Towyn-on-Sea and Merioneth County Times

A COLUMN REVERSE. BRITISH CASUALTIES 236. COLONEL BENSON KILLED. From Loid Kitchener to Secretary of State for War:- PRETORIA, November 1. I have just heard that a severe attack was made on rear-guard of Colonel Benson's Column when about 20 miles to the North-west of Bethel, near Brakenlaagte, during a thick mist. Strength of enemy was reported to be 1,000. They rushed the two guns with the rear guard but it is uncertain whether they were able to remove them. Casual- ties are, I fear, heavy. Benson was wounded, but not severely. A relieving Column will reach him this morning. Full particulars will be sent as soon as they reach me. 2 15 p.m. Have just received further news of Benson's Column. Colonel Barter, who marched from the Constabulary line at two p.m. yesterday, reached the Column early this morning without opposition. He reports Colonel Benson has died of wounds. Other casualties are Officers killed, 8; wounded, 13; killed, 54 non-commissioned officers and men; Wounded, 160 non-commissioned officers and men (four since dead). I assume the two guns have been recovered, and that enemy has withdrawn, but have no further details. I deeply regret loss of Colonel Benson and of officers and men who fell with him. In Colonel Benson the service loses a most gallant and capable Commander, who has invariably led his Column with marked success and iudgment. Colonel Barter adds :—" The fighting with the Jear-guard was at very close quarters, and was maintained with great determination on both sides. The enemy suffered heavily but I have not yet received reliable estimate of losses. Boers retired East."

THE BETHEL EIGHT. BOERS' DESPERATE CHARGES. Monday. The following are details of the fight with Colonel Benson's Column, near Bethel. Louis Botha, retreating to the North with his force from the Zululand Border, effacted a junction with a large Commando, and then waited for a favourable opportunity to attack. The combined Boer force is estimated at a thousand strong. The enemy came upon Colonel Benson's rear guard on Wednes- day, and deprived the British of two guns, though unable to obtain possession of them. Colonel Benson was mortally wounded in the early part of the fight, and Major Wool-Sampson, who took command, at once proceeded to collect his convoy. Having successfully accomplished this, he took up a position for defence. This was within five hundred yards of some Boer entrenchments. The Boers made desperate efforts to overwhelm the whole force, charging repeatedly right up to the British lines, and being beaten off on each occasion with heavy loss. The defence was stubbornly and successfully maintained throughout Thursday and and the succeeding night and on Friday morning Colonel Barter arriving with reinforcements, the Boers retired. The losses on both sides were very severe, that of the Boers being estimated at be. tween three and four hundred. General Botha took part in the fight. In all twelve British officers were killed.

REPRISAL THREATS. A Brussels correspondent telegraphs that Botha has informed Lord Kitchener that for each Boer prisoner shot or hanged a British officer would be shot or hanged by the Boers. Lieutenant Doyle is the first victim of the Boer reprisals. THE WORCESTER CONGRESS. REVENGE FOR BROKEN PROMISES. TUESDAY. A party of the Worcester District Mounted Troops was surprised on Friday by Boers, under Van Heerden, six miles from Constable. Fourteen of the seventeen men were captured after their ammunition was expended. Van Heerden said the Worcester Congress encouraged the invasion, and they were determined to ruin the farmers, who had promised so much by word but had failed in deed. The Boers, he added, knew that the restoration of their independence was hopeless, but they con- tinued the struggle to make the Colonial farmers, their quondam friends, feel the pinch.-Another section of the Worcester District Mounted Troops encountered the Boers near Touws River on Friday. Two of the enemy were killed and six wouuded.- Twrsnty-one Boers were captured on Friday near Aliwal North by a detachment of Colonel Taylor'e Column.

FURTHER DETAILS. BOERS CAPTURE TWO GUNS. Wednesday. The following official despatches were issued by the War Office yesterday :— From Lord Kitchener to the Secretary of State for War. RESIDENCY, PRETORIA, Monday, 11 55 p m. Following details of engagement at Brakenlaagte just arrived. Column under Colonel Benson lefb camp just to the north of Bethel at dawn, 30th October, marching on Brugspruit. A certain num- ber of Boers were about and reported to be holding Brakenlaagte, where they intended to camp. The weather was wet and stormy. Enemy wore easily kept off during march, and Brakenlaagte was occu- pied at 1 p.m. Rear guard, with two guns and screen of 2nd Scottish Horse, were stationed on a ridge, evidently within range of camp. An attempt of Boors on one flank of rearguard was driven off, and the screen of 2nd Scottish Horse was being brought in when Boers circled around, under cover of roTling ground, and attacked ridge on which guns were placed, under cover of violent storm of rain and hail at their backs. This attack was unnoticed until enemy had reached position on the ridge within close range of guns, whence they shot down escort and gun horses. Colonel Benson and Colonel Guinness were both shot at the guns. Owing to simultaneous attack on camp, sub- stanial support was not sent to position on ridge. Boers were unable to remove guns until our ambulance went out, when, under cover of them, the guns were taken away. The enemy withdrew to long range, and maintained a desultory fire during 31st October, but made no further attack on camp. Boer losses undoubtedly heavy, but no correct estimate can be yet obtained. Commandant Opperman was killed and Chris Botha wounded. Boers are reported to have behaved badly to our wounded.

BRITISH LOSSES. MONTHLY STATEMENT. The monthly statement of the losses of the South African Field Force, issued by the War Office past night, shows that the casualties in action reported during October (including those at Moedwil on September 30 but not those at Brakenlaagte on October 30) numbered 674. Of this number 26 officers and 179 men were killed and 52 officers and 390 men wounded. Since the beginning of the war there have been 433 officers and 4,471 men killed in action, 141 officers and 1,540 men have died of wounds, and 261 officers and 10,425 men have died of disease. The total number of deaths in South Africa and at home, is 18,283, and the total reduction of our military forces through the war is 22,773. LOSSES OF THE BOERS. Lord Kitchener has sent the following message to the War Ofnce :— Residency, Pretoria, 4th Nov, Noon. Since the 28th October columns report:—Twenty- eight Boers killed, 11 wounded, 275 prisoners, and 23 surrenders. Also 230 rifles, 21,500 rounds small arm ammunition, 112 waggons, 150 horses, and 1,430 cattle. These numbers include all separately repo- during week, but none for the attack on Col Benson's column on October 30th. OFFER FROM CANADA. A Halifax (N.S.) telegram says:—The Colonel and other officers, and the rank and file of the Royal Canadian Regiment, which is doing garrison duty here, have volunteered for active service in South Africa. The intimation was conveyed to Colonel Biscoe, Imperial officer commanding, by Colonel Skinner, on behalf of the regiment. The men are anxious to go to South Africa, and they say that nothing would give them more pleasure than to receive orders for the front.

LOCAL CASUALTIES. Shropshire Light Infantry Lieut C A Wilkinson, discharged to duty. Royal Welsh Fusiliers: Lieut H C Prescott, dis- charged to duty. 2nd South Wales Borderers: 6748 Pte H Collins, dead (enteric), Elandsfontein, November 2. 3150 Pte W Sexton, dangerously ill (acute dysentery), Elandsfontein, November 1. 5882 Pte J Horsfall, Klerksdorp, November 2, dead (enteric). PteM 7268 S Higton (dysentery) and 7615 Albert Morgan (enter ic), dangerously ill, Elandsfontein, November 2. 6059 Pte E Mytton (dysentery), dangerously ill, Johannesburg, November 3. 3rd South Wales Borderers Ptes 6208 J Temple- man and 4809 James Weale, dangerously ill (enteric), Mafeking, November 2. BOER PRISONERS The steamship Armenian left point Natal for Bombay, Nov, 3 Boer prisoners officers, 36 men, 981), escorted by, among others, 1st Battalion Shropshire Light Infautry, Lieut. Colonel Bulman. PROMOTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS, 4th (Militia) Battalion the King's (Shropshire Light Infantry) Second-Lieut A G Money resigns his commission. 4th (Militia) Battalion the Royal Welsh Fusiliers: Lieut F G Waddington (seconded for service with the Remount Department). The South Wales Borderers.—Second Lieut. P A Grogan is seconded for service with the West African Regiment.

QUEEN AND TROOPS. A THOUGHTFUL PRESENT. Queen Alexandra purposss making a Christmas present to a number of soldiers now serving at the front in South Africa. Her Majesty has ordered some thousands of good briar pipes, silver mounted, and upon the mount of each one is to be stamped a Crown and the Queen's monogram. It is under- stood that the makers will be required to deliver the consignment in good time to allow of their reaching South Africa before Christmas. The Press Association understands tLat the number of pipes will be somewhere about six thousand, and that the gifts are intended, not for general distribution, but for presentation to the men of the regiments with which Queen Alexandra is directly connected. WAR ITEMS. Mr John Morley's speech is commented on with great delight in Boer circles in Brussels. Mr Kruger and his supporters are evidently encouraged by the attitude of the British pro-Boer Party. The Bath City Swordbearer, on Saturday, con- veyed to London the silver statuette of Earl Rcberts's late son which has been presented to the CoMinander-in-Ohief by his admirers in Bath. Queen Wilhelmina has conferred the Grand Cross of the Orange Nassau Order upon the President of the Dutch Red Cross Society, who was recently expelled from South Africa by order of Lord Milner. This act of her Majesty is regarded in Brussels as a protest against the action of the High Com- missioner. It having been brought to the notice of the War Office that some of the Imperial Yeomanry regi- ments (at home) are adopting a fancy style of ser- vice dress and some of them a full dress also, the Commander-in-Chief has directed that all proposals of the kind shall be submitted for approval. Earl Roberts, through his private secretary, has replied to a resolution of the Lancashire and Cheshire Conservative Working Men's Association in regard to the arrears of payment of the Yeomanry who have returned from South Africa. He points out that the Yeomanry are in a different position from that of the ordinary soldiers, and that it is difficult to investigate their claims. But all is be- ing done that can be done, and allowances are being made to the men preparatory to a final settlement. 0

CHINESE AFFAIRS REACTIONARY EFFORTS. LI HUNG CHANG SERIOUSLY ILL. Saturday. A Special Correspondent at Shanghai says that Yung Lu and other reactionaries are making strenuous efforts to undermine the influence and position of the Yang-tse Viceroys. He hears, how- ever, that in consequence of their violent opposition to the Manchurian Convention, the Empress Dowager has resolued to denounce it, and has in- formed Li Hung Chang accordingly. Li Hung Chang on receiving this intimation is said to have had a violent attack of illness, and it is repoited that he may die at any moment. Prince Lu has been appointed to represent China at King Edward's Coronation. — ♦

GENERAL BULLER. DEVONSHIRE RECEPTION. MEETING IN LONDON. Saturday. General Sir Redvers Buller and Lady Audrey Buller left Aldershot yesterday for Crediton, join- ing the express train for the west at Farnborough. At the latter station a crowd of people had assembled, who cheered the General. On arriving at Exeter the travellers were welcomed by a number of people, whom the General thanked for the warmth of their reception. As the train left for Crediton, loud cheers were given for General and Lady Audrey Buller. On reaching Crediton, General Buller had a hearty welcome, he and Lady Audrey Buller being escorted to their home at Downe by a crowd of friends. At a meeting, attended by some eight hundred Devonians in London, held at the Hotel Cecil, last night, to express sympathy with General Sir Redvers Buller, Lord Monkswell, who presided, said that officer had the consolation that, in hia retirement, he could look back to a long and brilliant series of services, and carried with him the unbounded confidence, respect, and affection of his country and his county. A resolution expressing unabated confidence in Sir Redvers was carried by acclamation. The meeting throughout was characterised by great enthusiasm. + —

THE SIMPLON TUNNEL. A VEIN OF WATER. The great Simplon tunnel, which when finished will be twelve miles and a half long, has met with a serious obstacle. For about a month the work to the south has had to be suspended owing to a vein" of water. At first it was supposed (says a Pall Mall Gazette correspondent) that the water, which is present in enormous quantity, came from Lake Avino, near which the tunnel passes, but this is not so. The latest idea is that it is derived from the Cairasca torrent, which, having its origin at the foot of Mouut Leone, goes almost parallel with the tunnel. It is intended to make the experiment of throwing a large quantity of strong colouring matter into the torrent, so that if it appears in the tunnel there will be proof that the water there comes from the Cairasca. In that case it will be necessary to open a new gallery to go round the inundation. The expense and time needed will, of course, be great.

BETTING HOUSES. EXEMPLARY FINES. Before the Oxford City Magistrates on Friday, Owen George Roe, antique dealer Morton Herse and Walter Herse, athletic outfitters, and Percy Palmer, tobacconist, were charged with keeping and using their shops as betting houses on Oct 30. Ferdinand Marcham Townsend, undergraduate of Christ Church, and Arthur Douglas Sloane and Lawrence A Schwann, undergraduates of Merton College, and William Bowell, painter, were charged with resorting to one or other of the shops for the purpose of betting. All the defendants pleaded guilty. The prosecutions were undertaken by the police, and from the evidence it appeared that an extensive betting business was done, that by Palmer being with the labouring classes. In giving the decision of the Bench, the Mayor said Roe, Palmer, and the brothers Herse would each be fined the maximum amount of £100 and Court costs, two guineas, in default six months' imprisonment with hard labour. The Bench were unanimously of opinion that these were very bad cases, and Palmer's was, perhaps, the worst, If another case came before them it was probable that the penalty would be imprisoned without the option of a fine. Townsend, Sloane, Schwann, and Bowell were each bound over in their own recognisances. The three former having to pay jEl Is costs, and the latter 10s 6d. The Court was crowded during the hearing of the charges, the Senior and Junior Proctors being amongst those present.

+ — The Maltese Government having declined to send the petition of the Maltese to King Edward, on account of its violent terms, the agitation in Malta has recommenced (says the Daily Chronicle corres- pondent) and the Maltese journals are sharply attacking the Government.

PERSONAL. Amongst the most recent fads of society women is that of being photographed as a moving picture and some of the greatest ladies in London have seT, the fashion. The effect, especially for groups, is sometimes very pretty. For children the process is more appropriate. One of the most interesting of these moving pictures is that of the children of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, taken in the gardens of Marlborough House. The children. were playing soldiers, with flags, swords, and other implements of war. Mr Herbert Gladstone and Miss Dorothy Paget were married at St Andrew's Church, Wells street, London, on Saturday. A story is told of Mr Herbert Gladstone which has the advantage of having grown out of its sting. A very well-known man who was a great friend of the Gladstone family was asked long ago what he thought of Mr Herbert Gladstone's political prospects. Her- bert," he said, might do remarkably well. I have no doubt, having heard him speak, that he would do vary well indeed. But one thing stands in the way-that piano. If only he would give up that piano, that infernal piano." Mr Herbert Gladstone has been faithful to his piano, and it is said that what has not hindered him in his political life has been a considerable advantage to him in another field. The King presented a silver ink- stand to the bridegroom as a wedding gift. Sir Redvers and Lady Audrey Buller remain at their Devonshire seat for the present, but Sir Redvers has definitely arranged to keep his engage- ment to attend the dinner of the Devonians in London on November 30. Sir Redvers and Lady Audrey desire to return their grateful thanks to all who have written to them, the number of whom is so great that it is impossible to make an acknow- ledgment save through the courtesy of the press. The Duchess of Albany and Princess Alice are to arrive in England this week from Germany, and will stay in the country for about a month, residing at Claremont Park, near Esher. The Duchess and her daughter are to visit the King and Queen at Sandringham, Prince and Princess Christian at Cumberland Lodge, and Princess Beatrice at Osborne Cottage daring their stay in England, and they will spend Christmas at Coburg with the young Duke of Coburg. Mr and Mrs Wynne Corrie hove returned to Park Hall from Scotland. The young Queen of Holland is said to be a total abstainer, and refuses on all occasions to take wine. Her most intimate friend, Princess Pauline of Wiirtemberg, was by her (says the Westminister Gazette) won over to the ranks of the teetotallers. She is, it is believed, the only teetotaller among reigning monarchs except the Sultan of Turkey. t —

Y GOLOFN GYMREIG. PA ATEB A GAF GAN FY MARNWR DDYDD SADWRN Y BYD. Fy Nuw da gad imi anadlu o hyd, Tra byddwyf byw yn y byd, Yn ngwynt Mor Coch lawn y groes, Hyd derfynau eitha' foes. Gwared fi na chaffwyf friw na braw, Wedi i'r frawdle fawr y farn a ddaw, Ti gei y clod am achub un mor wael, Os gwelir fi yn mhlith y saint ar gael. MILES GLAN DYSYNNI.

THE ROYAL TITLE. THE PRINCEDOM" QUESTION. At a meeting of the Privy Council on Monday the King signed a proclamation declaring the revised terms of the Royal title. The title will now read :—" Edward the Seventh, by the grace of God of the United Kingdon of Great Britian and Ireland and of the British dominions beyond the seas, King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India." At the same meeting of the Council the King signed the proclamation by which Parliament is further prorogued until 14th December. The previous prorogation was until Tuesday, and a further proclamation was thus immediately necessary. The Press Association states that a change in the style and title of the Duke of Cornwall may be looked for in the near fiture. Considerable disap- pointment was manifested when, on the accession of the King, the title Prince of Wales" did not revert to the Duke, but it was felt that the title must remain in abeyance for a considerable time. The term had been so long associated with the personality of the King that an immediate trans- ference of it would have led to endless eonfusion and difficulty, and it was at the time definitely stated that nothing would be done till after the conclusion of the Duke's colonial tour. Eight months have passed, and the objections to the transference have now very largely if not wholly disappeared. No offical announcement is possible at the present moment and it is improbable that any will be authorised until the time arrives f, # the publication of a Gazette notification, but it may be confidently predicted that the disappointment felt, particularly in the Principality, at the disap- pearance of the title Prince of Wales" will shortly be remedied.

Mr Walter Runciman was on Monday night adopted as Libeial candidate for Dewsbury. The King has been pleased to approve the appointment of Mr C Swinfen Eady, K.C., as a Judge of the Chancery Division of the High Court of Justice, in place of Lord Justiee Cozens-Hardy. The dinner to Sir Thomas Lipton in recognition of his efforts to win the Ameiisan Cup has now been fixed to be held at the Hotel Cecil on Monday November 25. Lord Tweedmouth will preside. The Pan-American Exposition at Buffalo closed on Saturday night. Although finanically a failure, about £600,000 having been lost, it is believed (according to a Times correspondent) that the re- sults of the exhibition will be of great value to the country's commercial interests. After the death of Mr M'Kinley there was a drop of 12 per cent in the attendance, and no improvement followed. Printed and Published by David Rowlands, at 21, Berriew Street, Welshpool, in the County of Montgomery, and at Towyn, in the County of Merioneth.—Thursday, November 7, 19C1.