Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-12-13

l
ed the following dispatch from General
Methuen dated Tuesday, Dec. 10:
"Our artillery shelled a very strong
position held by the enemy in long
high kopje, from four until dusk Sunday.
1t rained hard last night.
''rhe Highland brigade attacked at
dayhreak on Monday the south end of
the kopje. The attack was properly
timed but failed. The guards were or
dered to protect the Highlanders' right
and rear.
| Cavalry and mounted infantry, with a
howitzer artillery battery, attacked the
enemy on the left and the guards on the
right, supported by field artillery and
howitzer artillery. They shelled the
position from daybreal< and a 1:15 | sent
the Gordons to support the Highland
brigade.
'"The troops held their own in front
of the enemy's entertainments until dusk.
the position extending, including the
kopje, for a distance of six miles to Mod
der river.
To-day am holding my position, and
entrenching myself. I had to face at
least 10000 men. Our loss was great"
General Methuen as expected followed
UP his artillery attack with a general
assault on the Boer positions Monday
and his report shows that the anxiety
of the public regarding the result occa-
stoned by the ominous silence of the war
office was amply justified.
The engagement was evidently of con-
siderable magnitude and the list of the
killed and wounded will be proportionate
hn -
tory would have brought, if indeed the
affalrs does not turn out to be a more
serious defeat than Methuen admits.
The Highlanders. it is believed, must
nave stormed the Boer position more
than once, while the fact that the Guards
were ordered to support the Highlanders
rear. looks as though the Beers may
even have outflanlAed their attackers.
one report says that General Cronie
attacked the British
Inc only compensation the British
have been able TO discover in the dis
statement that he maintains his position
close to the Beers, arousng hope that he
Will retrieve the situation.
1T is apparent that the bOmba rdment
on Saturday and Sunday did not shake
the Boer grip on their position and it
seems certain that they merely Withdrew
their guns and riflemen under cover
while General Methuen induged in the
usual artillery preliminares Monday and
that when the British guns were obliged
TO cease firing, owing to the danger of
hitting the advancing troops. the Beers
speedily re-occupied their trenches and
overwhelmed the Highlanders with a ter
rible fire. probably accompanying this bv
an attack on the British right flank and
rear.
Alarm is beginning to be expressed in
many quarters as to the situation of Gen.
Methuen.
AS the Westminster Gazette saws: "1fl
England ever needed a victory it is now
and 1t is to Butler, the soldier strong.
cool-headed and reticent, that the coun-
try looks for this victory"
The other papers are abusing the gov
ernment for it's "Complacent optimism"
inability to grasp the strength of the on
position it has to overcome in South At
rica.
Considerable significance attaches to |
Gen. Methuen's statement that he is en-
trenching himself, indicating fear that |
the Beers may follow up their advantage,
adopt the offensive and attack him.
Indeed, the gravity of the situation.
from the British point of view. can hardly
be overestimated. Methuen's long lines
of communication to De Aar are most
vulnerable. Should they be cut Methuen
will find himself in very tight place If |
only from lack of supplies.
The news of the British reverse had a
bad effect on the stock exchange where
there was general collapse Kaffirs
and rand mines dropped PA points and
De Beers dropped 3&.
The latest advices from Gen. Gatacre
show that no anxiety is felt for the safe
ty of his remaining troops who have been
to good positions along the
RAILROAD south of Molteno. 1t is said
Bushmanshoek is impregnable. The Beers
decline to furnish the names Of the killed