The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1899-12-20
Battle Waged Two Days, but 4ls
Attack Was Intellectual, !
BRITISH RETIRED VIII GREAT Loss.
They Seek SAFETY Behind Intrench-
ments,' but Are Relieved to BE
at the Mercy OF the Inc
trepid Burghefs- IGf-
6ect In England.

as expected, followed up his artillery
attack with q general assault on the
Boer positions Monday, and his report
shows that the anxiety of the public
regarding the result, occasioned by the
ominous silence of the war office, was
amply justified. The engagement was
evidently of considerable magnitude,
and the list of the killed aud wounded
would be proportionate without the
compensation which victory would
have brought, If, indeed, the AFFAIR
does not turn out to be more serious
defeat than General Methuen admits.
The Highlanders, it is believed, have
stormed the Boer position more than
once, while the fact that the guards
were ordered to support the High
landers' rear, looks as though tho
Beers may even have outfianked their
attackers. One report says that Gen
eral Cronje attacked the British. The
only compensation the British have
been able to discover in the disheart-
ening story is in General Methuen's
statement that he maintains his posi-.
tion close to the Beers, arousing hope
that he will retrieve the situation.
1t is apparent that the bombardment
of Saturday and Sunday did not shPke
the Beers grip on their position, and
it seems certain that they merely with
drew their guns and rihemen under
cover, while General Methuen indulged
in the usual artillery preliminaries
Monday, and that when the British
guns were Obliged to cease firing, ow-
ing to the danger of hitting the adj
vancing troops, the Beers speedily re-
occupied their trenches and over
whelmed the Highlanders with ter
rible fire, probably accompanying this
by an attack on the British right flank
and rear.
Alarm is beginning to be expressed
in many quarters as to the situation
of General Mcthuen. AS the West
minister Gazette says: ''If England
ever needed victory, 1t is now, and
1t is to Butler, the soldier, strong, cool
headed and reticent, that the country
looks for this victory" The other
papers are abusing the government for
its "complacent optimism" and inabil-
ity to grasp the strength of the oppo-
sition IL has to overcome in South
Africa.
Considerable significance attaches to
General Methuen's statement that he
is entrenching himself, indicating fear
that the Beers may follow up their
advantage, adopt the offensive and at
tack him. Indeed, the gravity of the
situation from the British point of
view can hardly be overestimated.
General Methuen's long lines of COM
munication to DeAar are most vul7
nerable. Should they be cut, General
Methuen will find himself in very
tight place, IL only from lack of sup
plies.
The news of the British reverse had
a bad effect on the stock exchange,
where there was general relapse.
The war office has received the fol-
lowing dispatch from General Fors-
tier-Walker at Cape Town: "Methuen
wires that General Wauchope (Brit-
ish) was killed in action Monday"
The Boer loss on Sunday is reported
to be four killed and nine wounded.
Probably this is correct, as no genuine
attack was made by General Gatacre's
troops, who were completely surprised
while in column. The British appar-
emily simply rushed up the nearest hill
without orders or knowing where tho
enemy was.
There are renewed reports of cab
met crisis at Cape Town, where 1t is
said that Governor Miner is about to
act, in consequence of disclosures in
vo1ving the ministry's loyalty.