The Anaconda standard., 1899-12-14

have been able to discover in the dis
heartening story is in General Methu-
ems statement that he maintains his
position close to the Beers, arousing
hope that he will retrieve the situa-
tion.
It is apparent that the bombardment
on Saturday and Sunday did not shake
the Boer grip on their position, and it
seems certain that they merely with
drew their guns and riflemen under
cover, while General Methuen INDUCED
in the usual artillery preliminaries Mon
day, and that when the British guns
were obliged to cease firing, owing to
the danger of hitting the advancing
troops, the Beers speedily re-occupied
their trenches and overwhelmed the
Highlanders with a terrible fire, prob
ably accompanying this by an attack
on the British right flank and rear.
Alarm is beginning to be expressed
in many quarters as to the situarron
Of General Methuen.
AS the Westminster Gazette says: IF
England ever needed victory 1t Is
now, and it Is to Butler, the soldier,
strong, cool-headed and reticent. that
| the country looks for this victory"
| The other papers are abusing the gov
| ernment for it's "Complacent optim-
isrn,'' inability to grasp the strength of
| the opposition it has to overcome in
| South Africa.
|
General Methuens statement that he
is entrenching himself. indicating fear
| that the Beers may follow up their ad-
vantage, adopt the offensive and at
| tack him.
Indeed, the gravity Of the situation,
| from the British point of view, can
| hardly be overestimated. Methuen's
long lines of communication to De Aar
| are most vulnerable. Should they be
| cut Methuen will find himself in very
| tight place, if only from lack of sup
| plies.
The news of the British reverse had
a bad effect on the stock exchange,
| Kaffirs and Rand mines dropped 21a
points and De Beers dropped 3A.
| The latest advices from General Cat
acre show that no anxiety is felt for
! the safety of his remaining troops who
have been withdrawn to good positions
along the railroad south of Molteno.
1t Is said Bushmanshoek is impregna-
BILE. The Beers decline to furnish the
names Of the killed or wounded. They
say they buried the dead and are send
ing the prisoners to Rloemfontein.
The Boer loss on Sunday is reported
| to have been four killed and nine
| wounded Probably this is correct. as
| no genuine attack was made by Cat
acres troops, who were completely sur
prised while in column. The British
! apparently simply rushed up the near
est hill without orders or knowing
where the enemy was. 1t also appears
| the British were so exhausted that they
were unable to accomplish anything,
| General Buffers advance in the di-
rection of Colenso seems to have actu-
ally commenced The military attaches
| have left Cape Town to join Butler, via
! Durham.
General White reports, under date OF
| Tuesday, December II, that there are
| so cases of enteric fever at Ladysmith
] There are renewed reports of cabinet
| crisis at Cape Town, where 1t is said
| Governor Miner is about to act. in
| consequence of the disclosures inVolV-
| ing the ministrys loyalty.
| The White Star line steamer Majestic
| sails from Liverpool to-day for South
| Africa with 1000 troops on board. The
| White Star line steamer Cymric has
| been chartered for use as a transport
| The war office at London has received
| the following message from General
l Forester Walker:
| Cape Town. Tuesday, Dec. 12-No
| further details from Methuen. Gatacre
| is moving from Bushman's Hook to
| Sterkstroem to-day The magistrate at
| Sterkstroem wires that the situation
there has slightly improved. Many OF
| the missing have turned up. French
| reports that detachment of cavalry
| with two guns of the horse artillery
reconnoitered the Beers position at
| Ouitfontain and Valkoepf, eight miles
/ north of Arundel. They shelled a farm
| and drove the enemy from VaalkoHt
| The Boer loss was one killed and sew
! eral wounded. Our casualties nil