New-York tribune., 1899-12-03
RRITTSHLOS.S AT THE MODDER
rur1vr PER CENT OF LORD METHUEN'S
FORCES KILLED OR WOUNDED
SINCE HE STARTED FROM
ORANGE RIVER
fBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.l

Oh<A-NpI- NJ i~iN'
lBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUXE.l
rondon. Dec 8. l q. ma brief note on the
,tuation on the western frontier by General
Walker and full list Of the casualties in Lord
Netbuens third victory were the chief official
contributions Yesterday to the meagre stock of
,nh,ic knowledge. General Walker reported
that Lord Mothuen still remained at Modder
River Friday for the reconstruction of the
bridge. and that Highlanders and cavalry had
been sent up TO reinforce him. while three bat
talions Of infantry a corps Of horse artillery
and the Canadian and Australian contingents
had moved forward to De Aar and Belmont.
This was evidently confidential dispatch not
meant for publication, but the War Office
promptly posted it in order to relieve the ten
sion Of public suspense at the risk of giving i'm
portant information TO the enemy.
LIGHT on THE BATTLE
In the afternoon the casualty list was posted,
with total of All including the previous list OF
officers. Methuen's losses in the ten hours
fight were 76 killed. 3ss wounded and missing.
The total was 20 below the combined losses
of the two previous battles-Belmont and Ems
lin. While the details of the battle
known these orcial data threw a strong light
upon the engagement. which had remained for
four DAYS an inexpNcabe mystery. Lord
Methuen's entire force was under fire. for casu-
alties had been reported from every unit of the
army except the Northampton battalion. After
fighting desperately for ten hours ne could only
claim a 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. lie was slightly wounded
himself. and had lost 6 per cent Of his entire
force in addition to another per cent in the
two previous battles. But he had no idea that
he had been beaten. and no intention Of letting
the enemy or the English people think He
had his slight tactical advantage. and he held
his ground like an English bulldog. He re-
NAMED where he was three days. until rein
forcements could be SEN ard and the en-
gineers could repair the bridge so that the
naval guns field batteries and supplies might
60 with him. and within forty-eight hours the
world can expect that another battle has been
tough, and Kimberley rescued.
Lord Methuen is not a tactcian. and he works
men terribly hard. as is proved by the record
Of his having marched fifty-three miles within
seven days and fought three battles. with II
pei cent Of his entire force killed or disabled.
But he is a fine type of English grit and in
vincible courage.
NOT PREPARED FOR THE BOER ARMY.
II seems probable from clew furnished by
The Standard" correspondent that General
Nethuen expected to find the enemy in force,
not al MOdder River, hut at Spytfontein beyond,
and that he was not prepared 10 meet so strong
an army as confronted him when he reached the
swollen stream. He accepted the challenge or
tatte at once, and fought from hour TO hour
until evening. 1t seems probable that the
Guards Brigade was engaged in the tongue OF
snd formed by the Modder and Piet rivers and
me Ninth Brigade below the railway bridge
With the Naval Brigade in the centre But the
nghting desperate all along the line as the
nearly equal losses Of the two trigades clearly
Indicate. The heaviest individual losses were
'hoSe Of the battalion Of Highlanders which had
"ned the column thirty-slX hours before the
"suIe' and were at once set 10 work A fresh
Dal'ery Of field artillery had also reinforced
-Nd Methuen 80 that there were three In ac-
"0h The Lancers and the two bodies OF Pro-
'heisl horse took less prominent part in the
''- hours fight which was mainly an infantry
'ue with incessant artillery fire and riile
'."euee, and little bayonet work at the cIoee
- ne exciting day Lord Methuen could not
"Nn decisive victory. but he had held MS
e.Ouh1 and did not know what the phrase
"@wn battle" meant. He made the most OF
=" slgnt tactical advantage. sent bulletin 10
s war Office with one or two rhetorical Hour-
.'"eS which all England has been puzzling over
-y' iour days. and began to repair the DTloSe
"Is waiting for reinfOrcements He had capt
eo neither guns. positions nor prisoners bu'
~ "au pa-alyzed the activities Of the enemy
~ Cronje with a force Of superior mobinty
Ha' oohe nothing to interrupt his line OF com
-uHcatlons by which battalions Of cavalry ana
'''efy were coming up, and that line stretches
80 V' only to Cape Town. but 10 Southampton
"Hehce 5000 fresh troops sailed yesterday
WIN an additional call behind for reserves Of
Six regiments
BATTLE IMMINENT IN NATAL
me curtain has been rung down upon the
pa'sn IN Upper Natal and there is only a
So shmpse behind the scenes. This Is Of
.'', IN Central News dispatch from Durham
az" The statement that a reconnaissance in
''e mas taken place and Boer commands have
tn. >, A CURIOUS WATER LEVEL
cago bg SnyMgsahd miles between New York and nj