The record-union., 1899-12-14

occupied the positions they held before
the battle. The greatest bravery was
displayed by both officers and men. lne
wounded include Lieutenant Colonel A.
H. Codrington and Captain Sterling,
both of the First Battalion of the Cold
stream Guards.
A detachment of Beers posted among
some thick bushes to the east main
tanned a most destructive fire on our
right. With the remarkable talent for
taking cover which the Boer always
displays, they were, generally speaking.
virtually invisible, and, although the
enemy,s artillery was practically 81
fenced, his rifle fire was SO persistent
and concentrated, as well as usually
we'll aimed, that it was absolutely inn
possible for the British Infantry to take
the position by assault.
At the first advance of the High
landers the Boer shooting, probably
owing to the darkness, was somewhat
high Otherwise the British losses
would nave D66Q SIlll nedVlGI.
FEARFUL LOSS IN A SINGLE MO-
MENT.
LONDON. Dec. 14-Julian Ralph, de-
scribing the ba lie at Magersfontein in
a special dispatch to the Daily Mail, =
says:
1.-The Beers were entrenched at Ma
gersfontein, four miles north of Modder
River. At dawn Monday the High
landers advancing across the veldt.
were suddenly subjected to a murder
Gus fire from the trenches about 2OO
yards in front The greater part OF
the fearful loss of the day was thus
suffered in a single minute.
startled and overwhelmed, the bri-
gade retired quickly, but soon rallied
and retained their position. This was
on the left.
ION the right the Guards Brigade adj
vanced across the veldt against other
trenches, and fought an invisible foe for
fifteen hours.
"At IL in the morning the Gordon
Highlanders were sent forward. The
Beers allowed them to pass one line
of trenches, and then enfilladed them.
We raked the Boer trenches with aftill-
cry throughout the day. The fighting
only ceased with nightfall."
A BOER ACCOUNT.
PRETORIA, Monday, Dec. 11.-An
official report says:
terday with cannon firing, heavy fight
ing proceeding from 3:30 o'clock in the
morning until $50 o'clock with can
non, maxims and rifles. A lombard
ment began at 4:30 o'clock, and the
fighting still continues. A balloon has
just arisen above the British positions.
where it remained ten minutes and de-
scended. There were heavy rains dur
ing the night
'At 9 O'Clock this morning a dispatch
rider brought word that all the Boer
positions have been maintained, and
that forty-one British prisoners had
been taken. At $50 O'Clock It was re-
ported that the heavy cannonading had
somewhat abated. The British are
constantly using their balloon. The
fighting was still going on at noon.
kimberley is still quiet
GENERAL .WAUCHOPE KILLED.
LONDON, Dec. 13.-The War Office
has received the following dispatch
from General Forester Walker:
cape Town, Observation-Disclosures
wires that General Wauchope was killed
in action yesterday"
General Wauchope of the Black
Watch commanded the Highland Bri-
gade with General Methuen's column.
He served in Ashanti, Egypt, and the
Soudan. He was frequently mentioned
in dispatches, and twice contested Mid
lothian, once against Mr.. Gladstone. He
was a great favorite in the army.
WOUNDED SENT TO THE REAR.
ORANGE RIVER (Cape Colony,
Dec 13.-Three hundred and twenty
wounded, including twenty-seven Off
GERS, have arrived here from the Mod
der River.
METHUENS CHECK A MOST SCI
RIOUS EVENT.
p LONDON, Dec 14-(4:45 a. M
Each important battle seems to bring
worse reverse for the British, and the
papers this morning sorrowfully admit
that Lord Methuens check at Mayors
fontein is the most serious event the
war has yet produced.
The Morning Post" says: 1--WE have
had our day of humiliation appointed
for US. Let US accept it humbly and
soberly, and be better and stronger for
the lesson it has taught US. This last
reverse will make us a fresh butt of
Europe. There never was a more APP
propriate occasion to prove to Europe
what we are worth
The position Lord Methuen@ assaulted
is thus described by correspondent:
Magersfontein range terminates on
the east with an abrupt saddle rock
some $50 feet high Boer entrench-
ments run around the whole front. The
position is some two miles long, due
east and west. The western end of the
trenches follow the contour of the kop-
jes and afford retreat
1t is estimated here that Lord Me-
thuen's forces amounted to 1000, and
perhaps to more. No reliable estimate
of his losses has yet been received.
They are believed to have been at least
450
The Associated Press understands
that the War Office yesterday WED
nesday) decided in consequence of
Lord Methuens losses at Magersfon-
tein, to mobilize an eighth division in