Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1900-12-19
British Meet BIttor Defeat


London, December 14.--Gloom hangs
over London to-day, caused by the Brit
ish defeat in South Africa, announced In
short dispatch from Lord Kitchener.
completely. The word "retire" is nsed
to indicate the defeat, but everybody
feels that it docs not express 1t fully
enough.
Lord Kitchener reports that after
severe lighting at Nooitgedacht, Gen.
Clements forces were compelled to retire
by Commandant Delarey, with force of
$500 mon.
Five British officers were killed Other
casualties were not reported.
Lord Kitchenor's official dispatch is as
follows:
Pretoria, December 13.-Clenlents'
force at Nooitgedacht, on tho Magalies.
burg, was attacked at dawn to-day by
Delarey, reinforced by Byers' command
from Warm Bath, making u force esti-
mated at $500. Though tho first attack
was repulsed, tho Doors managed to get
atop of tho Magaliesburg, which was
hold by four companies of the Northum.
berland fusiliers, and were thus able to
command Clements camp. He retired
on Hekpoort and took a position on a
hill in tho center of the valley. The
casualties have not been completely re-
ported, but the fighting was very severe,
and deeply regret that Col Legge, of
the goth Hussars, and Captains MacBean,
Murdoch and Adkins were killed. Rein
forcemonts have left here"
Lord Kitchener also reports that tho
Boers mado an attack and wero repulsed
at Lichtenburg, and that Gen. Lettmer
was killed. The attacks on Bethlehem
and Bredo were also repulsed, but tho
Beers lost ten killed and fourteen
wounded. Vyheld was attacked Decem-
ber 11th. Shipping continued whom tho
message was dispitchcd.
The scenes at tho war Office to day re-
call those witnessed in the early stages
of tho war. A constant stream of excited
people filled tho lobbies, all scoking de-
tails of the disaster.
The absence of the names Of any of tho
officers of the Northumberland Fusilicrs
in Gen. Kitchenor's dispatch leads to
the forobUding shat tho four companies
of tho Fu,ilors mentioned are in tho
hands Of tho Beers.
The war cdco officials evidently ex-
pcct heavy casualty list, but they arc
does not mention the capture of tho
Northumberlands, that such great ca.
tastrophe has boen escaped.
Orders were issued at Aldcrshot, Malta
and other military centcrs to dispatch all
tho available mounted infantry to South
Africa.
1t is reported that Gen. Knox, co-opo-
rating with tho British column at Red
dorsburg, has stopped Gen. f. Dewet,
and that battle is proceeding. Tho re-
port adds that many of Gen. Dewet's
followers have boon captured and many
British wounded.
THE DISASTER CONFIRMED.
London, Decomber 15.-Gen. Ktche-
ner's supplementary dispatch referring
to the disaster at Magalicsburg confirms
yesterdays most pcssimistic fears and
demonstrates that the catastrophe is
among the worst of tho war. The dis
patch is as follows:
Pretoria, December 14.--Clcments
brought in his forco to Commando Nck
unopposed. The casualties, wore, re-
gret to say, heavy: Killed, tivc officers
and nine of other ranks; missing, cigh.
teon officers and five hundred and fifty
five of other ranks. These latter wero
four companies of the Northumberland
Fusilicrs, who woro stationed on the hill,
and somo yeomanry and other details
sont up to support them. Names and
nature of wounds are being telcgraphcd
from Capei Town"
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