The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-30

LONDON. Nov. sa-Ths war office has
received the following dispatch from Gen.
Butler:
scape Town. Tuesday. Nov. IS.
Gen. Methuen reports:
'''Modder River, Tuesday. Nov. 2S.
'Reconnoitered at a. IN. the enemy's
position on the river Modder and found
them strongly intrenehed and concealed.
No means of outnanking, the river herg
full. Action commenced with artillery.
mounted infantry and cavalry at $50 a. m.
the guards on the right. the Ninth brigade
on the left. attacking the position In wide
ly extended formation at $3.50. and support
ed by the artillery found Itself In front OF
the whole Boer force. 5000 strong. with
two large guns four Krnpps. etc.
The naval brigade rendered great as
sistanee from the railway. After desper-
ate, hard lighting. which lasted ten hours.
our men, without water or food and In tho
burning sun. made the enemy quit his po-
stion.
Gen. Pole-Carew was successful In
getting a small party across the river,
gallantly assisted by 300 sappers.
~ speak In terms OF the highest praise
Of the conduct OF ali who were engaged IN
one OF the hardest and most trying lights
IN the annals Of the British army. II
can mention one arm particularly. II Is tho
two batteries OK artillery.
Dleodicst hattie OF the Century.
A special dispatch from Windsor says
Methuen's dispatch 10 the queen. after the
battle OF Modder river. says: 1.-The hattie
was the blood!est Of the century. The
British shelled the enemy out OF the
trenches and they charged. The result
was terrible"
All Kinds OF speculation.
LONDON, Nov. 30. 4:3o a. m.-Tweive
hours reflection upon Lord Methuens brief
dispatch has only served to increase pub
lie anxiety and suspense. All kinds OF
speculation is indulged In. In the absence
Of any indications as TO whether the Beers
occupied the north or south hank OF Mod
der river. tho best opinion inclinss to the
latter theory and II in pointed out that tho
British must have been utterly exhausted
II they could not follow up the retiring
Beers and crush them ss the army crowd
ea over the bridge. the compulsory line
OF retreat.
The Morning Posts military correspond
en,. who has usually shown great ability.
suggests that tho poers are still on tho
south side Of the river and that the bridge
ger to the small British force which
crossed on pontoons."
The Importance attached 10 this pom
looming operation IL proved by the fact
that Gen. poie-carew. one Of the only
.wo British generals was selected to SUE
per!ntend IT.
Reinf0rcements for Methaen.
No word has since arrived either from
Lord Me,huen or from Natal Speculation.
therefore. is useless. 1t is believed that
Lord Methuen will be Instantly reinforced
from Cape Town hy two ha,tslions Of In
fantry. a detachment OF cavalry ana bat
terry Of artillery
Hoer Commander an Austrian.
Col Aihrecht. who is directing ths work
OF the Beers IN opposing Lord Msshuen.
was originally an officer In the Austrian
army He entered the Free State army
and soon brought it's artillery to high
state OF efficiency. He IL known as an
ahle ariIilsriss and ssrategin.
why British Army TIsA No Food.
Seine surprise IL expressed a. the fact
that Lord Msthlien's troops should fight
without food OF water. II seems however,
that hs is not using timed ra;iens He
s.izes and pays for fresh food. Usually m
begins march about o'clock In tho
morning after breakfest of cocoa. Then
he does his fighting or marching and az
serward pitches his camp near the best
water. dining when mis- transport arrives
His afternoons are given over 70 resting.
Only bare necessities ara allowed.
Admiration for Nethu~n's Coiumm.
As one correspondent fsssrshes II. the
British are fighting an omnipresent but
always invisible foe
rnsssnfsd admiration is everywhere ex-
pressed Of the splendid work of Lord
Methass's columns with force really
inadequate he has marched s'ffY~.hres
miles ard fought three battles within seven
GAYS
scene About Ladysmith.
while no cv.danca f. given 70 the Yt-
rrors thar f.advsnsth has fallen, the scare
serves 20 impress ,he public With the dam
ger ~ what /. sssil within the bounds OF
posx biilty. Such o misfortune would prob
ably produce a formidable revssf anonx
the Cape Dutch.
The Daily News says: "whstsvsr comes
we must brace orr nerves to meet II. Ces-
ta.niy II locks So II we have before us q
very stern and earnest struggle before We
see eur way clear 20 final victory
The Tines comments ON the fact that
tAns tar TIE Beers have been abis - sen-