The evening times., 1899-12-01
The Mystery Of Modder River

The Mystery of Modder River.
Although there appears to be some foun-
dation for the assumption in London that
Lord Methuen's engagement at Modder
River resulted in at least a technical vic
tory, it also seems evident that either Sir
Frederick Forester Walker. at Cape Town,
or the war Office is withholding vital facts
concerning the battle. II is known that
| re-enforcements are being hurried to Me-
thuen. although they can be lily spared,
since Generals Gatacre and French have
| merely weak detachments with which to
keep northern Cape Colony from general
! rebellion. and the Beers from the Orange
River line occupied. so that they shall not
| move to the assistance OF Cronje. 1t is
also developed, or seems to be, that at
| latest accounts Methuen had not been able
to cross the Modder with his whole divis-
ion. His pontoon train may be insufficient,
or, what is more probable, he will not ven
ture another forward step until REINFORCED
and disencumbered from his wounded, who
must be in great number.
The indications, therefore, tend to for
best condition to undertake the next bat
tie, which, it is to be apprehended. will
have to be fought few miles north under
conditions more unfavorable to the attack
ing force than obtained in any Of the
| three previous engagements. Neverthe-
less. We have little doubt that as soon as
his losses are made good this fighting OFF,
Ger will press on and engage Cronje as
hercely. as If nothing had happened pre-
viously. IL entire credit is to be given to
encouraging reports regarding the situation
at Kimberley, and Methuen were able to
reach Spytfontein before being compelled
to fight the whole Boer force again, Keke-
wich might be in a position to move out
and take Cronje in reverse. Such coop
Grafton with the relieving column would
probably prove disastrous to the Beers.
and for the reason it would likely be
attempted, it may be doubtful if Cronje
would retire as far as Spytfontein before
giving his antagonist another battle. The
distance from Modder River to Kimberley
is twenty-five miles, to Spytfontein, fif-
teen miles, and thence, of course. to Kim
berley, ten miles. fianking movement
by the British at Spytfontein, if that were
feasible, would easily bring Methuen in
touch with Kekewich, and the two forces
once united would be in numbers superior
TO Crohje's command. Unless the latter
has suffered more in the engagement at
Modder River than the conditions sur
rounding the affair, as far as they have
y,.N
make fresh stand at Metgr Siding. not
far north of the river. Cronie is evidently
| calculating on the possibility of a sortie
from Kimberley, and has emplaced addi-
tional guns at Wimbledon, position COM
manding the natural direction OF such
| movement. II the British general had a
! few thousand more troops to hold his line
! of communications, with his present force
! he might perhaps attempt turning move
ment to the left of the railway, which
Kekewich could support sooner than he
could the direct advance. Exactly what
will happen next between Modder River
and Kimberley, ii is impossible to predict;
but a sanguinary struggle will be certain,
whatever direction the advance may take.
The -Fumors of the alleged capitulation
of Ladysmith will have to be disposed of
before anyone can begin to guess about the
situation in northern Natal The London
military critics assume that Sir George
White is all right, and agree among them
selves that the more or less decisive battle
impending will occur at the Tugela River,
the passage of which it is expected
the Beers will holly contest. Sir Redvers
Butler is keeping his own counsel strictly.
Hildyard's headquarters still appear to be
at Frere, and Weenens is apparently oc-
cupied by the British. Where Clery is, or
the seven thousand reserves, is not dis
closed. London believes that the attack
ing force will amount to eighteen thou
sand troops of all arms, and that Joubert
can oppose it with twenty thousand. In
that event, ne should certainly have ten
thousand in reserve to keep White bottled
up in Ladysmith, for it is not to be sup
posed that the latter would sit still and
listen to the roar of the battle at Colenso
and not try to do a little something to-
ward making it uncomfortable for the
rear of his enemy. So, with that consid-
Grafton in view. we are again subjected to
confusion as TO what force Joubert may
really have with him in the Natal field.
If he can meet Clery at the Tugela with
twenty thousand Beers, and still have
men enough to hold White within the
Ladysmith lines, his army must aggregate
thirty thousand. We are almost inclined
to suspect that the English press experts,
unless they happen to be in the confidence
of the war office, which does not appear
to be the case, know about as little of the
inside facts of the situation as other peo-
pie.
Training for Citizenship.