Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-12-01
Che Situation in South Africa.

London, Dec. IA further list OF
casualties at Modder river reports two
officers Killed and nine wounded. This
makes the total known casualties in
officers to date, FIVE killed and seven
teen wounded.
General Methuen's wound is not seri-
Gus and it is not. believed that he is in
capacitated from continuing personal
command of the column. The Gen.
erals failure to mention his wound 10
the report Of the battle excites admira-
ton.
Pretoria, Nov. 27-(Delayed in trans
mission).-A Boer command is prepar.
ing to attack Fort Tuli, the British base
10 Rbodesia Just north of the Transvaal.
The British are terrifying Tuli with
fever!sh haste. The British garrison at
Mafeking made q determined sortie
from the place Nov. 25.
CapetoWn. Dec. IA Capetown pa
per has received word from an EGG
llshman who was pressed into service
by the Beers but escaped, that Generi ii
Joubert is dead. The Englisbman says
ne WAS standing within a Jew feet OF
Joubert on a hill overlooking Lady
smith, when q splinter from a British
shell bit the Boer commauder-in-chie
on the head, causing instant death.
London, Dec. Ia dispatch from
CApetown says a force OF Beers, while
trying to blow up the 500 foot bridge at
Coltn 20, were driven back by the artil-
lery fire of the British. The dispatch
Indicates that General Hildyard, who
/. advancing to the relief of Ladysmitb,
has overcome. the difficulties spread in
his path by the Beers at Frere and has
reached the south shore OF the Tugela
river.
Gen. Lord Methuen telegrapbs the
Queen that Major Count Gleichen, a
relative of her Majesty, who was re-
ported severely injured at Modder river
is doing will.
London, Dec. Full particulars of
the battle of Modder river are still lack
ing though it is said at the War Office
that communication with General Lord
Methuen,. the British commander, is
open. Thus far, only the casualties
among the officers engaged 10 the bat
tie have been received.
The War Office is besieged by anxi.
GUS inquirers. 1t is feared Methuen's
column received a severe check at Mod.
der river and that he must wait for re-
endorsements before proceeding to the
relief of Kimberley.
A dispatch this afternoon brings the
first report OF important operations CD
the Tugela river which will doubtless
be to the Lsdysmith relief force what
the Modder was to Methuen. 1t ap-
pears that the Colenso bridge is still in
tact and that Gen. Hildyard is making
a great effort to prevent Its destruction.
Hildyard was last reported as safely es-
tablished at Frere, ten miles south Of
the river. He had 10000 men and his
connection southwark 10 the coast is
uninterrupted.
Gen. Butler was at Pietermaritzburg
yesterday and evidently will direct
the operations to relieve L%adysmith,
General Clery, however, retaining ac-
tive command of the second column.
Dispatches from Natal have been bare
of all reference to British plans and it
is impossible to tell the Whereabouts of
the main relief force. 1t may already
have joined Hildyard's advance column
and the battle of Colenso is probably
not far distant.
Lorenzo Marquee, Dec. IA dis
patch from Pretoria says the British
suffered tremendous losses 10 the bat.
tie at Modder river.