The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-12-24
A BRITISH
DISASTER
Queens Forces Badly
Used.
VICTORY FOR BURGHERS
l8 Officers and SIS Men are Missing
and Probably Have Been
Captured.

LONDON, Dec. 1.-THE Daily Ex-
press publishes a rumor of a serious
disaster to the British arms Accord
ing to this report the Beers attacked
the camp of General Clements, in the
Barberton district, capturing the camp,
killing number of British officers and
taking prisoners all the British troops,
including four companies of the North
cumberland Fusileers
The story is not confirmed in any
quarter and is not generally believed
TRUE, NEVERTHELESS
LONDON, Dec. 15.-Lord Kitchener
reports that eighteen officers and 555
men are missing from General Gle
ments force. They consist of four COM
panies of the Northumberland Fusil-
eers. Judging from the message these
were captured by the Beers. Gle
ment's casualties December 13 amount
ed to five officers and nine men killed
and many apparently wounded.
TEXT OF MESSAGE.
LONDON, Dec. 15.-Lord Kitchener's
message to the War Office is as fol-
lows:
PRETORIA, Dec IL = Clements
brought in his force to Commando Mex
Iunopposed. The casualties were, l re-
gret say, heavy. Killed, five officers
and nine of other ranks; missing, eigh-
teen officers and 555 of other ranks.
These latter were four companies Of
the Northumberland Fusileers, who
were stationed 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 severely. Knox drove De Wet
north to the Observation-Disclosures
line which was held by our troops. De
Vets force, about 5000 strong, made
several attempts to get through during
the day. assisted by a force of Beers
operating from the north. These at
tacks were driven back, though some
of the Beers from the south were able
to get through the line.
Wiring late December IA, Lord Kit
lchener reports that while passing the
lines in the neighborhood of Thahan-
chu, De Vets force lost considerably.
) The South African Light Horse and
lThorneycroft's Mounted Infantry cap
tured a 15-pounder, taken at Dewets-
dorp, a pompom and several wagons
with ammunition, twenty-five prison
Iers and some horses and mules. A prr-
ton of the enemy has not been able TO
pass north.
KRUGER HEARS NEWS.
| a
Dr. Leyds, who dined this (Friday)
evening at the palace, says the cor
respondent of the Daily Mail at The
Hague, on hearing of the British disas-
, ter at Nooitgedacht, were quite moved
Mr. Krueger said he thought the Ell
glish would break their necks on The
l Nagaliesberg and he reasserted ms
: complete confidence in ultimately fcrc-
ing England to initiate an acceptable
! settlement.
s COMMENT IN LONDON.
LONDON, Dec 15.-The St. James
e Gazette holds Butler alone blanca blt
s for the disasters of the Tugela cam
i paign and says:
when comparable blunders occurred
= in the navy a court-martial meted OF
Justice. why, therefore, should not th
same rule hold good in the army
The public apparently is little affect
ed by the fresh troubles. Soldiers ar
e still eager to go to South Africa, tn
!: news from the Magaliesberg having re
d suited in offers of volunteer regiment
IL to proceed to the front
le In contrast with the apparent INSULT
Is cheney of troops to master the situation
le in South Africa comes a revelation o
at the military resources at home still q
lie the disposition of the Government 1
today's announcement that $4,000 troop
n will be sent from Aldershot to Londo
oil to participate in Lord Roberts tri
lumphal entry January 3.