmith, October 30, 1O:45 p. M
have to report disaster to column
sent Dy ne to take .. position on tat
Iii to guard our left flank. In these op-
erations to-day the Royal Irish Fusi-
leers, No. 10 mountain battery and the
Worcestershire regiment, were sur
rounded in the hills, and after losing
heavily had to capitulate. The casual
ties are not yet ascertained. A man OF
the fusileers, employed as a hospital
orderly came in under flag Of truce
With a letter from the survivors col
umn, who asked for assistance to bury
their dead. l fear there is no doubt OF
the truth of the report. l formed the
occurred, and am alone responsible for
the plan. There Is no blame whatever
to the troops, as their position was un-
tenable''
White cables a list Of forty three Off
GERS made prisoners by Beers. The war
office has ordered the second army corps
to be in readiness to be called out. The
military officials have not yet decided
whether the consummation of the plan
will be necessary, but are determined to
have everything in readiness either for
a demonstration to Europe of Great
Britain's capabilities of sending an even
larger force to the scene of action. Un-
til the receipt of the news of the Lady
smith disaster the latter course was
considered out of the question. But now
there is no knowing what steps will be
decided upon.
London, October 31.-The war office
sent the following dispatch to General
Butler: Three extra battalions of foot
and one mountain battery, with re-
serves, will leave England during the
course of ten days to make good the
casualties"
While minor reverses were not wholly
unexpected, nothing like the staggering
blow General Joubert delivered to Gen.
eral Whites forces yesterday was an
ticipated. The full extent of the disas-
ter Is not yet acknowledged, if known, at
the war office. The loss in effective men
must be appalling to the general who is
practically surrounded. The two finest
British regiments and mule battery
deducted from the Ladysmith garrison
weakens it about a fifth of it's total
strength and alters the whole situation
materially in favor of the Beers, who
have again shown themselves stern
fighters and military strategists of no
mean order. The disaster cost the Brit
ish $500 to 1000 men and six 7-pound
screw guns. As the Boer artillery is
already stronger than imagined, the
capture of these guns will be of great
help to the Beers.
Further news must be awaited before
it Is attempted to fix the blame where
it belongs. General White manfuly ac-
cepts all responsibility for the disaster,
which apparently was at least partly
due to the stampeding of the mules with
the guns.
At the government offices no effort
was made to conceal the feeling Of dis
may prevailing. One of the officials
said:
ut is inexplicable. I am sorry to say
its moral effect Is inestimable. We have
lost heavily in many wars, and had reg
iments almost wiped out but to have
regiments captured, and by the Beers it
Is terrible"
An official of the war office said: 1.-THE
disaster is more likely due to the craze
of our younger officers to distinguish
themselves, obtain mention in the dis
patches and earn the Victoria cross
than to the fault of that splendid Indian
veteran, General White, in spite Of his
avowal."
A special from Ladysmith says the
Beers suffered severely during the en-
gagement some persons estimating
their loss at 900 to 1000 killed and
wounded.
DISPATCHES from Cape Town show
that General Butler was wildly cheered
by the throngs when he arrived there
There were cries of "Avenge Majuba!'
Other advices from Cape Town show
that the Beers are gathering consid-
erable force at Dewdop, southwest OF
Ladysmith, while large forces of Beers
are advancing over the Helpmaake1
road. A big camp of Beers is to bt