The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-05

not say now the British crosseu the river. He
elsewhere asserts that the bridge was wrecked
making II impassable. II would seem
that the neighboring drift. which is q stony
ridge. dry at low water. was not too deeply
submerged by the swollen stream 10 allow
fordng.
What has happened since tho engagement IL
unknown. Some are sanguIne enough to be-
lieve that Kimberley has ayeady been reached.
The Daily Mail learns that a private despatch
has been received from u well known
officer OF the Guards with Gen. Methuen
containing the words In kimberley" but
the censor. perhaps, relieved the monotony OF
his duties by humorously Looping on the
words on either side NJ those quoted.
A despatch to the Daily Mail from PETER
maritzburR. dated Nov. ~. says that the doubts
concerning Gen. Joubort's death have not been
dispelled. A prominent farmer named Valance
and several others who conversed with the
Maths correspondent declared that they had
seen and talked with Gen. Joubert. but the
correspondent does not cay when.
There is little doubt that the wreck OF the
transport Ismore entailed serious loss. She
carried ak fifteen pc undors. eleven wagons. n
quantity Of stores and hospital fittings tis
not known what salvage OF these IL possible.
tut 1t Ia feared that 1t will 10 comparatively
tle while 1t Is practically certain that Mt least
230 horses were lost
An Estcourt despatch published by the 7ele-
graph under da,o OF Nov. 30 says; throughout
the night and greater part OF the day there
was heavy cannonading In the direc-
ton OF Ladysmith The Colenso bridge
| IL total wreck Several Of its piers are gone.
The news was flashed to Lndysmith by means
scarchliRhts The Beers swarm at Grobler's
kloof. opposite Colenso."
The 7eieoraphs correspondent at Frere. Ma
| 81 L. m la t,h Iats Nov 'Haayv
firing was heard yesterday at Ladysmith. It
| continued until the afternoon. and was
| resumed to-day. Tho Beers from Weenen
have rccrossed the Tugela River. leaving
Coienso and Wecnen
The Iadysmith correspondent Of the Teis-
| graph. cabling under date Of Nov. ~. says: "A
| large trek OF Boer women arrived near Lady
| smith yesterday In order to interccde with
| Gen. Jou bert to stop the war Eleven hundred
| shells have fallen in the town since the siege
began"
| The Standards correspondent at Nodder
| River says that several prisoners declare that
Commanlant Cronie used his whip the Britt
| ish advanced TO keep the Beers In their
| places They offer other evidence that many
| OF the enemy would be only to glad to give up
| the struggle.
The r. mes correspondent at MafekinG said
| that since the Beers broke up their lager only
a small force has been left on the western side
| OF the town. aud this force il entirely
without artillery. The Beers however, at
! TEN pted to shell the British trenches and
| the western outposts from the emplace-
meIt OF the big gun southeast 81 the
! town. The range was between 5000
| and 5000 yards. The shells only carried half
! that Il stance. Tho encmys seven FOUNDERS
| AM quick firing guns have range of 1900
yards. while the British guns carry only 1000
yards. Therefore the latter are Kept In en-
| forced idleness and sit tight. Hal tho Beers
! Trustworthy Information OF the whereabouts OF
| the dynamite mines surrounding the British
position the town would have been stormed
| weeks ago. Ignorance Of their location creates
! u corresponding dread.
Tho Standard publishes despatch from
Cape Town uader date OF Nov. ~. saying there
Is good authority for stating that the Cape Gov
| erument intends. at an early date. to send one
OF its members to England to urge on her
Mai, sty's Government tho views OF the Min
istry regarding the final settlement OF tia
south African question after the war. Ntor-
ney- General Solomon il the most likely to be-
selected for the mission.
LONDON, Dec. 4.-The following Is one
Chronicle account OF the battle OF Modder
River:
The fighting lasted fourteen hours. The
Beers were strongly intrenched. their front
extending Ave miles along the bank OF the
river. During brief lull in the artillery due
Gen. Methuen sent infantry across the plain
toward the river In two brIgAdes. They were
met by a perfect hail OF bullets from the
enemy's sharpshooters posted close to the
river on the opposite bank. The British. who
had no cover. were moved down. IL seemed
I'm possible TO live through tho terrible fire
which was horribly accurate. The Beers num-
bered at least 10000.
THE Scots Guards advanced six hundred
yards before the Beers fired on them. Their
they had to lie down to escape the dea ily
fusilade. which lasted. without intermissior
all day. The Highlanders attempted more
than once to force apassage across the river
but the murderous IRE compelled them II
retire. They suffered terribly while under
fire. subsequently a party OF the Guards
crossed the river and held their own against
n vastly superior force
The consensus OF opinion OF members ri
the stan is that there has not been such sus
tanned Are In the annals OF the army. Men Eel
by the dozens while attempting to rush tn,
bridge. Lieut.. Col. Coddrington Of the
Coldstreams. Capt. Sellp,ine. a Queenslander
and a dozen men OF the Coldstream Guard
Jumped into the river and swan nearly to thu
other side In the face Of steady fire. The,
were forced TO retire. however, and JOHNS
hands they swan back unscathed. Fearful
havoc was wrought In the Boer positions ant
the enemy was forced to leave his intrench
ments Night put AN end u the bloodshed.
During the night the enemy retreated. TAX
ing his guns. We are now occupying the Boe
positions. The enemy's losses were tremen
dous"
A despatch to the Times from Modder River
dated Nov. 20. says: Gen. CronRe commanded
IL 900 Beers who were In a semi-circular posi-
ton. The battle opened with an artillery due
on the extreme right. which was a mere ieint
Then the Scots Guards advanced on the RICH
flank, believing that the town had been evacu
ated. They lost heavily.
AT dusk part OF the Ninth Brigade and tn,
Argyle Highlanders, after feint. crossed tn
river on the extreme left. while a vigorous
cannonade was kept up, Night fell with no de
cided victory. Next morning tho Guards FOL
lowed the Ninth Brigade across and found tn
town evacuated. Tho remainder OF the troop
all crossed during the forenoon.
This was the Beers last stand before Kim