Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-14
DETAILED STORY OF THE FIGHT.
Correspondents Say Gen. Methuen's
Men Were Ambushed.

A dispatch from London last night says
Dispatches from correspondents at the
front state that the Beers were intrenched
at Magersfontein, four miles north of Mod
der river. At dawn Monday the Highland
ers. advancing across the vcldt. were sud-
denly subjected to a murderous fire from
the trenches about 300 yards in front. The
greater part of the fearful loss of the day
was thus suffered in n single minute.
Startled and overwhelmed the brigade re-
tired quickly, but soon rallied and retained
their position. This was on the left.
On the right the Guards brigade ad
vanced across the vedt against other
trenches and fought an invisible foe for
fifteen hours.
At II IN the xnorning the Gordon High
landers were sent forward. The Beers al
lowed them to pass one line of trenches
and then enfiladed them. We raked the
Boer trenches with artillery throughout the
day The fighting only ceased with night
fall.
The British casualties included the Mar
quis of Winchester, major of the I'd Bat
TALON Codstrcam Guards. who was killed,
and Col. Downham of the 1st Battalion.
Gordon Highlauders, who was mortally
wounded.
When the Highlanders met the murderous
point-blank fire of the Beers about POO We're
moved down. The Black Watch Regiment,
on reforming, was able to muster only 160
men. The Beers lost heavily in the trench
eS and also in the wire entanglements when
they came into the open in an attempt 10
make flank attack on the British.
Another Disastrous Charge.
The terrific British artillery fire provoked
TO response except from the Boer rifles un-
til nearly o'clock in the afternoon, when
the Gordon IIighlanders formed to renew
the attack on the intrenChed kopje. They
advanced with the utmost gallantry to at
tack the Beers, close to the place where
lay their dead and wounded comrades of
the Highland brigade.
The enemy opened with a heavy shrapnel
fire as the British advanced, and il was
found physically impossible to take the
Boer trenches. The British got within 200
yards, buJ could not get nearer. 1t was
here than Col. DCwnham fell
The Bonrs had free recourse to barbed
wire entanglements, which offered great
obstacles even after the damage inflicted
by the British artillery fire.
Yesterday morning both sides occupied
the positions they held before the battle.
The greatest bravery was displayed by
both officers and men. The wounded in
cIude Lieut.. Col. A. E. Cudrington and
Capt. Sterling, both of the 1st Battalion of
the Coldstream Guards
A detachment of Beers posted among
some thick bushes to the east maintained
a most destructive fire on our right. With
the remarkable talent for taking cover
which the Boer always displays, they
Were, generally speaking, virtually invisi-
BILE. and, although the enemy's artillery
was practically silenced, his rifle fire was
so persistent and concentrated, as well as
unusually well aimed, that it was abso-
lutely impossible for the British infantry
to take the position by assault.
At the first advance of the Highlanders
the Boer shooting, probably owing to the
darkness, was somewhat high Otherwise
the British losses would have been still
heavier.