The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1899-12-06
ALL AWAIT BUTCHERS BILL.
War Office Has the Modder River Cas-
ualties, But Reveals Them Not.
GENERAL mETHuENAMoNo WOUNDED
Omcinl Intelligence to This Effect
Reluctantly Divulgcd by tho
Home OnciuIs-BrItish
Losses Feared to ISe
In Four Figures.

London, Nov. 30.-rIt is officially an
nounced that General Methuen was
among those wounded at the battle of
Modder river.
London, Nov. 3O.-Although tele-
graph and railroad communication is
open with Modder river, no further
news of General Methuen's movement
or the big fight had been given out.
This is generally taken to indicate
that General Methuen is again on the
march, and that, as heretofore, he will
not again be heard from until he has
fought another battle and gained an
other stage.
That the general anticipated logged
resistance on his northwaru march is
shown by the speech which he deliV
cred to his troops Nov. q after the
battle of Gras Pan, reports OF which
have just arrived here. After reading
telegram from Governor Miner con-
graduating the troops and sympathiz-
ing with the wounded, General Me-
thuen congratulated the troops on the
work done and expressed appreciation
of the manner in which they had en-
dured the hardships. The work, he
said, was the most severe encountered
by the British army for many a long
day. They had in front of them, he
added, an enemy to which they could
not afford to give single point Their
tactics had been excellent, and ..e rec
ognized and admired their courage.
Continuing, General Methuen said
that when called upon to fight for his
country he preferred to fight foe
worthy of his steel, rather than saw
ages, whose sole recommendation was
bravery. He then expressed the hope
that he and his men had gained each
others confidence and would all do
their duty to their country as English
men should.
Those who are acquainted with Cen
eral Methuen think his terse descrip-
ton of the battle of Modder river fore
casts "a fearful butcher bill"
A dispatch from Cape Town dated
Nov. 81 gives reports of the nervous
ness of the Beers of the Orange Free
State border. Some OF the Boer forces,
it is said, have been hurriedly with
drawn from Ladygrey and Barley
East.
ISumors About Ladysmith.
In the midst of the uncertainty and
dreadful suspense about Lord Me-
thuen's troops comes the positive
statement from Rotterdam that a pri-
vate cipher message has been received
there by family, member of which
is with the Beers, conveying the intel
ligence that Lndysmith has fallen.
While many rumors of like report
have before come through continental
channels, the very fact that this is a
II,
its impressiveness the greater, partic-
ularly as the latest assurance that
Ladysmith was still holding out was
dated the oath instant.
The opinion is expressed by many
that If Ladysmlth has capitulated, the
British government, in spite of dcclar-
ations that the war was to be carried
on until the Beers are conquered, may
an early settlement.
Such reverse would at once be
taken advantage of by the European
powers, which have made representa-
lions to Great Britain looking to medi-
alton. These representations would,
undoubtedly, be redoubled in emphasis,
and certainly would have gained in
pertinency if the Beers have placed
an important victory to their account.
The war office officials reiterate that
they have received absolutely nothing
to indicate the slightest likelihood of
Ladysmith surrendering, while on the
other hand, they expect the place will
be relieved shortly.
General Buffers dispatch from
PietermaritZburg would hardly have
dealt with but little details of the sit
e
thing serious to report. Since then
has come the dispatch from Estcourt
saying General Joubert is Fastening
back to oppose Colonel Baden-Powell.
This is incomprehensible here, and IS
generally supposed that names have
been mixed up. But in some quarters
conjectures are ventured that the be-
siegers of Mafeking have been with
drawn southwark and permitted Col
onel Baden-Po to leave that place,
and that he is now in conjunction with
Colonel Plumer of Fort Tuli, travers
ing the Transvaal. 1t is claimed that
If General Joubert is travelling in an
omnibus ..e must be either sick or
wounded.
The war office makes public the fol-
lowing dispatch from the officer com
ct SdpC O"h' uhhSl uuNO VI
N.Y.. 20: kimberley all we'll to Nov.
23. Rail and telegraph open to Mod
der river. Gatacre reports, Nov. %,
that the situation is unchanged"
The war office received the following
dispatch from General Butler, dated
Pietermaritzburg, Nov. 20: Mitchell,
telegrsphist, has just made his way
out of Ladysmith to Weenin, whence
he sends the following message: ON
Nov. we beat back the Beers with
great loss to the enemy. Our total
casualties were remarkably small.
There we're only eight men killed dur
ing thu siege by shells. and in all the
battles, etc, only 100 men have been
killed or wounded. l left Ladysmith