The record-union., 1899-12-05

landerS princess LouiSe'S). The latter
reinforced us from General Wauchope's
brigade, and arrived just in time for
the fight.
The battle started at daybreak, our
guns Smelling the Beers left. The en-
envy replied with artillery, Hotchkiss
and Maxims and the artillery duel last
ed some hours. Then there was a brief
lull in the enemy operations, of which
the General Immediately took advan-
tage Infantry advanced across the
plain toward the river in two brigades.
The Guards on the right were met by
an awful hail of bullets from the enc
my's sharpshooters, posted close to the
river on the opposite bank. Ours had
no cover whatever, and were simply
moved down. 1t seemed impossible to
live through the terrible fire, but the
brave fellows did not retreat an inch.
The Roer fire was horribly accurate.
and they must have numbered at least
10000.
The Scots Guards advanced 600 yards
before they were fired on. Then they
had to lie down to escape the deadly
fusillade, which lasted without inter-
mission throughout the day.
The Highlanders made several at
tempts to force passage of the river,
but they were exposed to such a MUIR
derous enfilading fire that they had to
retire after they had suffered terribly.
Subsequently a party of the Guards got
over, and held their own for hours
against vastly superior force.
The general opinion of the staff is
that there never had been such sus-
tanned fire in the annals of the British
army as that which our troops had to
face yesterday. Our men fell in dozens
while trying to rush the bridge.
Among the many heroic deeds, one
of the most conspicuous was that of
Lieutenant Colonel Codrington of the
Coldstream Guards, Captain Sellpein of
the Queensland contingent, and a dozen
members of the Coldstream Guards,
jumped into the river and swan nearly
to the other side in the face of a steady
fire. but who were forced to retire, and,
rejoining hands. swan back, two of
their number being nearly drowned in
the retreat.
The British guns kept up a heavy
fire all day, and fearful havoc was
wrought on the Boer positions, the en-
envy being forced to fly from their en-
trenchments. Night put an end to the
terrible bloodshed. The infantry bril-
gade was dreadfully cut up
The Beers retreated at night, taking
their guns with them, and we are now
occupying their positions. The enc
my's loss was tremendous.
AN UNDECIDED BATTLE.
LONDON, Dec. 1.-The later details
received from Modder River show that
even the desperate courage the attack
ing force displayed all day long (No-
vember 2Sth) failed to drive the Beers
from their strong entertainments, and
night fell on an undecided battle But
apparently during the course of the
night General Cronje, commanding the
Beers, who are said to have numbered
II,OOO men, decided that the struggle
was hopeless, for the British found the
town and surrounding positions evacu-
ated when daylight broke, and the
whole British army crossed the river
and encamped on the Boer positions.
The experts here are unanimous in
expressing the opinion that Kimberley's
needs must be very pressing to induce
General Methuen to expose the whole
OF his command to the Boer marks
men, snugly entrenched in a semi-cir-
cular position. So deadly was the fire
zone that the Scots Guard were com
PEELED to leave their Maxim guns be-
hind when they were forced to seek
less exposed ground.
1t was only after dusk that a portion
of the British troops succeeded in cross
ing the river by a mill dam on the ex-
IRENE left When night fell the Boer
artillery fire was still as vigorous as
In the morning, but the Boer retirement
in the night saved the situation for the
British. The exhausted condition of the
British troops precluded the possibility
of a pursuit of the enemy
The conclusion of the correspondents
that the Beers must have suffered
heavily must be confirmed from official
sources before it is accepted as fact.
In any case, the Beers retired withou.
any sign Of disorder, carrying off their
guns and equipment. Thus General
Cronje's force is still intact. The fact
that General Methuen and Colonel
kekewich are now in communication
may cause reconsideration of the Boer
commanders plan to give battle at
Syptfontein, where he might be stimuli
taneously attacked by both British
forces.
1t is reported that Modder River
bridge has been repaired, and that the
British resumed their march toward
Kimberley to-day
The fact that the De Beers mine
foundry is casting shells, while the gar
rison seldom replies to the Boer artill-
cry, is said to point to a scarcity of
ammunition at Kimberley, partially ac-
counting for General Methuen's haste
All the news from Natal emphasizes
the difficulties before General Clery.
There is a growing belief that some
delicate thanking operation has been in
trusted to some tactician, while General
Hildyard carries out the direct front
demonstration.
The latest adviceS from Ladysimth
dated Saturday, November 25th. say
the Smelling of that place was contin-
ued. 1t also appears that General
Schalkburgher, commanding the Beers.
sent message suggesting that all the
wounded be sent to neutral camp
and that General White peremptorily
refused, when, it is added, the Beers
deliberately shelled the hospital.
All accounts agree that the Boer
shells were much more damaging than
previously. A number of civilians and
police We're killed or wounded while
the Liverpool and Gloucester battalions
lost eleven men on November 9th The
siege of Ladysmith was then growing
stronger. The Beers were estimated to
number from 10000 to 1900 men. The
health of the British garrison was good