The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, November 1, 1899, Page 1

The VOLUME LXXXVI-NO. 154. SAN FRANCISCO, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1899, PRICE FIVE CENT! MANY BRITISH TROOPS CAPTURED BY BOERS Two Regiments and a Battery BEEEEE S NN e ® BRITISH TROOPS CAPTURED BY BOERS = NEAR LADYSMITH, MONDAY. ROYAL IRiSH FUSILEERS, THE GLOUCESTER REGIMENT. | NO. 10° MOUNTAIN BATTERY. P @eosoeiei . PO P G S . R e S JRCRS S0 B S R R A @ LONDON, Nov. 1 they are. The lesson has been a W& 1hi mornite pax = It is humiliating to find a f farmers beating soldiers at their me, but the sooner a proper respect | for Boer strategy and tactics the | for our fortunes in Nata | s sober note is struck by all the morning papers to-day, together with the ion to carry Compelled to Surrender Dur- ing the Fighting Near Lady- smith -- Disaster to Forces Under General W hite Shows That He Has Been Beaten in Strategy by Commandant- General Joubert. ONDON, Nov. 1.—An ominous curtain has again de- led upon affairs in Natal. No dispatch except the telegrams of General Sir George Stewart White yeen permitted to mention the disaster at Lady- v, and no telegram from Ladysmith has been re- the advices from the British com- I'his gives rise to a belief that communications have vhich event some time must elapse beiore sh losses are received.” If the War Office d information on this point they have re- rom publishing it: General White’s - estimate that the itish losses were about ninety is evidently quite separate irom losses in killed and wounded among the captured since ndon e cut, 1n ing Br recel fter the receipt of General White's report of the disaster to | tish arms and the capture by the Boers of two regiments 1a Mountain Battery all sorts of reports were circulated | which came from Cape Town, stated that ‘ imed at Ladysmith yesterday (Tuesday). This | \ battle is proceeding at the foot of Umban- , a few miles from Ladysmith. Seventy shells have dropped Bri e Br1 t, tov Varied speculations are made in the newspapers as to the losses by the Ladysmith disaster. An unofficial state- ces the number of men at fully 2000, while other re- ut the figure to 1460 and point out that both the cap- | tured regiments had been in action before and had lost many ports ¢ men. Then great hope is pinned to the fact. that the paucity of officers officially reported wounded does not indicate the num- ber killed, but would show that the losses are not extreme. O | from Ladysmith says the Boers suffered se- | the e gement, some estimating their loss at | 1 wounded. report is current that General White may retire to Pietermaritzburg while the railroad is intact. There is much ivergence of opinion in military circles as to the advisability of ther rumor is that General White is to be relieved 1e chief command in N RESS OF EUROPE ON | THE BRITISH REVERSE tal ng enough to scoop up a couple ntry battalions could have put ft- tically between Sir George White s camp, we may be very thankful to-day are not more serious at whatever cost. Chronicle, referring editorial. ion, says ““After the of the campalgn and the on of the British army. vaguely hope that Sir George | ould ha rse and, much we S D e S S Sy & S S R B O S R S S Uy SECSR S S SR | \ ® * 0d + 4 B e e o e A S o S S S | MAJOR A. J. ADYE, Captured by Boers. * e e o e SR S | they | | R e e ) R S o [P R R - P SR v ooea ““The retirement was ordered, which Sir Archibald Hunter port of Lieutenant General White to the British War Office af FOLLOWED BY CONSTERNATION IN ENGLAN ONDO: . Oct. 3L—The War Office recelved a dispatch from Lieutenant General White, the British forces at Ladysmith, reporting that the Royal Irish Fusiliers, No. 10 Mountain Battery and the Gloucestershire Regiment were surrounded in the hills by Boers, and after losing heavily obliged to capitulate. General White adds that the casualties are not vet ascertained. Appended is the text of General Whites' dispatch to the War Office: LADYSMITH, Oct. 80, 10:45 p. m.—I have to report a disaster to the column sent by me to take a position on a hill to guard the left flank of the troops. In these operations to-day the Royal Irish Fusileers, No. 10 Mountain Battery, and the Gloucestershire Regi- ment were surrounded in the hills, and after losing heavily had to capitulate. The casualties have not yet been ascertained. A man of ‘the Fusileers, employed as a hospital orderly, came n under a flag of truce with a letter from the survivors of the col- umn, who asked for assistance to bury the dead. 1 fear there is no doubt of the truth of the report. I formed a plan in the carrying out of which the disaster oc- curred, and I am alone responsible for the plan. There is no blame whatever to the troops, as the position was untenable. General White In a subsequent dispatch says: “The following is a list of the officers taken prisoner to-day: Staff Major Adye. “Irish Fusliecrs—Colonel Carleton, Major Munn, Major Kincald, Captain Burrows, Captain Rice, Cap- tain Silver, Lieutenant Heard, Lieutenant Southey, Lieutendnt Phibbs, Lieutenant McGregory, Lieuten- ant Holmes, Lieutenant Kelly, Lieutenant Dooner, Lieutenant Kentish, Lieutenant Killehan, Ideutenant Jeudwine, Chaplain Mafthews. **Of the above Captains Rice and Silver and Lieutenant Dooner were wounded. “Gloucestershire Regiment—Major Humphrey. Major Capel-Cure. Major Wallace, Captain Duncan, Captaln Conner, Lieutenant Bryant, Lieutenant Nesbitt, Lieutenant Ingham. Lieutenant Davey, Lieuten- ant Knox, Lieutenant Temple, Lieutenant Radice, Lieutenant Breul, Lieutenant Hill, Lieutenant Smith, Lieutenant Mackenzie, Licutenant Beasley, Lieutenant Gray. “Of the above Captains Duncan and Conner were wounded. “Royal Artillery—Major Bryant. 3 “Mounted Battery—Lieutenant Wheeler, Lieutenant Nugent, Lieutenant Moore, Lieutenant Webb." BRITONS STAGGERED BY THE NEWS OF THE DISASTER. LONDON, Oct. 31.—While minor reverses were not wholly unexpected, nothing ltke _the staggering blow General Joubert delivered to General White's forces yesterday was anticipated. The full extent of the disaster is not yet acknowledged, If it is known at the War Office. The loss in effective men must be appalling to a general who s practically surrounded. Two of the finest British regiments and a mule battery deducted from the Ladysmith garrison weakens it about & fifth of its total strength and alters the whole situation very materially in favor of the Boers, who have agaln shown themselves stern fighters and military strategists of no mean order. The disaster cost the British from 1500 to 2000 men and six seven-pound screw guns, and as the Boer artlllery is already stronger than imagined, the capture of these guns will be a great help to the Boers. : Further news must be awaited before It Is attempted to fix the blame where it belongs. General White manfully accepts all the responsibility for the disaster, which apparently was at least partly due to the stampeding of the mules with the guns. From the Jist it will be seen that forty-two officers were made prisoners, spondent, J. Hyde. The interest in the news was uniyersal. pervading all classes and conditions of London's populace, The newspaper extras were eagerly read In business houses, in the streets and by women in thelr car. riages. Then:flikve wah 8 rushitoithe War Office, which by noon was surrounded by private carrlages and hansoms, while many of the humbler class of people came on foot. all walting and watching for the names held dear. Never was the old saying, “Bad news travels quickly,” better exemplified here than to- By noon gloom and bitter sorrow prevailed throughout the British metropolfs. At the Government offices no effort was made to conceal the feeling of dismay prevailing. One offl- clal said to a correspondent: “It is inexplicable, and T am sorry to say that its moral effect s inestima. ble. We have lost heavily In many wars and have had regiments almost wiped out; but to have regiments captured, and by the Boers, it is terrible.” The disaster had an immediate effect on the Stock Exchange, where consols fell %. South African securities dropped heavily, Rand lines falling two points. Rio Tintos fell &, The throngs of visitors at the War Office remained all day. Anxious their way to the notice board. Most affecting scenes were witnessed. Many women were heard to gasp, “Thank God, he's allve, at any rate!” as they found the name of some beloved one on the list of prisoners. The sidewalks were packed with solid masses awalting their turn to enter. { There was a continuous stream of callers at the War Office until a late hour, everybody anxiously commanding , besides a newspaper corre- day. people practically fought | Inquiring regarding yesterday's casualties, but the War Office declared that nothing had been received since Sir George White's dispatch communicating the news of the capture of the the Gloucestershire regiments. A This delay in getting further intelligence s attributed in part to the breakdown of the East Coast cable; but it stands to reason that the War Office must be possessed of further news, which it Is probably not thought advisable thould be published yet. The disaster has caused a feeling akin to consternation, and in Gloucestershire and the North of Royal Irish Fusileers and CLOSE OF 38E BATTLE ON THE BRITISH RIGHT. conducted, retiring battalion by battalion, ter the battle near Ladysmith Monday. W%+M4—M+o—+@+¢~fl B R e e e e e e e S S S S A WHITE'S CANDID REPORT OF THE D “‘a well-known general with a distinguished record during the Indian mutiny covering the movement with the guns of the artillery by alternate batteries.”—From the re- B i S S o O S R R R i A S B O e R S S R O S B S TR = SASTER D. . families awaliting with expected to reach high figures. Many these regiments in previous engage- Ireland, where the captured regiments were recruited, the blackest gloom prevails, beating hearts the names of the killed and wounded, which are fully 'i:vm:'s are already in mourning in consequence of losses sustained by ents. Public anxiety was increased by a special the London papers to the effect that before d; their heavy artillery, which General White I Powerful, and had opened fire again. The dispatch further sa “The enemy are again closin ment of the Boer regiment yeste and away from the British camp. experts here that General White Is dispatch from Ladysmith published in the late editions of arkness vesterday the Boers reoccupied the old position held by had reported silenced by the guns of the Naval Brigade from the £ in, and the situation is one of grave anxie rday (Monday) was a ruse to draw General . “This last sentence is significant, and co allowing himself to be outgeneraled by C From the scant advices receéived up to 11 p. m. it seems tolerably repetition of the battle of Majuba Hill, though on a larger scale. march into a trap set for them by the Boers. British fly. Gene; Sir ¢ ty. Bevond doubt the retire- White into the hilly country nfirms the opinion of military ‘ommandant General Joubert. certain that the disaster was a simpls The two regilments were allowed to It is simply a case of the Boer spider and the guileless In fact, the whole engagement of Monday seems to have been brought on by Commaniens al Joubert, who skillfully conceived a glgantic trap, out of which, as the official dispateh chomn orge White only escaped with difficulty. 2 General White advanced with the idea of driving the Boers from the hill General Joubert made an ostentatious show of fortifying on Sunday. The Boer commander left a force sufficient to draw General Whi he moved steaithily round the British right, to deliver a flank Yimlte from Ladysmith. The British commander succeeded in beating off the attack, but only with prect difticulty, and during the turning movement his troops suffered from a flanking fire, Harsh things are said in military circles of the British tactics which have made possible the am- bush of the Elghteenth Hussars at Glencoe, and now the loss of two fine regiments. It Is feareq thor Sir George White Is no mateh for the Boers in cunning, and it is pointed out that if the Britisn corst manders continue to lead their men into obvious traps further disasters must be looked for. An Interview is ith a British officer whose name is withheld, but who is described as in the course of which he seven miles out, which ite on, while the mass of the Boers attack and to endeavor to cut off General passes evere criticism upon the concuct of the campaign. sterday dlsas ' says the officer. “is only another proof of serious blundering. Although Sir George White Is 2 good regimental commander, he does not seem to excel in strategy or the manage- ment of a big divislon. T regard the Glencoe business as another example of blundering.” Proceeding to discuss the engagement at Glencoe, the officer observes: *‘Some of the enemy’s officers were allowed to occupy and plant guns on Talana hill. done to stop this unill the Boers began to shell Glencoe on the following morning. As for yesterday's cas. ualty, it seems Inexcusable that the two regiments should have been allowed to Separate themselves from the main body, especially with a considerable swarm of the enemy against them. I know I am ex- pressing the opinion of many military officers. We are disgusted with the War Office for having prema. turely allowed the issuance of glowing reports of victories without equal frankness and promptitude in disclosing the circumstances discounting these reports.” Sir George White's honest admission of full responsibility and the terms of his dispatch are re- garded in some circles as virtually placing his case In the hands of the home authorities, and it is even rumored late this evening that the War Office has already decided to supersede him. The report, however, is discredited In well informed quarters. About 6000 fresh troops will arrive at Cape Town on Sunday next from England and will be avail- able to reinforce Sir George White. Transports will arrive there daily after Sunday until by the end of next week 28,000 troops will have been landed in South Africa. These men are intended for General Sir Redvers Buller's army, but they will undoubtedly be sent to Natal if the situation there should be- come perilous. The British army will eventually reach the huge total of 89,650, of which 69,63 will be regulars and the other 20,000 miscellaneous, but excellent colonfal troops. s FREPARATIONS TO CALL OUT SECOND ARMY CORPS. LONDO! Oct. 31.—The War Office has sent the following dispatch to General Buller: “Three extra battalions of foot and one mountain battery with reserves will leave England dur- ing the course of ten days to make good the casualties.” The commander-in-chief, Field Marshal Lord Wolseley, has issued an order for the mobilization b= November 6 of the reserves of the Suffolk, Essex and Derbyshire regiments, which will be added to the South Africa forces. LONDON, Oct. 31-The War Office has ordered the Second Army Corps to be in readiness to be called Nothing was out. The military officiais have not vet decided whether the consummation of the plan will be necessary, but they are determined to have everything in readiness either for a demonstration in Europe of Great Britain's capabilities or for sending even a larger force to the scene of action. Until the receipt of the news of the Ladysmith disaster the latter course was considered out of the question, but now there js no knowing what steps will be decided upon. The preparation to call out the Second Army Corps, taken in conjunction with the extraordinary naval activity here, has again aroused the belief in British circles that the Government has good reason to antlcipate European hostility. No reason to justify this latest reiteration of rumors of Russian, French or German Intervention can be found, however. It was learned on good authority that the motive consists, to quote an official, In wanting to “‘show the other fellows what we can do,” and is on a line with calling out the militia, a purely precautionary measure dictated by the necessity of bringing up the home mili. tary force to Its normal strength, or rather a strength proportionate with the necessities«of a nation en- gaged in a foreign war. Still it is doubtful whether the Second Corps will be actually called out. That development depends on two circumstances—first, the attitude of European nations, as evinced by this first serious British reverse; second, upon the judgment of General Buller, who. finding the conditions not so favorable as expected, may demand the troops. 3 It does not follow that the entire army corps, even if called out. will'be sent to General Buller. It Is more probable that it will be kept home to supply the places of units sent out in consonance with General Buller's wishes. Upon the present organization these home forces are supposed to be capable of raising at short notice three army corps. Should the War Office decide upon raising a se cond corps it will necessitate the calling out of more reserves. g ‘White, in the hard days that lie before him, may be able to hold Ladysmith. Re- treat would be an undertaking which the imagination falls to grasp. If this war is to be a war of vengeance, we shall have to wipe out a disaster before which the memory of Majuba fades away. Tne empire is face to face with a repulse comparable only to the surrender of Burgoyne to the embattled farmers of our American colonies. If the catastrophe calls forth something better than music hall patriotism we may come to reckon it as a timely lesson well earned for the good of our’souls.” The Daily News says: “If it is found possible to move the stores, Sir George White will probably be ordered to with- draw upon Colenso. lation,” glven it will be because a removal of the stores would be too risky.” The Morning Post calls attention to Sir George White's use of the word ‘“‘capitu- remarking that it suspects the ‘word was used carelessly. prefer to assume that the column fougnt until it was cut to pleces and.all the am- munition was gone. Capitulation is a word of shame. Troops in the field cannot capitulate without disgrace, and disaster is not necessarily dishonor.” The Times says: ‘“We have met with a considerable reverse. It is for the nation to show that it can bear {ll-fortune with courage and dignity.” There is no general desire evinced on Yo Uhe ovdnt 1 not the part of the morning papers to eriti- cize George White harshly pending the arrival of further details. On the con- trary, the disposition is to admire his manly courage in assuming full respon- sibility. Abroad, especially in France, no pains is taken to disguise the satisfac. tion in consequence of the British rebuff. In Paris every means of spreading the It says: ‘“‘We