The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-12-14
SITUATION is NOW SERIOUS
ANXIETY OF THE PUBLIC OF BRIT.
AIN WAS JUSTIFIED.
II II Believed that General Meth
ucn's Losses Have Been Much
Greater Than Reported.

as expected, followed UP his artillery at
tack with a general assault on the Boer
positions Monday and his report shows
that the anxiety of the public regarding
the result occasioned by the ominous
silence OF the war Office vas amply 1usti-
fed.
The engagement was evidently OF con-
siderable magnitude and the list OF the
killed and wounded will be proportionate
without the compensation which victory
would have brought IL, indeed, the affair
does not turn to be a more serious defeat
than General Methuen admits. The High
landeys. 1t Is believed must have 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 out
1anked their attackers. One report says
that General CronJe attacked the British.
The only compensation the British have
been able to discover is the disheartening
story In General Methuen's statement
that he maintains his position close to the
Beers, arousing hope that he will retrieve
the situation. 1t Is apparent that the bonn
bardment of Sunday and Saturday did not
shake the Beers grip on their position
and 1t seems certain tthat they merely
withdrew their guns and rifemen under
cover. while General Methuen indulged in
the usual artillery preIiminaries Monday
and that when the British guns We're
Obliged to cease hiring, owing to the dan
ger of hitting the advancing troops, the
Beers speedily reoccupied their trenches
and overwhelmed the Highlanders with Il
terrible fire. probably accompanying this
n lfA NlEif he.h ri. IL
and rear. Alarm is beginning to be ex-
pressed in many quarters as to the situa-
ton OF General Methuen. As the Vest |
Minister Gazette says III England ever
needed victory IL Is now. and It is a
Butler, the soldier strong, ol-headed ana !
retlcent that the country looks to for this
victory"
The other papers are abusing the gov
eminent for its "complacent optimism
and inability 10 grasp the strength of the
opposition 1t has TO overcome in South AZ .
JlC5.
Considerable significance attaches to
General Methuan's statement that he is
entrench!ng himself, indicating fear that
me Beers may lollcw up their advantage. 7
adopt the offensive and attack him In
deed, the gravity OF the situation. from
the British point OF view, can hardly be
overestimated. General Methuens long
lines Of communication TO Deaar are most
~.
Methuen viii find himself in very tight
place II only from lack of supplies
The news OF the British reverse had n
pad effect on the stock exchange where
there was general relapse. The latest
advices from General Gatacre show that
no anxiety is felt for the safety of his
remaining troops. who have been with.
drawn to good positions along the rail-
road south of Moteno.
1t is said that Bushmans Hook is In,
pregnable. The Beers decline to furnish
the names OF the killed or wounded They
say they buried the dead and nre renoy-
ing the prisoners 10 Dioemfontein
inc Boer loss sunday Is reported to havr
been four killed and nine wounded Prom
sniS TINS IL correct, as no genuine attack
was made by General Gatacrt's trcopy
VINO We're completely surprised white In
column. The British apparently simply
rushed up the neares' hill without orders
ana not Knowing where the enemy was
ii also appears Tint the British we're 20
exhausted that they were unable In nc-
compllsh anything They had been on the
move since a. Ia. Sunday travelling nv
train, In open trucks. IN the boiling sun
TO Molteno After an hours rest they
proceeded on long march over the most
SStcnlt unknown country. General Bul-
ler's advance in the direction OF Colens9
seems 10 have actually commenced The
Join General Butler via Durham
General White reports under date or
Tuesday, December ~, that there are
thlrty two cases Of enteric fever at Lady
smith
There are renewed reports of a cabinet
crisis at Capetown. where II Is said that
Governor Miner is about to act, In conse-
quence of disclosures involving the min
listers loyalty.
The White Star lipa eta,,,a. ,f.,...
sails from Liverpool today for South Africa
with 1000 troops on board The White
star line steamer Cymric has been char
tered for use ms transport
The war office today received the fol-
lowing message from General Forester
walker; "Capetown, Tuesday December
l2--No further details from Methucn."
From Orange River 1t Is reportedr that
$40 wounded, including twenty-seven o.,
ncers. have arrived there from the Molder
river
Gatacre Is moving from Buehmans Mex
TO Sterkstroom today. The magistrate Mt
sterkstroom wires that the situation there
IS slightly improved, Many OF the missing
have turned up. French reports that a
detachment OF cavalry with two guns OF
the Horse artillery reconnoitered tho
enemy's position yesterday at Quilrontein
and Vaalkopf eight miles north Of Arun-
uei They shelled farm ard drove the
enemy from Vaalskopf. The Boer loss was
pne killed and several wounded
AS the day progressed aud the dribbiets
OF information leaked out. the extreme
gravity OF General Meihuen's position was
more fully recognized and the possibility {
OF his isolation created no small alarm In
military circles. II was thought in some
quarters that he ought to retrace his steps
TO Orange River before his lines OF com
munlcation were severed
General Wauchopes death was much de-
piored. He rendered notable service al
lne nattle OF omdurman for which he was
thanked by the house Of parliament.
The stock exchange today closed grave 4