The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-11-30
The Expected Great Engagement at
Modder River Occurs,
Gen. Methusn Adding Another Victory 10
His Recent Achievements.
General Methuen Telegraphs the
Queen That It Was the Blood
lest Battle of the Century
The British Shell the Enemy
Out of the Trenches and Then
Charge, With Terrible Results.


Charge, With Terrible Results.
LONDON, Nov. 2S.-The expected
great battle at Modder River has been
fought, and General Methuen has add
ed another victory to his achievements
of the past week. That the Beers de-
Tended their positions with all their OLD
time sallantry is amply proved by Cen
eral Methuen's dispatch, and 1t Will
probably be further testified to wnen
the list of British casualties is made
known.
There appears to be no doubt that
General Methuen has gained real adj
vantage, though the details must be
awaited before the full effect of his ten
hours desperate fighting can be gagged.
Presumably the Burgher army was on
the south bank of the river, but whether
when the Beers retreated they crossed
the river northward, or retired in an
easterly direction into the Orange Free
State, is unknown. Possibly the Beers
had repaired the bridge previously re-
ported destroyed, and managed to with
stand the British attack with their rear
u,
over the bridge, the rear guard destroy
ing the bridge behind it. The British,
however appear to have surmounted
the difficulties of crossing the river, and
to have seized for themselves "a posi-
ton on the north side of the stream.
This success of the British clears an
other stage of the road to Kimberley,
the siege of which General Cronje must
have partially raised in order to give
battle to General Methuen.
There is little reason to doubt, how
ever, that the Beers will again rally,
as heretofore, after a seemingly crush
ing defeat, unless they have lost III 4ir
guns, of which there is no mention in
the official dispatch.
The Burghers are understood to have
strong lager at Spytfontein, four
teen miles north of the Modder River,
so another engagement possibly awaits
the British before they can commence
Spytfontein to Kimberley, though il is
pointed out that General Cronie will
thereby run great risk of being
caught between General Methuen and
Colonel Kekewich. the British COM
lHdHuef at kimberley.
A belated dispatch from Orange River
says General Methuen's troops are ad-
Vancing under the greatest difficulties.
lighting an omnipresent, hut almost III
visible foe.
A special Gispa tch from Windsor saws
that General Methuens dispatch 10 The
Queen after the battle Of Modder River
says:
THE battle was the bloodiest of the
century. The British snelled the err
envy out of the trenches. and then
char ged. The result was ,errible''
A revised list of the British casual
ties at Belmont shows: Officers killed 4.
wounded -, non-commissioned officers
and privates killed 49, wounded 20, of
which number the Guards had 81 Killed
and 50 wounded
A revised list of the casualties sus
tanned by General Hildyards forces at
the battle of Beacon Hill shows: Killed
IL wounded GA, missing l, prisoners s.
GENERAL METHUEN'S REPORT.
LONDON, Nov. 29.-The War Office
has received the following dispatch
from General Butler:
Cape Town. Tuesday, Nov. 2S-Gcn-
erai Methuen reports:
Modder River, Tuesday, Nov. IS
Reeonnoitered at a. m. enemy's posi-
ton on river Modder, and found them
strongly entrenched and concealed. No
means of outfianking, the river being
full. Action commenced with artil-
lery, mounted infantry and cavalry at
$50. Guard on right and Ninth Il, i
gade on left, attacked position in wide
ly extended formation at 6:30, and sup
ported by the artillery. founi itself in
front of the whole Boer force, 5000
strong, with two large guns, four
Krupps, etc.
The naval brigade rendered great
assistance from the railway.
8 After desperate, hard fighting
which lasted ten hours, our men, With
out water or food, and in the burning
sun, made the enemy quit his position
General Pole-Carew was success
full in getting small party across the
river, CALAMITY assisted by 800 sappers
81 speak in terms of high praise Of
the conduct of all who were engaged in
one of the most trying fights in the an
nails of the British army If / can men
ton one arm particularly, it is the two
batteries of artillery
GREAT ANXIETY AT LONDON.
LONDON, Nov 30.-4:30 a. M
Twelve hours reflection upon Lord
Methuen's brief dispatch has only
served to increase public anxiety and
suspense All kinds of speculation is
INDUCED in. In the absence OF any in
dication as to whether the Beers occu-
pied the north or south bank of Mod
der River, the best opinion inclines to
the latter theory, and it is pointed out
that the British must have been ut
terly exhausted if they could not follow
up the retiring Beers and crush them
as the army crowded over the bridge,
their compulsory line of retreat.
The Morning Posts" military cor
respondent, who has usually shown
great ability. suggests that the Beers
are still on the south side of the river,
and that the bridge is in their hands.
lie points out 1.-THE great danger to the
small British force which crossed on
pontoons. .
The Importance attached to this pom
looming operation is proved by the fact
that General Pole-Carew. one of the
only two British Generals. was selected
to superintend it.