The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-14
BRITISH MOVED DOWN.
HIGHLAND BRIGADE MET WITH
TERRIFIC FIRE.
METHUEN'S LOSS WAS GREAT.

MurderOus Fire of the Beers at Mod
der River Sent Down 200 British
ers-ReinfOrcements Went For
ward, But the Beers Held Their
Position-sOme Prominent English
officers Included in the Casualty
List-GOrdOn HighIanders Faced
ShrapneI.
North of Modder River, Monday, Dec
u-Eary yesterday afternoon the guards
Of the Highland Brigade moved from the
Modder river camp, marching in the night,
in northeasterly direction.
The objective of the Highlanders was the
eastern spur of the Boer position, the
guards following the bank of the river
while Inc Yorkshire Light Infantry moved
along the riverside. Just before daybreak
the Highlanders arrived within 200 yards
of the Boer entertainments, at the foot
Of the hill.
Unsuspecting that the Beers were in the
vicinity, the British were still marching
ouarter-column, in close order, when they
met terrible fire from the TANKS and
were forced to retire with heavy loss.
The troops reformed under the shelter
Of some rising ground and CALAMITY held
their position.
Later the Gordons arrived and the
,af,,
within 300 yards of the Boer position, dis
playing the greatest ,gallantry.
In the meanwhile a naval gun at the
Modder river, the Howitzer batteries and
the horse artillery opened fire, enfilading
the trenches and searching every portion
Of the Boer position. The Boer guns
were entirely silent.
In the meanwhile the Beers, on the
open ground, directly in front, moved
with the object of making a flank at
tack. But this was frustrated by the
guards and artillery.
The Beers recommended shening in the
evening but no damages was done. The
British swept on their position. 1t is ex-
pected that there win be a renewal of the
fighting tomorrow. The losses on both
sides were very heavy.
Beers Moved Down 200 of Them.
lIolder River, Tuesday, Dec 12.-The
British casualties included the Marquis of
Winchester, major of the Second Battal-
Ion. Coldstream Guards, who was killed,
and Col. Downham of the First Battalion
Gordon Highlanders, who was mortaly
wounded.
When the Highlanders met the murder
Gus point-blank fire of the Beers, about
20 We're mown down. The Black Watch
Regiment, on reforming, was able to mus
ter only 100 men.
AM also in the wire entanglements when
they came into Inc open in an attempt
10 make a flank attack on the British.
me terrific British artillery fire pro-
Voked no response, except from the Boer
rifles, until nearly o'clock in the after
noon when the Gordon Highlanders form
ca to renew the attack on the entrenched
Hople. They advanced with the utmost
salantry to attack Inc Beers, close to the
pace where lay their dead and wounded
comrades of the Highland Brigade.
Inc enemy opened with a heavy shrap-
mel fire as the British advanced, and it
was found physically impossible TO take
tne Boer trenches. The British got with
ID 4 Yards, but could not get nearer. 1t
was here that Col. Downham fell.
| Inc Beers had had free recourse to
oaroed wire entanglements, which offered
steat obstacles even after the damage in
Ncleu by the British artillery fire.
Both Held Their Ground.
ms morning CTuesday) both sides oc-
Clped the positions they held before the
ua'tle The greatest bravery was dis
paved by both officers and men.
me wounded include Lieut.. Col. A. E.
DoTtinston and Capt Sterling, both of the
'ust Battalion of the Coldstream Guards
deIachment of Boers. posted among
some thick bushes to the east maintained
d most destructive fire on the British
Ea- With the remarkable talent for
%Aihs cover which the Boer always dis
hdts they were, generally speaking, vir-
maly invisible, and, although the enemys
sl'Aiery was practically silenced, his rifle
me was so persistent and concentrated,
InI So wen aimed that it was absolutely
impossible for the British infantry to take
~t position by assault
a. me first advance of the Highlanders
we boer shooting was somewhat high,
nooh.y owing to the darkness, otherwise
Le British losses would have been still
WORST CHECK OF THE WAR.