Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-14
First Step in Jubilee March to Pretoria
Taken Through Blood
AR OFFICE PUSHED TO WALL FOR FUNDS
Two Hundred Million Will Not Pay Bill
Already Incurred,
EIGHTY THOUSAND MEN NOW IN AFRICA
Ten Thousand More Either Modified
or on the Way with Probability
of SIN More Bcins
Called out.

Copyright, 1899, by Press Publishing Coz
LONDON, Dec. 13.-(New York World Ca
blegram-Special Telegram )-The decided
check OF Mothuen and the heavy loss at
Magersfontein, added to the panic among
military authorities and lingo war experts
in London, Is noted significant. This is
the first fight on the soil of the South Az
rican republic AS a consequence Methuen
reports he is entrenchng to hold his ground
after two days fight. Thus the first step
in the jubilee parade to Pretoria proves 10
the friends of the Beers that they may de-
clare another advance in Kruger's price that
will stagger humanity.
The war office is now pushed to the ex-
tremity of its resources. Lord Roberts was
hastily summoned last night from Dublin to
London, and broke an engagement to appear
at benefit performance for the charitable
war fund and took the first train for the
metropolis. The extra session OF Parliament
was told that $50 900 900 would cover the
expense of the war 1t is now said by the
best informed that 5000 100000 will not pay
the bill.
Eighty thousand British troops are in
South Africa now and 10, 900 more are mo-
bilized or on the way. Advance orders for
the Sixth division of 10000 men are being
executed and there are warnings that the
Seventh division of the same number will
soon be collected at Aldershot for shipment
to the Cape.
Opinion of nm Expert.
Copyright, 1899, by Press Publishing Co)
LONDON. Dec. 13.-(New York World Ca
blegram-Specia Telegram )-The Pest mil
itary expert says:
',The news which reached here last night
will make every Englishman close his lips
with grimness, expectancy and determina-
ton. We learned with a measure OF ironi-
cal contempt that the Beers had been ap-
pointed to infiict national humiliation There
are worse things than the announcement
by nation that it would purge itself OF
pride, and the worse thing in the worse
way has been ours. Face to face with a
nation in arms and united we discussed as
a conoueror the terms OF settlement and
divided as victor the spoils. Well, we
have had our day OF humiliation, so far as
the fight at Magersfontein can be construed.
The advance from the Modder terminated
Sunday afternoon with a bombardment OF
the enemy's trenches. 1t lasted from a m.
til dark. All night it rained. 1t is very
probable that when lyddite is used in a
moist atmosphere rain will follow. Al
dawn on Monday the Highland brigade ad-
Vanced against the southern end OF the
Beers left. Fire was poured into the col
umn. II was helpless to return, as the hre
came by the flank and enfladed the lines
They retired and reformed in good order
First the Gordons advanced to their support
while the Guards were on the right ano
with the Yorkshire infantry were preventing
the enemy from cutting through to Modder
"The attention of the enemys right WINS
had been held meantime by four batteries
4 a1r or
emy's guns made no reply to the early ar
tillery fire. They realize by now that thei
artillery is, under certain conditions safe
and more useful when silent. After th'
Highlanders' attack had been repulsed tn
Beers came out in the open. apparently will
the intention OF breaking through the Brit
ish center. They failed, the Guards ant
artillery forcing them back. Tuesday morn
ing Methuen fell back again to the Modder
possibly to secure his right flank against al
attack from Jacobsdal. Methuen describe
the loss OF the Beers as terrible, yet the
stuck to the trenches and must beg Above
the honors of the engagement. Thus ende
the fourth battle for the relief OF Kimber
ley and we are yet in doubt as TO the re
suit"
Further Details OF Battle.
MODDER RIVER, Dec. 1S.-The Britis
casualties included the marquis of Win
chester major of the second battalion Cold
stream Guards, who was killed, and Colone
Downham OF the First battalion, Gordo
Highlanders, who was mortally wounded
When the Highlanders met the murderou
point blank fire of the Beers about 200 wer
moved down. The Black Watch regiment
on reforming, was able to muster only l6
men. The Beers lost heavily in the trenche
and also in the wire entanglements whe
they came into the open in an attempt
make a flank attack on the British.