The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1900-12-19
CAPTURED BY THE BOERS.
Eighteen Officers and 555 Men Of
the Northumberland Fusileers.
BIG HAUL OF BRITISH.
Kitchener Reports that Knox Drove
Dewet Northward to the Lady
brand Line with Heavy Loss.

ports that eighteen officer and $50 men
are missing from Gen. Clements force.
They consisted Of four companies of the
Northumberland fusiliers. Judging from
the message, these were captured by the
Beers.
Clements casualties December 13
amounted to FIVE officers and nine men
killed and many apparently wounded. Fol
lowing is Lord Kitchener's message to
the war office. which is dated Pretoria,
December IA:
elements brought in his force to Com
mando Mex unoppOsed The casualties
were, L regret to say. heavy-killed, hve
officers and nine Of other rank; missing,
eighteen officers and $50 Of other rank.
These latter were four companies Of the
Northum berland fusiliers, who were sta
toned on the hill and some yeomanry
and other details sent up to support them.
Names and nature of wounds are being
telegraphed from Cape Town.
"Broadwood's brigade took no part in
the engagement. The Beers suffered Sc
verely. Knox drove Dewet north to the
Thaban Chu-Ladybrand line. which was
held by our troops. Dewet's force, about
5000 strong, made several attempts to 60
through during the day., assisted by "a
force Of Beers operating from the north.
These attacks were driven pack, though
some Of the Beers from the south were
able to get through the line"
Wiring later, December H.. Lord
Kitchener reports that while passing the
lines in the neighborhood Of Thaban
Chu, Dewet's force lost considerably:
The South African Light horse and
Thorneycroft's Mounted infantry cap
tured a 15-pounder, taken at Dewets-
dorp, a pompom, several wagons WIN
ammunition, twenty-five prisoners ana
some horses and mules. A portion OF the
enemy has not been able to pass north.
Not Mere Guerrilla Warfare.
Gen. Kitchener's blind dispatch with
holding the news of the fate of the bat
talon of the Northumberland fusileers,
who occupied the summit stormed by the
BOer troops, was taken as the forerun-
ner of bitter news, inasmuch as the
fighting was admitted by the British
commander-in-chief to have been severe.
There have been dozen British
reverses of more or less Importance
since Lord Roberts began his ia
nous march from Bioemfontein. Con-
vOys have been smashed. guns have been
captured, garrisons have been overcome,
but the driving of British troops from
their camp and position as the result of
an open battle brings Britons back to
the days when Joubert and CrOnje were
in the field and supplies them with the
most striking evidence that they have had
that the burgher resistance is something
more than mere guerrilla warfare.
Slap at Gen. Kitchener.
There is liberal praise in London for
the. tactics which Shaye resulted in this
latest Boer triumph. The action with
Gen. Clements is said to be the first of a
series of slaps in the face in store for
Gen. Kitchener. The cOnquerOr of khar-
tOum is accused Of concentrating an I'M
due amount of attention on the pursuit
of Dewet in the Orange River Colony, to
the neglect Of ordinary precautionary ar
engagements in the Transvaal.
Gen. Kitchener's detractors say that his
generalship will prove very much to the
liking of the Dutch troops. At any rate,
Nooitgedacht has caused a perceptible
slump in the notion that the Boer army
is rowing band of sniping bandits
That part of the public which regards
them in the light of nomadic guerrillas is
still pleased so to consider them, but is
filled with chagrin that an organized Brit
lsh force has been compelled to retire in
front of such an enemy.
Blaming Butler.
The st. James Gazette holds Butler
alone blamable for the disasters of the
Tugela campaign and says:
When comparable bunders occurred
IN the navy cOurtmartial meted out JUS
tice. Why, therefore. should not tho
The PUBLIC apparently, is little affected
by the fresh troubles. Soldiers are still
eager to go to South Africa, the news
from the Magaliesburg having resulted
in offers from volunteer regiments to
proceed to the front.
In contrast with the apparent insult
hclency of the troops to master the stua-
ton in South Africa comes a revelation
of the military resources at home still az
the disposition of the government in to-
dow 10
will be sent from Aldershot to London to
participate in Lord Roberts triumphal
entry January 3.
The newspapers see prearrangement in
the recrudescence of Boer activity every
where, the object being to strengthen Mr..
kruger's hands, while the fact that the
news of the fresh disaster comes on the
anniversary of the battle of Colenso fur
nishes the editors with an excuse to de-
mand the head of Gen. Butler. The St.
James Gazette declares it has reason to
credit the National Reviews recent state
ment that Butler after his first failure to
drive the Beers from the Tugela, coup-
seled Gen. White to surrender Lady
smith
Particularly singing were the remarks
in the House of Commons this morning
of John Bryn Roberts. Liberal. member
for the South Elton division of Carnar-
vonshire. He declared that the British
treatment Of the women of South Afri-
ca was an outrage on civilization and
that it was blasphemy to hold Christian
services in st. Pauls in connection with
the return of Lord Roberts while there
were such proceedings in South Africa.
Mr.. Broderick hotly denounced Bryn-
Roberts charges, asserting that it was
criminal to make allegations which could
not be proved, but which. however, would
be telegraphed to South Africa to in
crease the discomfort existing there He
held up Bryn-Roberts to the censure and
reprobation of nearly every member of
the House of Commons. These remarks
were greeted with cheers
Mr.. Broderick then repeated that the
government did not desire to pursue
policy which would make it more difficult
for the Beers to cease fighting, and that
the government abided in the declara-
tons Of Mr. Chamberlain
The session was suspended until 9
o'clock in the afternoon, when both
houses met and were prorogued
Kruger Greatly Pleased.
The Hague, Dec. 15.-When Mr.
Kruger was appraised of the contents of
Gen. Kitchener's latest dispatch, chron-
icing such great disaster to the British,
hn .o1 4. I