Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-12-16
NEARLY SIX HUNDRED
WERE MADE PRISONERS.
GEN. CLEMENTS'S DEFEAT ONE OF
THE WORST OF WHOLE
TRANSVAAL WAR.
FOUR ENTIRE COMPANIES
OF THE NORTHUMBERLAND FUSI-
LIERS AND SOME YOMENRY,
TAKEN.

LONDON, December 15-The fear
that Lord Kitchener had not told the
worst when he reported Clements de-
feat by Delarey's command, was con-
frmed this morning by telegram from
the commander in South Africa announc-
ing that when the Beers took the Mag
aliesberg at dawn on Thursday, they
took also the four copanies of North
cumberland Fusiliers, who were defend
ing the berg, together with some of
the yeomanry making total of 573
British captured, of whom Is were Off
GERS. Clements casualties December
Is amounted to five officers and nine
men killed and many wounded. The
following is Lord Kitchener's message
to the war Office:
PRE- 1ORIA, December 14.-Clem-
ents brought in his force to Commando
Mex, unopposed. The casualties were,
| regret to say heavy-killed, five Off
GERS ana nine of other ranks; missing
Is officers and 555 of other ranks These
latter were four companies of the
Northumberland Fusiliers, who were
stationed on the hill, and some yeo-
many and other details sent up to sup
port them. Names and nature of
wounds are being telegraphed from
Cape Town.
Broadwood's brigade took no part
in the engagement. The Beers suffered
severely.
Knox drove DeWet north to the
Thabanchu-L adybrand line, which was
held by our troops. DeWet's force,
about 5000 strong, made several at
tempts to get through during the day,
assisted by a force of Beers operating
from the north. These attacks were
driven back, though some of the Beers
from the south were able to get through
the line
Wiring later, December IA, Lord
Kitchener reports that while passing
the lines in the neighborhood of Thab-
anchu DeWet's force lost considerably
The South African Light Horse and
Thorneycroft's mounted infantry cap
tured 15-pounder, taken at Dewets-
dorp, pompom, several wagons with
ammunition, % prisoners and some
horses and mules. A portion of the
enemy has not been able to pass north.
Lord Kitchener, under date of De-
cember 18th, reports to the war office
from Pretoria as follows:
elements has come to see me. He
says the four companies of the North
umberlands held out on the hill as
long as their ammunition lasted. The
Boer force attacking the hill was
1000 strong, while another force of
nff
$40 a. m. the hill was carried. Re-
Inducements of one company of the
Yorkshires failed to reach the top.
Clements retirement was carried out
with regularity, but as many drivers
bolted considerable amount of trans
portation was lost. All the ammuni-
ton not taken away was destroyed. He
reports that all behaved very we'll.
Broadwood has gone to Rustenburg
and supports ELEPHANTS Mex, which
had been reinforced A flag of truce
which has come into Commando Mex
from the Beers says Joubert's son was
killed and further reports their losses
very heavy"
The newspapers see prearrangement
in the recrudescence Of Boer activity
everywhere, 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 furnishes the ed
ltors with an excuse to demand the
head of Gen. Butler. The ST James
Gazette declares it has reason to cred
it the National Reviews recent state
ment that Butler, after his first fail
ure to drive the Beers from the Tu-
gela, cOunseled Gen. White to surrend-
er Ladysmith.
The st. James Gazette holds Butler
alone blameable for the disasters of
the Tugela campaign, and says: when
comparable plumbers occurred in the
navy court-martial meted out JUS
tice. Why, therefore. should not the
same rule hold good in the army?"
The public, apparently, is little af-
fected by the fresh troubles. Soldiers
are still eager to go to South Africa
the news from the Magaliesberg having
resulted in offers from the volunteer
regiments to proceed to the front.
In contrast with the apparent insult
ficiency of the troops to master the
situation in South Africa comes a rev.
elation of the military resources at
home still at the disposition of the
government in to-day's announcement
that 10000 troops will be sent from
Aldershot to London to participate in
Lord Roberts triumphal entry Janu-