The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-11-03

London, October 31.-The war office
here received a dispatch from General
White, commanding the British forces
at Ladysmith, reporting that the Roy
al Irish fusileers, No~10 mountain bat
terry n the Worcestershire regiment
were surrounded in the hills by the
Beers and, after losing heavily, oblig-
ed to capitulate. General White says
that the casualties have not yet been
ascertained.
The following is the text of General
Whites dispatch to the war office:
"Ladysmith, October 80, 1875 p. m.
Il have to report a disaster to the
column sent by me Ito take a position
on a hill to guard the left flank Of the
troops. In these operations today the
Royal Irish fusiliers, No. 10 mountain
battery and the Worcestershire regi-
ment were surrounded in the hills and,
after losing heavily, had to capItrlate.
The casualties have not yet been ascer-
tanned. A man Of the fusiliers, employ
ed as a hospital orderly, came in un-
der a flag of truce with a letter from
the survivors Of the column, who ask
ed for assistance to bury the dead. l
fear there is no doubt Of the truth OF
the report.
Il formed a plan in the carrying
out Of which the disaster occurred,
and / alone am responsible for the
plan. There is no blame whatever to
the troops, as the position was un-
tenable."
General White, in a subsequent dis
patch gives the names Of the officers
taken prisoners. They number forty
two officers, of whom five were
wounded.
At the government office, no effort
was made to conceal the feeling of
dismay caused by the receipt of the
news from General White. One of
them said to the representative Of the
Associated Press: 'It is ineXplicable
and l am sorry to say that its moral
effect is inestimable. We have lost
heavily in many wars and have had
regiments almost wiped out, but TO
have regiments captured, and by the
BOers-it is TERRIBLE
An official of the war office said TO
the representative of the Associated
press: This disaster is more than
likely due to the craze of our young
officers to distinguish themselves, OBJ
tain mention in the dispatches and
earn the Victorian cross, than to the
fault of hat splendid Indian veteran,
General White, in spite Of his avowal."
The war office has sent the following
to General Butler: Three extra bat
talions of foot and one bat
terry with reserves will leave England
during the course of ten days to make
good the casualties"
London, October 31.-A dispatch from
Ladysmith says the Beers suffered
severely during the engagement, some
persons estimating their loss at 900 to
LOCO killed and wounded.
1t is learned by the Associated Press
that the war office has ordered a sec
Ond army corps to be in readiness to
be called out.
The military officials have not yet
decided whether the contamination Of
The plain will be necessary, but they
are determined to have everything in
readiness, either for a demonstration
in Europe of Great Britain's capabili-
ties or for sending even a larger force
ITO the scene of action. Until the re-
ceipt of the news of the L~adysmith
dispatches the latter course was con-
sidered out of the question:, but now
there is no knowing what steps will
be decided upon.
GENERAL WHITE TO RETREAT.
Reports are current here that Gen
eral White may retire to Pietermarltz-
burg, while the railroad is intact.
There is much divergence of opinion
in military circles as to the ADVISABLE
ty OF such a step.
BOERS CONCENTRATING NEAR
LADYSMITH.
Advices from Cape Town show that
the Beers are gathering in consider q
BILE force at Dewdrop, southwest of
Ladysmith, while large forces of Beers
are advancing over the Helpmaker
road. A big camp of Beers is to be
formed between Harrysmith bridge and
Potgietere farm camp, at Dewdrop,
which, lit is said, will extend four miles.
An Englishman who has arrived at
Aliway North from Pretoria, whence
he was expelled by way of Bloemfon-
tein. says tina when he left Pretoria
all the stores there were carrying on
business as usual. President Kruger
was still there and he did not see any
wounded at johannesburg. Some of
the Transvaal papers are still pub
lished and contain glowing accounts II
the success of the Boer army, saying
that Kimberley and Mafeking are ex-
pected to fall at any moment, while
~Bechuanalan is conquered ana an
nexed: that the republican arms are
also successful in Natal and that the
burghers are continuing their victo-
rious march south, capturing Brush
prisoners and stores.
The papers admit hat the battle OF
E~landslaagte was a reverse or fhe
Beers, who lost : k1rty killed, had many
wounded and that eighty-ive Beers
were maze pTlSOleTS. Iduy SlLillh, dt
cording to thS Boer newspapers, - soon
to" be AIKEN.
The Englishman added that the
Beers are absolutely conidant of
their ultimate triumph and believe the
whole of Natal is already practically
in their hands.
Advice from Kimberley under date
Of October 9th, received through a
dispatch rider at Orange river, Octo-
Der 30th. report hat all the wounded
are progressing favorably. 1t also ap-
pears that as they are unable to blow
mn the niers of the Modder river bridge
the Beers are demolishing them stone
by stone. They have blown up prac-
ideally every culvert from the Modder
river to the Orange river. An armoreo
train, strongly supported, made a re-
connoisance October 9th and found
the Beers still ait S~pytfontein.
EXTRAORDINARY MILITARY PA
RADE.