Evening star., 1900-01-06
THE sORTIE AT MAFEKING.
More Details of Col. Baden-Powelfs
Reverse on December 26.

reverse on Decem Ber SO
LONDON, January 6.-The Times pub
fishes the following dispatch from Mafek-
ins, dated December 26:
AT dawn today Col. Baden-Powell or
ganzed an unsuccessful attack upon a
strong position of tie enemy at Gametree,
two miles from Mafeking from which the
Beers have been maintaining desultory
but annoying shell and rifle fire for several
weeks. The railway has recently been re-
constructed between the town of Gametree.
where the Beers had destroyed IT, the final
repairs being made in preparation for the
sortie.
During the night the armored train,
with Maxim and Hotchkiss guns, under
Capt. Williams. and troops took up posi-
lions for attack from two sides. Capt.
Lord Charles Bentinck and squadron We're
in reserve upon the left. while the extreme
left wing was occupied by artillery under
Mai. Panzera. and a galloping Maxim of
Ire Cape police, the whole being under Col.
HOre
'Emplacements were thrown up during
the night, the orders being to attack at
dawn. and the artillery fire to deSist upon
prolonged footing from the armored train.
AT tiaybTe2k the guns opened fire and rap
idly drew the reply of the enemy. our shells
bursting within effective range. Capt. Yer
ron gave the signal to cease firing and to
advance. his squadron leading off.
Enemy Pours in Hot Fire
AS our men engaged the position with
their rifle fire it was soon found that the
strength of the fort was greater than we
had supposed The enemy concentrated
such an exceedingly hot fire that the ad-
vance Of Capt. Vernon was almost impos-
sihic. but, with remarkable heroiam and
g2ll&ntry. Capts. Sandford and Vernon.
Lieut.. Patton and Scout Cooke. who guided
the squadronS, and a few men actually
re nf- hf. fnr NTH IN,
$40 yards Of the area If the fort.
But nothing living could exist there,
since the ground was swept by Mauser and
Martini bullets. The men who charged
and in following their officers to capture
the fort twenty men lost their lives. Capt.
Sandford was the first to fall, and Capt.
Vernon already twice wounded and Lieut.
Patton were killed at the foot of the fort.
These two officers. climbing ditch which
surrounded the fort thrust their revoivers
through the lOopholes only to be shot
themselves the next moment.
''Glmetree is surrounded with scrub,
which contained many sharpsh0otcrs. and
their accuracy of fire still further confused
the men VIII had followed Capt Vernon,
ana who saw him and his brother officers
killed. Being without commanders they
We're driven off at one point, but they en-
deavored to scale the fort at others. They
found the position of the Beers However
almost impregnab BILE
nuef over OIL IunS.
when we retired under cover Of the ar
mored train so nany men had been wound
ed that Il suspension of hostilties occurred
under the auspices of the Red Cross. The
veldt around the Boer position was at once
dotted with flags of mercy, and it was seen
that our wounded was scattered within but
"a short ratiuS Of the fort. We had almost
completely surrounded it. and hads it not
been SO Extraordinarily we'll protected We
should have been in possession
Il went with an ambulance TO Gametree.
The fort itself is circular with a wide in
terror and a narrow frontage. between six
and seven feet high. pierced with triple
tiers of lUopholcs and surrounded by a
ditch"
With reference to the Boer reports that
Lord Cecil and Lord Charles Bentinck were
recently wounded at Mafeking inquiries
hay" been made through the correspondent
of the Associated Press at Pretoria with
the result that il has been ascertained that
neither took part in the sortie, and Lord
Bentincks troops We're not engaged.
Official Report Of the SOrtie.
The war office has received through Gen.
Forestier-Walker. at Cape Town, the fol-
lowing dispatch from Col. Baden-Powell,
dated Mafeking, December %:
I'VE attacked one of the enemy's works
this morning, endeavoring to push back the
Gordon nOrthward. Our force consisted of
three guns. two SquadronS Of the PrOtecto-
rate Regiment, one Of the Bechuanaland
Rifles. an armored train, &c. The enemy
had strengthened their works during the
night and doubled the garrison since yes
terdaSs reconnaissance.
Nevertheless, our attack was carried out
and pressed home with the greatest pos
sible gallantry and steadness, under a
very hot fire. But all efforts to gain the
interior by escalade failed. the fort being
practically impregnable.
't)Ur attack DnlV Withdrew civ Of
our officers and large number of men had
been hit. Nothing could have exceeded the
courage and dash displayed
The general situation remains un-
changed, and the health and spirits of the
garrison are very satisfactory
"T regret to report the following casual
ties:
nilled-Capt. R. ]. Vernon. Capt H. c.
Sanford. Lieut.. H. C. Patton. eighteen non
commissioned officers and troopers.
Wounded-Capt. Charles F'itzclarence
twenty-three non-commissioned officers and
troopers.
"Prisoners-Three troopers"
Gen. ForestierW Walker points out that
while the dispatch gives all the names, it
fails to show that six officers were hit