GENERAL WHITE’S BLUNDER.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIII, Issue XXIII, 2 December 1899, Page 1017

GENERAL WHITE’S BLUNDER.

ANOTHER .ACCOUNT OF THE LADYSMITH DISASTER. MELBOURNE, November 24. Neiis by the Ninevah. which has just arrived front Cape Colony, states that tlie battle at Ladysmith, where t'he British lost the Tenth Mountain Battery and portions of the Gloucestershire Regiment and the Royal Irish Fusiliers, was an exciting one. It is estimated 20,000 Boers took part. Joubert effected a junction with a Free State commando of some 10,000 men. He had disposed this combined force in a half-circle embracing- Ladysmith.

They occupied a radius of at least 14 miles, the right Hank being within 21 miles of Ladysmith, and the left flank resting on and being- protected by a very strong position, some seven miles from the town.

‘Had it- been possible for General White to have disposed his forces so that he could outflank the enemv and driven them on to his centre, there would have been a different story to relate. Once driven in upon his. position, the enemy would ’have had to stand a bayonet charge as at Elands Laagte, with the cavalry in readiness to cut off their retreat Dundee way. The Boer position was. however, too extended and ramified through physical advantage, and our forces were too few to bring about a decisive engagement. w General White effected all that could possibly be done with the means at his disposal.

The strength and accuracy of the cncuij s shell fire, and their overwhelming numbers would potlsibly have meant decimation of our infantry if we had charged the main position. There was nothing left but to fail back on Ladysmith, a movement which was carried on with perfect coolness, notwithstanding a galling fire from the enemy’s guns. Had the quality of their shells been the same as ours our loss would have been much greater than it was. -As a matter ol fact, however, few of their shells burst properly, and bevpnd a few casualties, caused during t'he retreat, a most trying march back to camp was made in a wholly successful maimer.

The battle opened at daybreak and raged till three o’clock in the afternoon.

Three columns were engaged, one working in and driving the enemy on the left, one operating on the right, while the third, under General White, engaged t'he Boer centre.

The Royal Irish, the Gloucesters, and the 10th Battery were detailed on Sunday evening to’clear the left, so that the Boers should not slip past and get on to Ladysmith.

Shortly before three in the morningt'he stragglers from the Gloucesters, and the 10th Battery began coming in, while the mules with the remains of the battery, were seen moving past, some in charge of Cape boys, and others leaderless.

What had happened was something like this: Shortly after midnight the leading mules with the battery, became suddenly frightened by some shots, and swerved round and bolted, stampeding the entire battery. The mules broke through the Gloucesters and created confusion. Two battalions, however, remained intact, and they afterwards gave a good account of themselves, as from the central position incessant firing could be 'heard all the morning on the left, showing- that the Gloucesters and the Fusiliers were vigorously engaging the enemv there.

[At this point the message breaks off. several hundred words descriptive of reverse having apparently been cut out by the press censor, as it was possibly in conflict with the official statement afterwards made.] Until well on in the afternoon ths Doer main body was inactive, awaiting the residt of the artillery duel.

The guns kept up an incessant fire, but although our guns must have dona considerable execution the superior range of the enemy’s ordnance, and their accurate practice, enabled them to hold their own. Meanwhile our force on the Boer right flank became hotly engaged, tho Maxim fire being continually heard.

Some of the enemy’s sharpshooters also threatened us.

The Devons were sent to protect the line there, and the Light Horse moved to protect the rear directly over Ladysmith, on the right of our position. By noon General Wlrte brought up the Gordons and Manchesters to support the Devons.

The infantry were advanced, and it was hoped that it would be possible to charge the Boers, but the latter, who evidently held some of their big guns in reserve kept up a terrific fire, and as our right was overwhelmingly opposed, it was determined to retire to Ladysmith.

With this object, a strong body of Hussar lancers were directed to ride round the rear side of Lombardskop, and advance up the valley on to the plain, at the head of which a strong Boer stronghold was situated, anti there to protect the retreating infantry.

Tire cavalry were speedily in action, but so hot was the fire to which they were exposed, that they had to change their position. Their, retreat was, however, coolly carried out, the cavalry doing their work nimbly and taking the hottest part of a very hot afternoon’s work. The Boers followed up the retreat with a hail of shell the missiles bursting repeatedly amongst our men, but, happily for the most part ineffectually.

The accuracy of the fire may be gauged by the fact that the Manchesters, when they had gained the plateau opposite the Ladysmith abattoir, had shells sent repeatedly into their midst, while on the nearer riad into town. the. enemy’s ffiins landed shell after shell ou to the strings of retreating waggons as they came into view. General White remained in the field to the last, conducting the retiring movements, and the whole force arrived safely in Ladysmith.

BRITISH PROPERTY COMMANDEERED. Thousands of pounds’ worth of property at Johannesburg have been commandeered. and other nationalities receive similar treatment, but nothing like the extent of the British. A BOER REFUGEE. The Nineveh brings several refugees, one, who was formerly connected with the Labour movement at Broken Hill, has decidedly pro-Boer sympathies. He says the Transvaal, uhder Boer rule, was essentially a poor man’s land but he -was doubtful if it would continue so when Great Britain got hold of it. He asserts that the franchise would not be regarded seriously by the Uitlanders, though it was a good enoug’h pretext for the quarrel. The majority of the. Uitlanders did not want to vote, as they regarded the Transvaal merely as a place to make money, which they would spend in England or Australia. The Boers promise to make it warm for rhe volunteer fighters, and express sorrow for Tommy Atkins, who fights because he is paid; but to the volunteers, who preferred to battle against them, they would s’how no mercy.