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‘2' KA despatch from London, sayszâ€"The following ,is the text of a despatch from Gen. White at Ladysmith to the War Offim: ‘ 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 on Monday the Royal Irish Fusiliers, No. 10 Mountain Battery, and the Glouces- tershire Regiment were surrounded in the hills. and, after losing heavily, had to oapitulate. The casualties have not yet been ascertained. CAPITULATE W BOERS. British Troops Surrounded in the Hills and Sur- render to the Enemy. A man of the Fusiliers employed as a hospital orderly, came in under a flag of truce, with! a. letter from the lurvivors of the column, who asked for assistance to bury the dead. I tear there is no doubt of the ’truth of the report. ; Awful Disaster NataluRoyal Irish Fusiliers: an: the Gloucestershire Regiment, Together Wlt t Mountain Battery, Captured After a Despera e Fight. am alone responsible for the plan. There is no blame what'everto the troops. as the position was untenable. , FEELING IN LONDON. ,VVhiIe minor reverses were not wholly unexpected, no Englishman ever dreamed that anything like the staggering blow General Joubert de- livered to General White's forces on Monday threatened the British arms in Smuth Africa, and apparently the full extent “of the disaster is not yet acknowledged. Enquiry at the War Office seems to indicate that the mili- tary despatches contain other parti- culars which it is deemed inéxpedient to punish immediately, but the seri- ous nature of which is not disguised. I formed a plan, in the carrying: out of which‘ the disaster, occurred, and 1 x The story, as already known, how- ever, is sufficiently bad. The loss in effective men must be appalling to a General who is practically surrounded. Two 011‘ the finest British regiments and a mule battery deducted from the Ladys‘mith garrison weakens it about a fifth of its total strength and alters the whole situation very materially 1n favor of the Boers, who, once again, have shown themselves stern fighters and military strategists of superior order. The disaster cost the British from 1.500 to 2,000 men and six seven- po’umd screw guns, and, as the Boer artillery is already stronger than im- agined, the capture ot these guns will a a Apart from the immediate loss in effectives, which will seriously cripple Gen. White’s operations, the British defeat must have a most depressing effect on the balance of the Ladysmith forces, while in may be expected to have much weight with the natives, who are wavering as to which side to support, and it will immensely raise the morals of the Boer forces and bring crowds of recruits to their stan- ward. Further news must be awaited be- fore it is, attempted to atacht the blame where it belongs. General White manlully accepts all. the discredit at- taching to the disaster, which, appar- ently,was at least partially due to the stampeding of the mules with the gu_ns. From the list it will be seen that forty-two .officers were made prisoners besides a newspaper correspondent, Mr. J. Hyde. ’ “ AWFUL BRITISH DISASTER." "Awful British disaster,” yelled newsboys on Monday and all London stayed its course and read the extras containing the official acknowledg- ment of the British reverse. The ahâ€" nouncement appeared at the hour when shoppers crowded Regent and Oxford streets and Piccadilly. Women stopped their carriages in the streets and hailed the boys. Out of fashion- able stores women ran for papers. They stood stockstill in the crowded streets scanningâ€"the pages of the ex- tras. Having read of the reverse, such as does not exist in the memory of living British subjects, the men set their teeth and walked on with hard- engeditroubled faces, while some women or e . RUSH FOR THE WAR OFFICE; i Then there was a rush to the War; Office, which by noon, was surrounded‘ with. private carriages and hansoms,‘ while many of the humbler class of people came on foot, all waiting for the possible posting among the lists of dead of the names they: held dear: By noon gloom and bitter sorrow pre- vailed throughout the British metro-_ polls 7 i sent by rail to Pretoria. ” The security of Ladysmith is in no way affected.” General White’s account shows that the disaster is not so serious a one as reported at first. Neither the Glouces- tem nor the Fusiliers were present in full strength, as previously imagined. The four half companies of the for- mer regiment would nominally only total 250 men, the six companies of Fu- nilinm ’750 mp." anti “1n nrHllarnmAn At the Government office no effort was made to conceal the feeling of dismay prevailing. One official said to a representative of the Associated Press: "It is inexplicable, and I am sorry to any that it moral effect is lnestimable. We have lost heavily in many were and have had regiments almost wiped out, but to have regi- ments captured, and by the Boersâ€"it ls terrible." EXCUSES FOR GEN. WHITE. The mainline-Age of General. White’s GREAT HELP TO THE BOERS. W HITE’S MANF ULNESS. A FEARFUL LOSS. Q “The main advance was successfully ; carried out, the objective at the attack being found evacuated, and an artil- Ilery, duel between our field batterjes {and the enemy’s guns of the positlon iamd Maxims is understood to have cayggd ‘heavy 105; to the engmy._ avowal that A later despatch from Gen. White says :â€"”I took out from Ladysmitha brigade of mounted troops. two brig- ade divisions of the Royal Artillery, the Natal Field Battery. and two brig- ades of infantry to .reconnoitre in force the enemy's main position to the north, and, if the opportunity should offer. to capture the hill behind Farquâ€" bar's farm, which had on the previous day been held in strength by the ernemy. In connection with this ad- vance a column. consisting of the Tenth Mountain Artillery, four half companion of the Gloucesters, and six companies of the Royal Irish Fusiliers, the whole under Lieut.â€"Col. Carlton and Major Adye. Deputy Assistant Adjutantâ€"General, was despatohed at 11 p.m.. on the. 29th, to march by night up. Bell‘s Sprui-t and seize Nicholson’s Nek, or Some position near Nicholson’s Nek, thus turning the enemy's right flank. “The reconnaissance forced_ _t.he enemy to fully disclose his pomtlon, and, after a strong counter attack on our right, the ‘infantry brigade and cavalry had been: repulsed, the troops were slowly withdrawn to camp. pickets being left on observation. General White’s account shows that the disaster is not so serious a one as reported at first. Neither the Glouces- tem nor the Fusiliers were present in full strength, as previously imagined. The four half companies of the for- mer regiment would nominally only ., total 250 men, the six companies of Fu- isiliers '750 men, and the artillerymen ' 125 men, or an aggregate of 1,125 men. ‘ 300 KILLED AND WOUNDED. _ General Sir Stewart White has cabl- ed the War Office, that in the engage- ment on Farquhar’s farm, near Lady- smith, on October 30, when Lieut.-C‘ol. Carleton’sv column was compelled to surrender, six officers Were killed ‘ and nine wounded. Among the non-commissioned officers and men i‘the casualties were 54 in killed ‘ and 231 in wounded. Gen While prom- ise's a list of the missing later. i “Late in the engagement the naval contingent, under Gaptain Lambton, 0f H.M.S. Powerful, came into action and silenced, with their extremely accur- ite fire, the enemy's guns of posi- ion. STAMPEDE 0F BATTERY M ULES. "The circumstances which attended the movements of Lieut.-Col. Carlton's column are not yet fully known, but from reports received; the column ap- pears to have carried out the night march unmolested. until within two miles of Nicholson’s Nek. At this point two boulders rolled from the hill, and a few rifleshots stampeded; the infantry ammunition mules. The stampede spread to the 'battery mules, which broke loose from their leaders, and got away with practically the whole of the gun equipment and. the reater portion of the regimental smafl ammunition, Themreserize was eimilarly loet. "The infantry battalions, however, fixed bayonets, and, accompanied by the personnel of the artillery, seized a hill on the left of the roads. two miles from the Nekg with but little opposl- tion. There they remained unmolested till dawn, the: time being occupied m organizing the defence of the hill and constructing stone sangars‘ and walls as cover from fire. "At dawn a skinmfishring attack on our position was commenced by the enemy. but made no .way‘ until 9.30 a. in, when strong reinforcements en- abled them to mush to the attack with great energy. Their tire became very searching, and two companies of the Gloucesters, in an advanced position, were ordered to fall back. The enemy then pressed to short range, the losses on our side becoming very' numerous, AMMUNITION GONE, BRITISH CAP- .TURED. "At. 3 pun. our ammunition was practically exhausted, the position was captured, and the survivors of the «total-nu fell into the enemy’s hands. "The. enemy treated our wounded with humanity, Gen. Joubem: at once des-patehing a letter to me, offering a safe conduct to doctors and ambul- ances to remove. the wounded. A me- dical officer and parties to render first aid to the wounded were despatched to the scene of action from Ladysmith that night, and the ambulance at dawn netit‘morning. "The want'of success of the column was due to the misfortune of the mules stampeding and the consequent loss of the guns and small-arm ammun‘tion and the reserve. “The official list of casualt.es and prisoners will be reported shortly. The latt_e1: are “mndgrstood to have been yoymm his fault has Lieut, J. T. MOD “1â€"1911. ougall, Royal Ar- V Maior W. T. Meyers, King’s Royal Rifles. 7 IliéucfHanm Beloher, Royal Artil- legz, peveiely. Mémjor Hefity E. Buchanan-Ridden, Ki_n_g's>R9_ya1 Rjfles, ‘seveggly. _ 7 Lieut. William Chapman, Natal Mounted Rifles. MajOr Edward Gray, Medical Corps. Lieut. T. L. Forster, King's Royal Rifles. Major John Dawkins, Royal Artil- lery, slightly.” _ _ Captain G. B. H. Rice, Royal Irish. Fusiliers, severely. Captain W. B. Silver, Royal Irish, severely. . Captain 5. Wilcox, Gloucestemhire, severely. , Captain B. Fyfe, Gloucesterehire. severely. 7- Captain F. S. Stayner, Gloucester- shjre, severely. Liâ€"eut. E. S. Marsd ' ' Rifles. en. nga Royal Liéut. H'. c. Johnéton, Kifig’s Royal Rifles, severely. Lat'e Thurs-any the War Office re- ceived a despatch from the Governor of Natal, Sir Walter Francxs Hely- Hutchinson, announcing that,\ com- munication with Ladysmith has,been interrupted since half past two o clock Thursday afternoon. The War Office issued the followms despatohzâ€" . Chief of Staff, Ladysmlth. to War Secretar : Ladysmithf Nov. 2.â€"-â€"Lieut. Egel‘ton. H.M.S. Powerful, dangerously wound- ed this morning by a shell, left knee and right foot, Life not in danger at prgsent. It was inferred from this desPatCh that the artillery duel between the Boers and British continues, as Lieut. Egerton was a gunnery lieutenant WI?!) @136 big naval guns._ . g 1 Another fist of cagualties at Dundee wasissued by the War Office Thursday morning It gives eighty-two non‘ commissioned officers and men of_ the Dublin Fusiliers missing, indicat- ing that the Boers captured as many Ft'xgiliers as they did Husgarst General Jan H. M. Kock, who was Second in command in the Transvaal forces, and who was wounded in the battle of Elandslaagte, died in the'hos- Pita] at Ladysmith on Monday mght. EXTENSIVE PREPARATIONS. A despatch from London, Fnday, sayszâ€"All was quiet at Bulawayo, In Rhodesia, according to despatches re- ceived this morning. up to October 27. There has been some skirmishing on the border. Apparently extensive preparations are in progress at De Aar, Cape Col- ony, for the concentration of Lieut- Gen. Buller’s army. Thousands of mules are corralled in that neighbourâ€" hood, and transport material is being hurried 31) from the south. . ' The War Offiée received a telegram deSPatched from Ladysmith at 925 Thursday morning, saying that Ger}- eral White was well and holding his Position" BOMBARDMENT RENEWED. special despatches from Ladysmith dated Tuesday, give further details re- garding the renewal of the bombayd- meat. The Boers, having reoccup'fifd their old positions remounted blg guns. Their firing was accurate, bui almost harmlegs. Some of the troops were slightly injured by sqlihgem- Lieuit. F. G. Ezgerton, and his men from the Powerful did splendid work and Quickly silenced the Boer guns. The Boers acknowledged having suf- fered heavy losses in men and horses myths previous battle“ Accbidihgfitb anoihei‘ idespatch, the naval brigade at Ladysmith has glountod four more guns from Dur- an. The report comes from Rome that Portugal will permit the landing of British troops at Lorenzo Manques. This coinmdes with the View strongly prevalent in some quarters here that the British invasion of the Transvaal will be m1de from that point. BRITISH LOSSES TO DATE The total loss' to British arms since the, war actually. commenced with the bmnbarding of the armoured train new Elandslaagte, twentyâ€"one days ago is 216 killed and 721 wounded. Thi does not include the captured, which will swelh the total by fuly 1.- Lie-utenants . . . 31 Rank and fiYe. . . . . 658 BOERS MOUNT MORE GUNS. The London Daily Mail nunlishes the following des‘patcn from its war cor- respondent. G. W. Sceevens. at Lady- smith, dated Wednesday morning :â€"_ “Matters [0â€"day are qulet. The Boens are apparently mounting more heavy guns to the north and north- east, whxoh are likely to give us tirou'ble. “A Boer contingent 1,500 strong, and clearly visible from me camp, is streaming away to we south. The in- habitants of Ladysmlth continue to leave that town.” The accouan that continue to arrive regarding the fignting on Monday only confirm its seriousness and the narrow escape General White had. It now appears as if it were only the arrival of the naval contingent from the Pow- erful which prevented aworse disaster. It seems that when it was seen that retirement was imperative two Natal cavalrymen volunteered to convey a despatch across the Boer nnes to Ma- jor Adye, ordering him to retire, but the risk was considered too great, and flag signalling was employed instead. The distance was too great and rough for cavalry to go to his assistance. Colonels. . Majors. . Captains. . Ll‘eutecnants. Rank and file. Colonels. . Majors. . . Captains. . Lie-utenants Rank and fi.’e. LLéutecnants. . . . . 14 Rank and file. . . . .,.191 TOTAL BRITISH \VOUNDEDâ€"721. Accdrdin'g :6 despath filed on TOTAL BRITISH KILLEDâ€"216. THE DEAD OFFICERS. WOUNDED OFFICERS. 22 It is believed that \the Delagoa bay route, if not already restored speedin will be, thus giving quicker communi- cation witb the Cape. BOERS FELL IN HEAPS. A trustworthy correspondent of the Central News at Ladysmith, in a desk- patch dated Tuesday, 5.15 p.m.. gives an account of Monday’s fight. He says:-â€"_ The Boers were threatening to at- tack the town in. force om Wednesday: and Thursday, and the women, chilâ€" dren, and other non-combatants were being sent by traip to the south. Ladyâ€" smitl; isg provisioned toy two months. i ‘ "Although it was a bad day for us, it was positively terrible for the ene- my. , Our artillery fire was appalling. The Boers lost hundreds in killed and wounded. » They fell in heaps where our shells burst. “Commandantâ€"General Joubert sent a formal written protest to General White against the us of lyddite, as inhuman. The British longâ€"range guns are vastly superior to the Boer bat- teries. ATTACK IN FORCE WEDNESDAY.. Tuesday, diffemsive works were being constructed on the hilia around Lady- smith, and it was expected there that the big naval guns would be mounted the following day. A despatch from Colesburg, dated Nov. 1. announces that six police who were stationed at Colesbuxfg' bridge, were surrounded and captured. This is probably the origin of the story that the Boers had occupied Colesburg. . BOERS IN ZULULAND. At de‘spatcth from Durban, Saturday says :â€"-A letter from Eshowe, Eulu' land: reports that there are from 2,- 000 to 3.000 Boers, with severalguns, to the northward of Zululand, and that thgy are ready to march._ “The captured column exceeds 800 men. We are sanguine and confident that we can hold our own.” The shipping agents desire an ex- plicit definition of contraband of war in order to prevent the present in- convenience. T}1_'e Americinâ€"Afriâ€"(zhnj‘ine steamer Marla. which clxearec'l from East Lonâ€" don for Delugoa Bay,h‘as been; detain- ed here pending enquires as to her cargo. \ CONCENTRATED AT BETHULIE. A despatch from Lorenzo Marques says: Five bodies of Boers, totalling 4.000 men, with field guns, are conâ€" centrated at Bethulie bridge, Cape Colony. They have collected much food. . The Paris correspondent of the Lou- dqp_1_)ai1y MailI gays;â€" "I learn that the Transvaal and Free State Governments, before the war, placed large orders with the gun- makers at Le Creuzot, but that not all the weapons could; be delivered owing to the suddenlness with which hostili- ties began. The guns the Boers are actually using are. Creuzotsâ€"75 milli- metre quick-timers. and 155 millimetre siege and garrisomguns, all mounted on light carriages, and adapted in every possible way for use over muddy roads. They had two months’ firing practice under competent Creuzot agents. If they could have had anoth- er month's practice, no European ar- tillery could have. withstood them." MORE AUSTRALIAN! TROOPS. A despatch from Sydney, N. S. W., says eâ€"Tremendous enthusiasm was displayed on Friday on the occasion of the embarka'tion' of the second. de- flaohlme-nt furnished by: the colony of New South Wales for service in South Africa. The Colonial Government is seriously considering doubling the con- tingent. The Premier, Mr. Lyne, has communicated to the other Australian Premiers a suggestion that the col- onies should despatch‘ to South Africa another body of troops, to be called the Australian oontlngent. He says that if necessary 10,000 en could be sent. MORE HOT BATTLES. A despat ch from London, sayszâ€"The following details of fighting at Ladyâ€" smith have been received:â€" “Thursday, 2.40 p.111. â€"On Saturday some of the British guns were quietly placed in a better position, the naval brigade getting three of the Power- ful’s quick-fires on ahigh ridge close to the western side of the town.( The Boers also dragged one of their forty- pounders to an excellent new position, and replaced their disabled guns with new ones in the old positions. They also placed a new battery on a hill four miles southâ€"west of the town. “Gen. White and his staff were astir before daybreak and important move- ments were effected. At 6.10 the bluejackets opened on the ridge, where the Boers had a forty-Ipounder, and a furious cannonade ensued. After four hou_r_s the fortyâ€"pounder was silenced. “Meanwhile thé other batteries were busy, the British having the better ofht‘he fighting. “Gen. French, with the Lancers, Hussars, Natal Carbineers, and Border Rifles. started at dawm and got with- in striking distance of the Boer camp on ’Bester’s bill before the enemy noticed them. A field battery also managed to take up a position comâ€" manding the enemy’s camp without molestation. The camp was a large one, surrounded by waggons and other obstructions. Bester’s bill was well fortified, and there were good guns there. "About nine o’clock the British opened fire, The Boers replied spirit- edly, but their guns were not so well served and their fire was ineffective. “The British fire was very good, for within a short time a 42-pound shell hurst right in the midst of the camp, inflicting heavy loss and demoralizing the defenders. “Then the cavalry suddenly charged and swept over the laager. driving everything irresistibly before them, The Boers fled pvrecipitately, leaving many dead ~and wounded on the ground. The shell-fire had punished them terribly. “The entire camp equipment fell in- to 'the hands of the British. The scheme was well devised and brilliant- ly executed. Itis hoped that it will BOERS’ CREUZOT GUNS. The thirdâ€"class cruiser Pelorus has been ordered from Gibraltar to Dur- ban; and this third-class cruiser Fear‘ les_s from Port Said to the same point: l The general belief in Dondonis that the' Boers are now waiting for more guns from Pretoria. before attacking Ladysmith. The fact that Sir Redvers 'Builer appears to have ordered a re- tirement from Stormberz, and per- haps from other places. relievea to some extent: the public mind, which would have been further alarmed. Confidence is felt in any measures that) Gen. Buller. may deem desirable. The knowledge that the pigeon post is. working has also come as a relief to__thle great anxiety_ previously felt. . Despatches from Cape Town- and other centres in Cape Colony indicate that the Cape Dutch are becoming very restless in consequence of the continued Boer successes. Another despatch from Ladysmith‘ says the Boers have proclaimed the Upper Tugela division of Natal annex- ed_§o the Orange Free State." The news of the losses at Ladysmitb caused an unmistakable depression, especially when coupled with the fact that the Boers invaded the colony al- most simultaneously. _ oonsid'arably minimize the efficiency of- time Free State Boers to the west WM . i Considerab'e surprise is expressed at the constant bringing up at new gun: by the Boers at Larlysmith. WOMEN LEFT LADYSMITH. A despatch from Cape Town says â€"The Cape Argus has received tho fo!_l9wing from Lady'smirthrh- “On the suggestion of Gen. Whito the women and; children were sent south on Thursday evening. A large number of men left at the same time. Some of these behaved badly toward the women. Entire confidence is still reposed here in Gen. White and his staff, and it is expected that another pitched battle will dispel the linger- ing hope of the Boers that they will- be ‘able to ‘take Ladysmithl: The Dutch of the colony are showing, themselves loyal to the Britiish Gov- ernment, and so far as has been as- (fiertained, few of them: have joined the oers. The Boer prisoners have arrived at Simomtown, near Cape Town, where they are well. treated. KIMBERLEY} SAFE. The Kimberley correspondent of ths London Daily Mail, in a despatch filed November 1, forwarded by way of Oljgllge _river, says:-_â€"_â€" > “The Boers are still in force in this vicinity. On Saturday evening our patrol was fired on in the neighbor. hood of the Wesselton mine, the enemy expanding a quantity: of ammunition, inaffectually, however, owing to the long range. " A Free State burgher, with a pasa from the enemy has brought 200 oxen in'bo the town. The enemy is reported to.,ha.ve three siege guns in position- mt Oliplhantfontein, four miles from Wesaelton.” HOSPITAL SHIP MAINE. A‘ deapatch from London says :â€"Th¢ American women who are‘ eqwiwim‘ the hospital ship Main-e are putting forth particular efforts, The fitting 0th of the vessel is attracting wide at« ten-tion in England, and the efforts of the American women are given the heartiest recognition. In accordance with the wish of the Prince of Wales, Mrs. Brown Pot-‘ter has selected Nov. 18 as the date for the Cafe Chentant benefit for the Maine. Through the efforts of Sir Arthur Sullivan. Chad- idge’s hotel has been selected for the entertainment, and the Prince of Wales, the Princess Christian, and oth- er royalties will attend. The perform- ances will begin at 3 p.m., when all the leading United States actoris and actresses in London will appear, Ticn kets will be a guinea each, and re- freshments will be served’in the in- berim, which, it is expected, will be an additional source of income. Sii‘ Redvers Bullet has wired tha War Office from Cape Town, nude] flute of Sunday, gratich Kekewiqh in command if Kimberley, reports. under date of Oct. 31, that all tht wounded were doing well. Prospector Parishes From Exposure Back of Rat Portage. A despateh from‘Rat Portage, says: â€"Telegraph Foreman McLeod, of Os- tersund, while out hunting on Lulu Lake, near Osters‘nnd, came across the decomposed: body of a man lying about fifteen feet from the shore. The clothes were nearly all rotted off the body, but a piece of a mackinaw coat and pants were found, and the man had on very fine light shoes, as if he were not equipped for rough bush work, such as prospecting or trapping. Mr. Belyea thinks the man may have had overshoes on, but that they came off while he was immersed in the wat- er, Another suit of clothes of a brown color were found about a hundred yards along the shore, but not a ves- tige of paper or pipe, tobacco, or knife were found. The name of the man or how he came by 'his death re- mains a mystery. a large log on the skidway when th- block gave way. Duplesee tried t1 jump out of the way, but was caugh between two logs and got his bac] broken, death being instantaneou: The deceased came here recently fro: Gatineau Point, Ottawa. ollnwa Han (taught, Between Two Log and Ills linck Broken. A despatch from Rat Portage, says â€"-A Frenchman named Fred Duplesee employed by Graham and Horn, am working in one of their lumber camps near Barwick, Rainy River, was deck ing logs,‘ and was in tlge act! of placin‘ GHASTLY REMAINS FOUND. KILLED IN THE SHANTIES. WAITING FOR GUNS.