The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1899-12-01
THEY FOUGHT Ten HOURS.
Gen. Methuen Says the British De-
teatedGen. CrOnje's Big Army at
MOdder River Tuesday.
BOER FORCE WAS EIGHT THOUSAND.
Food and In the Burning sun-Gen- Ne
thUen Charac5erizes 1t As One OF the
Harde-t aud Most Trying Fights in the
Annals OF the British Army.

London, Nov. 29.-The war Office has
received the following dispatch from
Gen. Butler:
Cape Town Tuesday, Nov. 2s-Gen- Methuen
reports: MOdder River, Tuesday, Nov. q
Accommodated at i've a. N enemy's position on
river MOdder and found them strongly en-
trenched and concealed No means Of outfank-
ing the river being full. Action commenced
with artillery, mounted infantry and cavalry
at 80, guard on right. Ninth brigade on left:
attacked position In widely extended formation
AZ $50 and, supported BY the artillery, found
itself in front Of the whole BOer force, 5000
str g, with two large guns, four krupps. etc.
Tie naval brigade rendered great assistance
from the railway.
After desperate, hard fighting, which lasted
ten hours, our men, without water or food and
IN the burning sun, made the enemy quit his
position Gen POle-Carew was successful in
getting q small party across the river. calamity
assisted BY 80 sappers
1 speak in terms Of high praise Of the conduct
OF all who were engaged in one Of the hardest
and most trying fights in the annals Of the
British army. II I can comment on one arm
particularly, it is two batteries OF artillery.
Presumably the burgher army was
on the south bank Of the river, but
whether, when the Beers retreated,
they crossed the river nOrthward or re-
tired in an easterly direction, into the
Orange Free State, IS unknown. Pos
sibly the Beers had repaired the bridge
previously reported destroyed, and
managed to Withstand the British at
tack with their rear guard, while their
main body escaped over the bridge, the
rear guard destroying the bridge be
hind them. The British, however, ap-
pear TO have surmOunted the difficult
ties Of crossing the river, and to have
seized for themselves a position on the
north side Of the stream.
"The BlOOdiest OF the Century,
London, Nov. ga special dispatch
from Windsor says that Gen. Methuen's
dispatch to the queen after the battle
of Moot river says:
The battle was the blOOdiest Of the century.
The British sheIled the enemy out of the
trenches and then charged The result Ras
terrible
As the Beers, according to Gen Fore
stier-Walker's advices, were leaving
Kimberley for the south, it is regarded
as not impossible that Col. Kekewich
is already marching with 1900 troops
to meet Lord Methuen. 1t is believed
that after the relief of Kimberley Lord
Methuen viii proceed to the relief of
Mafeking, about which considerable
anxiety is still felt.
Beers to Strike Vigorously.
Berlin, Nov. o. The Deutsche Zeit-
ing publishes the following dispatch,
dated Pretoria, November y, received
through BOer diplomatic channels:
President Kruger and President STEM have
Instructed Gen. JOubert and Gen. CrOnje not 70
split their forces into small attachments, but
to strike vigorous blows Gen. Joubert has
three corps, one holding LadySrnith. the second
commanding the Tugela and the third east OF
EStcOurt- in order 70 cut on the British retreat
Gen CrOnie's forces are divided into three con-
tinEentS, one at Kimberley, another at 1IOdder
River and the fhfrf in the raar Of Cen Mailman