Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-02
HEAVY BRITISH LOSS
Casualties at Modder River Reported
to Be 438,
OF WHICH 73 WERE KILLED
Methuen's Column Has Been Deci-
mated in Recent Fights.
WAITING REINFORCEMENTS

LONDON. December 2.-As surmised the
British dead and wounded at the hard
fought battle of Modder river number hun
dreds. OF the total. 43S casualties. 13 were
killed. From General FORESTER Walkers
dispatch ii is proved that all reports OF
General Methuen's advance after the bat
tie of Modder river were premature
though with the railroad working he
should not be long in constructing a tenn
porary bridge. His enforced delay doubt
less, will be of considerable service i'm Civ
ing his hard-pushed column needfu rest
and in allowing the arrival Of reinforce
ments, Of which he must be sorely in need
after three such fights, placing hors de
combat upward Of 1000 men out Of less
than 1880.
General Forrestier-W Walkers announce
ment that the Canadian marksmen and
other reinforcements have been pushed for
ward TO the neghborhood of the Orange
river, TO protect General Methuens line Of
communications, has relieved much anx-
iety here where 1t was fully expected the
Beers would attempt to attack the vul-
nerable points of the line of communion
tons.
The News From Natal.
The latest news from Natal indicates
that the bulk of Ladysmith relief force has
arrived at Frere. though there is consid-
cradle conjecture as TO the Whereabouts
of Gen. Clery, whose movements have not
been chronicled recently. II is surmised
I'm some quarters that he may reappear in
a totally unexpected quarter. on the flank
or OF Gen. Jouberts force. which is
supposed TO be concentrated at Grobelaars
KIoof, north of the Tugela river. As Gen.
Hildyard's advance guard was in touch
with the Beers as long ago as Tuesday
last developments should not be long de-
layed.
Dundonald's mounted force, November 2S,
accompanied by four guns went in pur-
suit of a body of Beers returning To
Colenso. They followed the Beers To within
two and one-haf miles of Colenso when
the Beers replied to the British shells with
long range guns. There were no casualties.
Colenso bridge, ii is added was afterward
blown up.
Another detachment of 1900 British
troops sailed for South Africa today.
Owing to the. phenomenal sale Of the
newspapers consequent upon the war a
paper famine is threatened 1t is reported
that the American supplies have failed
temporarily.
Revised List of the Casualties.
The revised list of Modder river casual
ties non-commissIoned officers and men, is
divided as follows:
Ninth Lancers. l wounded; engineers,
wounded; artillery killed, 25 wounded;
% Cold Streams, 10 killed. 80 wounded;
Sd Grenadiers, killed. IS wounded, miss
ing: Scots Guards. 10 killed, 81 wounded,
missing; Northumberland Fusiliers, IL
killed. 81 wounded; LIST Northumberlands,
wounded; I'd Yorkshire, Q killed ~ woundedt
1st North Lancashire killed, II wounded;
Argyll and Sutherland Highlander, 10
killed, 95 wounded, 2 missing; LIST Cold
Streams, 20 wounded; South African Re-
serve. wounded; medical corps, wounded.
The war office has received the follow
ing from Gen. Forrestier-Walker:
CAPE TOWN, Friday, December !.
Gen. Gatacre reports no change in the
situation.
Gen. French has made a reconnaissance
from Naauw Poort to Rossmead. The
troops returned today.
Gen. Methuens flesh wound is slight.
He is remaining at Modder river for the
reconstruction of the bridge. Am REIN
forcing him with IIighlanders and a caval-
ry corps. Horse artillery, the Canadian
regiment. Australian contngents and three
battalions of infantry moved up to the De
Aar and Belmont line"
Two Irish Magistrates Removed.
LONDON, Dece ember 1.-Two Irish magis-
trates were deprived this week by LORD Ash
bourne, the lord chancellor of Ireland, Of
their offices on account Of anti-British COM
ments on the Boer war. The proceeding is
most unusual. especially as one of the de-
nnquents was nobleman, Lord Emily, who,
speaking to some labOrers at Limerick, in
ferred that Great Britain might have an
other Ladysmith in Ireland. Lord Ashbourne
ask-j for an explanation, hut Lord Emily
haughtily refused. whereupon he was re-
moved. Lord Emily is prominent in Ireland,
both socially and politically. and ardent
home ruler. The only other instance on rec
ord is when Mr.. Gladstone, years ago. de-
prived Lord Rossmore of a magistracy for
similar utterances.