Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-11-02
A BRITISH DEFEAT.

@. Benson, has met With a aerious re-
verse 10 the southeastern part Of the
Transvasl, in the area of Commandsnt
General Botba's operations. Colonel
Benson and eight other officers were
killed and thirteen officers were wound
ed, besides fifty eight non-commis-
sone ed officers and mtn killed and one
hundred and ffty-six wounded.
At an early hour this morning. the
war Office Issued two dispatches from
General Kitchener. dated Pretoria,
November /, the fret OF which states:
"a severe attack was made on the
rear guard OF BensoB's column, about
twenty miles northeast of Bethel, near
Brakenlsgte, during 3 thick mist. The
strength OF the enemy Is reported to
have been 1000. They rushed two
guns with the rear guard, but 1t Is un-
certain whether they we're able to re-
move them. fear our casualties we're
heavy. Benson was wounded.
"KITCHENNR."
The second dispatch contains re-
port made by Colonel Barter, who was
sent from the coustsbulsry line Cd
Thursday to relieve Colonel Benson,
| when the disaster was fret re-
ported. He reached the column
early Friday morning without meet"
ing with opposition. He found Col
onel Benson bad died OF his wounds,
and that Lieutenant Colonel Guinness.
one major. three captains and three
| lieutenants had bsen killed and three
captains and ten lieutenants wounded.
The other casualties were as stated
| above.
Colonel Barter says that the fighting
with the rear guard Was ct very close
quarters, and was maintained with
great determination by both sides. The
Beers suffered severely, but no reliable
estimate OF their losses has yet been re-
ceived. The Beers retired to the east.
General Kitchener adds:
II assume the two guns were recov-
cred, and that the enemy has with
| drawn, bat there are no further de-
tails. / deeply regret the loss OF Col
onel Benson and the officers and meD.
In Colonel Benson the service loses
most gallant and capable commander,
who invariably led his column with
marked success and judgment"
General Kitchener's dispatches were
| issued go late that a majority of the
papers had gone to press before they
we're received. Only two papers print
them, aud 10 these, the serious an
oouoosuent contrasts in ugly style with
The enthusiastic descriptions of the home
coming OF the Duke aud Duchess OF
Cornwall, among which it is hastily i'm
pressed.
Even 10 "Times," which is the latest
paper to go to press does not contain the
dispatches. II contains an editorial re-
lsrring to General Kitchener's day dis
patch, which begins somewhat inoppor'
tuDely with the words:
"Tle latest report of General Kitch-
ener proves that some OF our columns
are displayed praise worthy activity"
The Telegraph" is even more unfor'
tuns,e. 1t prints a telegram from It's
johannesburg correspondent saying:
"The rounding up OF the dispersed
Beers 10 the southeastern TraDsvaal
shows improved results"
As there is nothing further than
General Kitchener's dispatches OBJ
tainable, IL is impossible TO indicate
whether beyond the killing and wound.
ing of 236 of their enemies the Beers
gained any considerable advantage.
Col. Benson bad been for some time
operating 10 the vicinity OF Bethel,
which IL northeast oil Stauderton. He
surprised a Boer lager October %
near TrichardsioDteiD taking thirty
seven prisoners. Three days later. &C.
cording to Lord Kitchener's report oil
the time, after long night march, The
commanders under Grobelasr and
Erasmus "heavily attacked Benson's
rear guard and TANKS at Yzirvarkfon.
tein. but were easily driven away"
Whether this was the attack which
resulted so disastrously or whether the
Beers who had been repulsed took ad-
vantage of the mist to renew the at
tack is still unexplained. Lord Kit
chener does not give the date OF the
Bethel engagement.
An earlier dispatch from Lord Kitch
ener, dated Pretoria, received to.
day, says. Col. Kekewich, during a
night surprise of Van Abert's lager,
northeast OF Rusteuburg (sbout sixty
miles west OF Pretoris), captured
seventy-eight Beers.