The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-12-05
BRITAIN IN MOURNING
British Public Plunged Into
Grief Over Losses.
ROBERTS TO SUCCEED BULLER

AUbbhI0 IU SUUUbbU BUILbR
Natal Situation Regarded as Sufficient to
of Ten Thousand Fresh Troops Shows
Dire Straits of Great Britain.
LONDON, Dec. 5.-There is little fur
ther news from the seat of war. Even
the latest accounts of the battle at Mod
der river fail to give an intelligent idea
OF what happened. There is contin-
ued anxiety as to what happened to
Lord Methuen.
The numbers and mobility of the
Beers are source of constant surprise
and anxiety to the British authorities.
The entire British public from royalty
to the lower classes is plunged in
amazement and grief at the frightful
losses i'll battle. The queen now goes
about her daily functions with red eyes
and is reported to weep and bemoan the
deaths OF her soldiers and the horrible
ravages of war. The Princess of Wales
in private expresses her horror of the
war and the terrible suffering and pain
brought upon the British. The war
office is constantly besieged by men,
bers of the nobility seeking information
concerning relatives at the front.
The Times said, editorially: 'sThe bat
tie offered splendid proof of the good
qualities of the British soldiers, but
while victories won solely by the exer-
else Of these qualities are, indeed, mag
niticent, they are not war. They fill
us with pride, but with pride not un-
mingled with regret at the persistent
perversity of circumstances which ap-
parently prevents us obtaining equal or
better results by processes savoring a
little OF that military science of which
we hear SO much"
An Associated Press dispatch from
Durham says that persons arriving there
from Pretoria assert that the Beers are
full OF confidence and ale prepared for
six months siege af Pretoria.
A dispatch from Mafeking says Gen.
eral Cronje and large body of Beers
have left his lagaar, practically raising
the siege, although desultory firing can
be heard.
Julian Ralph, describing in the Daily
Mail the battle at Modder River, says:
II can testify that the British never
once saw the enemy, yet they were not
able to raise hand or foot without being
| riddled. Despite all this the day be-
longed to the artillery. The infantry
never advanced two PAGES during this
day of hell The shells of our 20 guns
were accurately planted in the enemy 8
trenches, and broke the heart of the
Beers, for after dark they all retreated. {"
Great Britain In Funk.
1t is reported here that the military
authorities of Great Britain are almost
in funk following the ordering out of
10000 fresh men. 1t is rumored that
Lord Roberts will be ordered to Cape
Town to take chief command of all the
forces in South Africa, superseding
Butler. Experts think the latter has his
hands full with the Natal situation,
while Gatacre, French and Methuen
are operating almost as independent
commands.
Continental papers insist that Boer
tactics will land Methuen in Kimberley
SO weakened he will not be able to move
| toward Bloemfontein or Pretoria be-
cause the lines behind will be cut by
raiders. The same authorities declare
| the Free Staters can hold French and
| Gatacre safe while all the remaining
Beers will check Butler at Tugela river
and eventually wear out White at Lady
smith.
1t is said now that 500 Beers only
| fought Methuen at Gras Pan.-that the
force he defeated at Belmont retreated
| to the Orange Free State and the troops
at Modder River were entirely fresh
commands from the Transvaal
The Times has the following from
Freere camp, dated Nov 20: ''The
Boer camp at Colenso is visible from a
point near Chievley. 1t is strong po-
sition and difficult for direct front at
| tack"
The special correspondence of the Daily
! News with General Methuen, tele-
graphing from Modder River, on the
! day after the battle, says: 81 hear that
the Beers are in full retreat to Blomfon-
| tein.''
The Evening News says it learns that
a cable dispatch was received from AN
officer of the guards saving simply SIN
Kimberley" which, it is added, may
mean that General Methuen's vanguard
has entered Kimberley.
/ L "a