The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-12-09
THE BATTLE OF MoppER RIVER.


Moddcr River on Thursday, Dec. 2, be-
tween Lieutenant General Lord Meth
ucn OF the British army and General
Cronje OF the Boer forces. 1t was first
proclaimed as glorious victory ior the
British, but subsequent news shows that
it was victory only in the sense that
the Boer army retrcated six miles fur
Their north toward Kimberley and left
the British behind in demoralized con-
dition to follow up as best they could
alter attending to their dead and wound
cd, which numbered 445 in all, accord
ing to Mcthuen's report to the war
was an artillery duel. There was no
bayonet charge by the British as in pre-
vious battles. Julian Ralph says in his
description OF it for the London Daily
Mail that the British never saw the
enemy, yet they were not able to raise
hand or foot without being riddled."
Lord Metlluen himself was wounded in
the thigh, and he says in his laconic
report OF the conflict that it was the
bloodiest OF the century. OF course he
is greatly mistaken. The battle was a
desperate one, but the contending forces
were not more than 10000. The loss to
the British at Majuba Hill was relatively
larger than at Modder River, unless the
loss was greater than is reported by
Methuen. He did not lose 5 per cent OF
his men, taking his forces at 10000. At
the battle OF Waterloo neither side lost
less than 20 per cent OF the men ell
gagged. In the battles OF the Civil War
in this country the loss on either side
often averaged 20 per cent, and at the
battle OF Chickamauga $4,000 were killed
and wounded, total more than the COM
bined forces engaged at Modder River.
SO that when Lord Methuen called the
little fight on the river in Cape Colony
the bloodiest battle OF the century he
was guilty OF using hyperbole, and must
have been thinking of rivers of blood
and hills Of slain" when sending his tele
gram.
From all we have read of Modder
River, General Methuen displayed poor
military skill, and the London Times
says almost as much. The Boer army
was in the form of semicircle on both
sides OF the river and when the British
attacked the center they were riddled
on three sides and obliged to lie down
during the artillery contest, which was
terrific. We will let the correspondents
OF the Associated Press with Lord
Methuen tell the story as follows:
For five hours the British batteries
poured tons OF shrapnel and shells into
the Boer positions. Lord Methuen had
81 guns, and each fired an average OF
200 rounds. The Beers had an almost
equal number of guns, which, it is re-
ported, were mostly served by German
and French artillerists.
1T is believed that the Beers had oc-
cupied the position several weeks before
and had spent the interval in fortifying
and rendering it, as they considered, i'm
pregnable. They did not seem to fear to
spend their ammunition, and their guns
were we'll and smartly handled. Owing
to the bend in the river on the right,
the Beers had an opportunity OF cross
firing on the British attack. A Boer
Hotchl>iss was directed with marvellous
accuracy against British Maxim, kill
ing the sergeant in charge, wounding
an officer and disabling the gun. This
occurred quite at the beginning OF the
engagement. Whenever the Boer fire
was silenced in one direction it was i'm
mdiately rcopcned in another.
Owing to the terrific fire, nobody on
the plain was out Of range. Stretcher
bearers found it impossible to go for
ward in the few cases they were called
upon to attend, and the wounded we're
compelled, ii possible, to crawl out OF
the lines.
No quarter seems to have been given
on either side. The British assert that,
amid the bullets, the ambulance wagons
displayed their flags promiscuously to
no advantage. These were repeatedly
driven back and compelled to take
refuge out Of sight.
ut is alleged that the Beers used
dum-dums and made special targets OF
the horses on the plain in the hope OF
hitting the riders. While the Argyll
Highlanders were pushing across the
river they were fired upon from house,
and several men fell. Thereupon the
Highlanders stormed the house, and,
although the Beers hoisted white flag.
no attention was paid to it, and all the
Beers were shot"
A week has elapsed since the battle
and Mcthuen has not cared to meet the
Beers again up to the time of writing.
He has been evidently waiting for re-
Inducements. The Beers in the next
conflict will render good account of
themselves, and it is safe to assert that
the British will find it quite difficult TO
proceed to the relief OF Kimberley.
VictOria'S Hypocrisv.