Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-12-15
Are to Strike a Blow in the
Very Near Future.
NEED MORE TRANSPORTS
Militia Will Not Be Called Upon Before
10000 More Men Have Gone to the
FrOnt--LOrl Methuen is Withdraw
ing His Forces. hs.

ii'tc DS1. iJ.~d. tb IL. ILL., III w df
office is still without news from Lady
smith other than that already pub
lished. The general belief is that the
large BOer forces Lord Methuen en-
counte,ed at Magersfontein were partly
drawn from Natal. and that General
Butler will strike a blow before these
have time to return.
The newspapers are calling upon the
government to employ the Cunarders as
well as the White Star steamers as
Transports, seeing the urgent necessity
for getting more men to the Cape as
speedily as possible. Forty thousand
men could still be sent from England
without calling upon the militia for for
ei9n service. The militia effective is
100, 900, and from this body 90, goo, care
fully selected, could be concentrated and
easily be spared for South Africa. More
over. the colonies are again prOffering
assistance. The greatest need, therefore.
is speedy transports.
Sir Charles Warren, who arrived at
CapetoWn yesterday, will possibly join
Lord Methuen and AXE mnan of the
combined forces.
The Daily Chronicles Modder river dis
patch, which is at variance With all the
other reports. represents Lord Methuen's
forces as retiring Tuesday on the camp
on Modder river as the result of new ar
tillery firing that day. The correspond
ent says: "Tuesday forenoon the Beers
brought heavy gums into action. The
British artillery replied. but failed to
silence them. Lord Methuen thereupon
drew his forces out of range and concen-
trated at Modder river
Orders have been issued at Woolwich
to prepare another siege train to go out
with the Seventh division.
London. Dec. 14.-While the outwardlv
calm attitude of the press and people
here during the present crisis com
mands admiration, there is an under
current of Indignation against the war
office and government which threatens
TO make d serious addition to the blum
ders or generals and further evidences
OF q breakdown of the transport and in
telljgence departments which are daily
coming to light.
1t was freely predicted this morning
in high military circles that the South
African campaign will last until June.
1t is also expected Methuen will have
to retire south of Orange river, as it is
claimed he could not hold out long at
Modder river. where his ammunition and
FOOD supplies We're not expected to last
over a week. In fact it was said his
line of communication was probably al
ready cut, and it was claimed Gatacre
was similarly weakened by his reverse
and the revolt of the colonists, and it
was added he might have to choose be-
tween a siege or retreat.
Scenes at the war Office this morning
when Methuen'S casualties We're posted
were highly dramatic.
Afternoon papers of all shades of poli-
ties follow the morning papers in facing
the situation couTageously and demand
ing immediate the dispatch of reinforce,
mentS.
Modder River, Wednesday, Dec. 10
Ambulances started early Yesterday
morning, under a flag of truce. to collect
at Magersfontein. Brigadier General
Wauchope, who led the Highland brj-
gade, was found dead near the trenches
shot III the chest and thigh. A few
wounded We're found near the trenches.
Several wounded Beers were taken to
the British hospital.
The side of the hill and the imma-
riate neiShborhood of the Boer trenches
showed dead bodies all about it. One
wounded Boer informed d correspondent
of the Associated Press that their loss
was terrible. The whole scandinavian
contingent Was destroyed. Judging from
information CLEANED from the Boer
wounded and from prisoners taken in
different parts of the field, the Boer
losses must exceed 100. The destruction
wrought by the naval guns was enor-
nous. Word was passed along the Eoer
lines to prepare to retreat at nightfalI.
All confess that ii was their greatest loss
during the war.
Ihc British troops have returned to
near the position held yesterday.
Modder river, owing to the lack of water