Warren sheaf., 1899-12-07

Second Yorkshires .............,. A
First North Lancashire 16
First coldstreams 20
Remington guides ................
Nlnth lancers ...................., =lsss
Engineers -
South African reserve ..........s..
First Northpmib Ithps niis
Total I: !. !. !. !. /. s. ........ 7s S7z
The aggregate of casualties among
the noncommissioned officers and men
is 452. The only list of officers so far
reported was admittedly incomplete,
giving four killed and 10 wounded One
entire brigade's losses We're not in
cluded in the report. This makes the
total of casualties in the Modder river
battle known to be ATS, with the Ninth
brigade yet to hear from.
Boer Loss Thought to BE Small.
1t is a significant fact that Lord
Methuen's cablegram makes no men
ton of the Boer loss, which, therefore,
is assumed to be small.
Is Joubert Dead.
According to a special dispatch from
Cape Town, Gen. Joubert was killed
November 10, but Gen. Buffers dispatch
Of November % showed that Gen. White
was in communication with Gen. Jou-
bert or somebody personating him
about November 10.
Entire Force in Action.
While the details Of the battle were
unknown these official data threw a
strong light upon the engagement,
which had remained for four days an
Sinexplcable mystery. Gen. Methuen's
entire force was under fire, for casu-
alties have been reported from every
unit OF the army, except the North
ampton battalion. After fighting des-
perately for ten hours he could only
claim slight tactical advantage, since
he had succeeded in throwing a small
force across the river, and, in his own
words, had made the Beers quit their
positions. He was slightly wounded
himself and had lost six per cent. of
his entire force in addition to another
six per cent. in two previous battles.
but he had no idea that he had been
beaten, and has no intention of let
ting the enemy or the English people
think so.
Gen. Methuen is not tactician, and
he works his men terribly hard, as is
proved by the record of having marched
So miles within seven days and fought
three battles with IL per cent: of his
entire force killed or disabled, but he
is a fine type of English grit and invin-
chile courage. It seems probable from
a clew furnished by the Standard cor
respondent that Gen. Methuen expect
ed to find the enemy in force, not at
Modder. river, but Spytfontein beyond.
and that he was not prepared to meet
so strong an army as confronted him.
When he reached the swollen stream he
accepted the challenge to battle at once
and fought from hour to hour until
evening.
Still In Ignorance.
London, Dec. 4.-The week opens
without word of news, which the Brit
ish public is SO anxiously awaiting
With a larger army in the field than
the country ever before modified, it
can only be said that the loss of 500
men, entailed before the enemy's bor-
ders have been crossed, is serious
matter and, while there is no feeling
of dependency as to the eventual re-
suit of the war, tits regretfully admit
ted on all sides that the strength of the
Boer resistance has been woefully un-s
derrated. It is now seen that the at
tempt to hold a useless position at
|sMafeking was a serious tactical mis-
take, as was also the endeavor to keep
the. the la large civil population in Kim ber-
ley. &
Kind Words for Young Hay.
Perhaps the brightest spot for Eng
lish readers is the announcement that
President Mckinley has designated the
son of Secretary Hay to succeed Mr..
Macrum in Pretoria. The Daily Tele-
graph says: This appointment is a
graceful concession on the part of the
United States government to British
feeling. Our countrymen's interests
will be safe in the hands Of the new
consul .
French Ambassador Departs.
London, Dec. 4.-The French ambas-
sador returned to Paris Saturday. "A
report comes from Paris that the Brit
ish ambassador has applied for two. s'
months leave of absence. The de-
parture of the French ambassador, it
lis believed is intended as . nro+oc+