Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1899-12-08
Cnr--rr, vD-o.,- WAN
OUU ii Ai'hiUAN W IAN
News Received In London
Still Disappointing.
DETAILS OF MODDER RIVER FIGHT.
A Battle of Unprecedented stubborn
ness on Both sides-Shelling of
Lndysmith Continues with
More Serious Results.

ness on Both Sfdes-SheIIfnE OF
Lndysmith Continues with .
More Serious Results.
LONDON, Dec. 5.-There is little fur
Their news from the seat of war. Even
the latest accounts of the battle of Mod
der River fail to give an intelligent idea
of what happened. There is a feeling of
disappointment and continuing anxiety
respecting Lord Methuen. The Times
says editorially:
"The battle affords splendid proof of
the unsurpassed qualities of the British
soldier, but while victories won solely by
the exercise of those qualities are indeed
magnificent they are not war. They fill
us with pride, but with pride not unmin-
gled with regret at the persistent pervcr-
sity of circumstances which apparently
prevents us obtaining equal or greater
results by processes savoring n little of
that military science of which we hear so
much"
Mafeking is safe, or was so on Nov. "a.
The British had captured % burghers of
Commandant Dutoit's force.
A dispatch from Durham says that per-
sons arriving there from Pretoria assert
that the Beers are full of confidence and
are well prepared for six months siege
of Pretoria.
Patriotic demonstrations in the thea
tiers and music halls of London continue
undated. There was remarkable
scene at the Empire last evening when
Mrs. Brown-Potter recited poem called
Ordered to the Front" with soldiers
and sailors grouped around her on the
stage. On each side of Mrs. Potter stood
a sailor, one carrying the American and
fNf1, hn ID ,.,t ;.,1, ua.r -.
curtain fell and rose again to an encore,
she tied the two flags together amid loud
cheering, the audience rising and singing
God Save the Queen" Lord Rothschild
and a number of other prominent men
were in the house.
The Times has the following from
Frere camp, dated Wednesday, Nov. 20:
The Boer camp at Colenso is visible
from a point near Chieveley. 1t is a
strong position and difficult for direct
front attack"
The Cape Town correspondent of The
Standard says:
The Cape government intends at an
early date to send one of the ministers to
England to urge upon the imperial an
thorities the acceptance of the Gaze cab
NETS view regarding the final settlement
after the war"
The special CORES pondent of The Daily
News with General Methucn. telegraph
ing from Modder River on the day after
the battle, says, Il hear the Beers are in
full retreat to Bloemfontein."
Mr.. Julian Ralph, describing in The
Daily Mail this morning the battle at
Modder River, says:
Il can testify that the British never
once saw the enemy, yet they were not
able to raise hand or foot without being
rddlcd
despite all this, however, the day be-
longed to the artillery. The infantry
never advanced two PAGES during this
day of hell. The shells of our 20 guns
were accurately planted in the enemy's
trenches and broke the heart of the
Beers, for after dark they all retreated."
a correspondent with General Me-
thuen's column, telegraphng from Mod
der River last Thursday, says
The Waterloo of the campaign has
been fought and won. The battle was
conducted with unprecedented stubborn
ness on both sides. There was one con
tinuous roar, like the explosion of count
less firecrackcrs. There was no hinching
on either side and not moments pause
"For five hours the British batteries
poured tons of shrapnel and shells into
the Boer positions. Lord Methuen had
% guns, and each fired an average of 200
rounds. The Beers had an almost equal
number of guns, which, it is reported,
were mostly served by French and Ger
man artillerists.
mo quarter seems to have been given
on either side. The British assert that
amid the bullets, the ambulance wagons
displayed their flags prominently to no
advantage. These were repeatedly driv-
en- back and compelled to take refuge out
of sight.
The latest advices from Ladysmith.
dated Saturday. Nov. 25, say the Smelling
of that place was continued.
1t also appears that General Schalk
Buryher, commanding the Beers, sent A
message suggesting that all the wounded
be sent to neutral camp and that Gen
eral White peremptorily refused, when.
il is added. the Beers deliberately shellcd
the hospital.
All accounts agree that the Boer shells
We're much more damaging than hereto
fore. Many civilians and police were
killed or wounded, while the Liverpool
and Gloucester battalions lost IL men on
Nov. "a. The siege of Ladysmith was
then growing stronger. The Beers were
estimated to number from 10000 to To-
600 men. The health of the British gar
rison was good
The Boer force Mt Colcnso is estimated
to be $1,000 men, with 10 guns.