Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1899-11-03
INDECiSIVE BATTLE,
A Days Fighting at Lady
smith With Small Results.
TWO BRITISH BATTALI0NS MISSING.
beers Are In Great Numbers and
Have Long Range Guns-Gen-
ernI Buiier and stan Have
Reached Cape Town.

Reached Cape Town.
LONDON, Oct. 81. - General Sir
George Stewart White, in command of
the British troops in Natal. has sent the
following official report to the war office
of the battle with the Beers at Lady.
smith, dated Ladysmith, Oct. 30:
Il employed all the troops here yester
day except those obligatory as a garrison
for the works. | sent No. 10 mountain
battery, with the Irish fusccrs and the
Worcestershire regiment, to take up
position on the hills to clear the left
flank.
"The force moved at / last night, and
during the night firing of the battery the
mules stampeded with some of the guns,
which, however, hope to recover.
1.-TWO battalions have as yet not re-
turned. but are expected this evening.
81 detailed two brigade divisions of
field artillery and five battalons of infan-
try. aided by cavalry, under command of
General French, to attack the position on
which the enemy yesterday mounted
guns.
They found the position evacuated,
but our force was attacked with consd
cradle vigor by what ] believe to be Com
mandant General Jouberts troops.
"They had many guns and showed
great numbers.
"Our troops pushed the enemy back
several miles, but did not succeed in
reaching his laagers.
"Our losses are estimated at between
50 and Zoe. The enemy's loss must have
been much greater, the fire of our guns
appearing to he very effective.
After being in action for several hours
| withdrew my troops and returned UNI
/ molestod to the environments.
The enemy are in great numbers, and
their guns range farther than our field
guns.
Il now have some naval guns, which
have temporarily silcnced and. | hope,
will permanently dominate the encmy's
! best guns, with which he has been bonn
harding the town at range of over 5000
yards"
1t is believed that the naval brigade
which arrived Monday at Ladysmith con
4 sists of 100 men from the British cruiser
Philomcl, with some of the rhilomel's ~
inch quick frers, with range of 10000
yards. firing Il 40 pound shell.
The battery that was lost is probably
one consisting of six 21a inch muzzlc load
ers and 80 mules.
\ dispatch from Cape Town announces
the arrival in Table bay of the Dunottar
Castle late last evening, with General Sir
Redvcrs Butler and his staff, who are eX-
pected to land this morning. They will
| meet with a tremendous ovation in Cape
Town.
1t is reported from Pretoria that 200 Of
the British wounded from Dundee have
arrived there and have been furnished
| accommodation in the state school build
ings.
The Cape Town correspondent of The
Daily Mail says he learns that Colonel
Baden Powell, the British commander at
Mafeking, has laid a railway in com
plete circle around Mafeking and is run
/ ming armored trains around the town
ready to meet the Beers at any point.
According to dispatch to The Daily
Mail from Durham, it has been ascertain
ed that the Natal Dutch have been ac-
lively assisting the Beers by carrying in.
formation regarding the British move
ments. 1t seems that, although the land
ings and departures of the troops are eff
fected by night and the greatest secrecy
is maintained, yet the enemy somehow
gets information despite the severe cen
sorship. 1t is also believed in Durham
that the Dutch have assisted the Beers
by pointing out British officers in the
battles.
Later Despatch Confirms Disaster.
LONDON, oct. 5I.-1he war Office has re-
ceived despatch rom White at I.adysmith,
reporting that royal Irish fusileers, Notten
battery, and the Gloucestershire regiment were
surrounded in the hills by the Beers, lost
heavily and were obliged to capitulate.
Casuaties are mot a.certo;ra1
Following is the text of Cen Whites
despatch to the war Office.
Iadysmith, Oct. 81, 10 :35 p. MI have to
report disaster to the column sent by me
to take position on the hill to guard the left
flank of the troops. In these operations today
the Royal Irish fusileers, number ten moutain
battery and the Worcestershire regiment were
surrounded in the hills, and after losing
heavily, had to capitulate. The casualties are
not yet ascertained. A man of the fusileers
employed as hospital orderly came in under a
flag of truce with letter from the survivors of
the column, who asked assistance to bury the
dead.
| fear there is no doubt of the truth of the
report. formed the plan, in carrying out
which the disaster occurred, and am alone
responsible for the plan. There is no blame
whatever to the troops, as the position was
untenable.
HOBART VERY ILL.