Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 November 1899 — BLUNDER OF THE BRITISH. [ARTICLE]

BLUNDER OF THE BRITISH.

flluwi for UEyiaitk Defeat Divided Between White ead Carletoa. English military experts are agreed that the defeat hear Ladysmith was doe fie bad blunders. Gen. WMte is blamed tor aat having provided means of keeplag in touch with CoL Garieton’s column aad for act having made any effort to extricate the command from its untenable position. Col. Garieton is Mamed for not having retired to Ladysmith immediately after the loss of his artillery and ammunition through the stampede of Ms moles. In some quarters it is suggested that the Cape boys who were driving the moles and whoso loyalty has been under suspicion, caused the stampede in order to help the Boer cause. Gen. White, in giving details of the capture of Ms left wing, says: “The lost detachment under Col, Cartaton started Sunday night to seise Nicholson Nek, thus turning the enemy’s right. Carle ton got within two miles of Nicholson unmolested, when suddenly boulders were rolled from the hill and a few rifle shots were fired. This stampeded the moles drawing the ammunition and they disappeared In the direction of the enemy with practically all the gun equipment. Carleton then entrenched his forces on a neighboring MIL At 9:30 a. m. Monday, the Boers attacked the British in heavy force. Their fire was searching and two companies of the Gloucester regiment were obliged to retire from their advanced position. The enemy then pressed in at close range and oar losses were numerous. At 3 p. m. our ammunition was practically exhausted. When the Boers stormed our position our survivors were captured. The failure of the column is due to stampeding of the males."