The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-12-14

The Beers Are Continuing to Hold the
Whip Hand.
MONDAY METnUEN LOST MANY,
His Report Showing He Had a Serious
Check.
LOSSES WERE AT LEAST $50 MEN.
|SsfS WERE At LEAST $50 MEN.
He Has Retired and Is Now In Security al
Modder River.
HE HAD TO FACE 10000 FIGHTING MEN
Indications Arc that Great Britsiu's
Army Ia Daily Growing Less.
HERS Have The Hest of IL.

London, December 13.--tiencral Me-
thuen's report from Modder river shows
that he met with serious check Monday
and suffered great losses.
Orange River, December 1S.--Thrce hun
ired and twenty wounded men have ar
rived here from the Moddcr river
London. December IA. 4;4s a. m.--Fach
| important battle seems TO bring worse
reverse for the British and the papers
this morning sorrowfully admit that Lord
Methuens check at Magersfontein is the
most serious event OF the war.
| The Morning Post says: I'VE have had
our day of humiliation appointed for us.
Let US accept It humbly and soberly and
be better and stronger for the lesson II
has taught US. This last reverse will make
us fresh butt of Europe. There never
was a more appropriate occasion 10 prove
TO Europe what we are WORTH
The position Lord Methuen assaulted Is
thus described by a correspondent:
Magerefontein range terminates on the
east with an abrupt saddle rock some $50
feet high. Boer entertainments run around
tho whole front. The position is some two
miles long. due cast and west. The west
crn ends OF the trenches follow the CON
tour OF the kopjes and afford rctreat,
\, IL is estimated here that Lord Me
! thuens forces amounted TO IL 600 men and
perhaps more. No reliable estimate OF his
losses have been received. They are be-
ljeyed to have been at least $50.
London. December t3.--General Fotes-
ter. Walker, telegrapbng from Capetown at
$3.50 p. nj today sends the following dis
patch from Lord Mcthuen. dated Modder
river. Tuesday, December IL. 1890 p. M
AS the Beers occupied their trenches
strongly this morning, retired in periee,
order here. where am in security. have
gathered from some Of the prisoners ana
from our men with the ambulances, VINO
talked with the Beers. that the enemy .
, losses were terrible. some corps being
, completely wiped out. The Beers have
been most kind to my wounded
London. December 13.--The war office
has received the following dispatch from
i General Methuen, dated Tuesday, Decem-
$ Der u:
"our artillery shclled a very strong 20
sition held by the enemy In long hgf
kopje from until dusk Sunday. IT rainet
hard last night. The Highland brigade at
lacked at daybreak on Monday the souti
: end of the kopje The attack was properI,
| timed. but failed. The guards were or
e dercd TO protect the Highlands righ anC
= rear. The cavalry and mounted iu'antr,
. with howitzer artillery battery attacke'
S the enemy on the left and the guards OF
: the right, supported by field artillery anf
> howitzer artillery. They sheiled the po
: eition from daybreak and at l;l5 | SEN
s the Gordons TO support The Highland nri'
II gade. The troops held their own in from
> OF the enemy's entertainments until dusS
he positions extending, including The kopJ'
tor a distance of six miles toward Mode:
river. To-day am holding my position and
>, eu,rsnching myself had to face at ieas
10 600 men. Our loss was great
. Pretoria. Monday, December Ian OF
= scial report says: A battle al Nodder r'yei
ia hegan Yesterday with cannon hring' neaN'
"a fighting proceeding from $3.50 O'Clock IL
y the morning until . o'clock WIN cannon
!. Maxlms aud rifles. bombardment besa'
M 4;30 o'clock and the fghting continues
,, A balloon has just arisen above tn
% British positions, where IT remained tc'
e minutes and descended. There were heas'
:, rains during the night.
~ a. Q o'clock this morning another repor
p was received from Modder river. dls
y match rider brought word that all the Doe
:, nositions had been maintained ana ina
~ forfy-one prisoners had been taken. q
" $3.50 o'clock IT was reported tbat the nea'
,, cannon IRE had somewhat abated'
u North of Modder River. Monday, Deem
y her 11.--Early yesterday evening th
"a guards of the Highland brigade move
l. from the Modder River camp, marehin
In the night In northeasteriy director
Just before daybreak the HighiaDders al
rived within 200 yards OF the boer ~
trenchments at the foot OF NH. Ne
"a sisnecting that the Beers were IN IN
vIeinity the British were still marnhin
ne quarter column In close order when the
~ met a terrible FIRE from the hanks an
were forced 10 retire with heavy loss. ~
=" troops reformed uider the Shelter
In some rising ground and CALAMITY ne
ew their position. Later the Dordons arrive
Ily and the troops gradually worked their wa
ar until within 900 yards OF the Boer pos
he ,ious. displaying the greatest saiiantry.
on In the meantime the Bosrs OH the OPP
ground dIreatiy In front moved with y