Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-12-08
left DURING THE NIGHT.
Finding the Struggle at Modder
River a Hopeless One, Gen. Cron-
lie Evacuated His Position.
DESPERATE C0URAeE ON BOTH SIDES.
twilight Fell Upon an Undecided Battle,
and the Boer Force OF 1900 Retired
without Any Disorder, Carrying on
Their Guns and Observation-Disclosures
Were Too Exhausted to Pursue Them.

London, Dec. 5.-The latest details
,eceived from Modder river seem to
show that even the desperate courage
;he attacking force displayed all day
ong (Novemb 2s) failed to drive the
Beers from their stong entertainments,
md night fell on an undecided battle.
But, apparently, during the course of
The night Gen. Cronje, commanding
he Beers. who are said to have num-
Dered 1900 men, decided that the
struggle was hopeless, for the British
iOund the town and surrounding posi-
lions evacuated when daylight broke,
md the whole British army crossed the
liver and encamped on the Boer posi-
lions.
The experts here are unanimous in
expressing the opinion that Kimber-
ey's needs must be very pressing to
induce Gen. Methuen to expose the
whole of his command to the Boer
narksmen, snugly entrenched in
semi-circular position. So deadly was
;he fire zone that the SCOTS guards
we're compelled to leave their Maxim
guns behind when they were forced to
seek less exposed ground. It was only
after dark that portion of the British
troops succeeded in crossing the river
by a mill dam on the extreme left.
When night fell the Boer artillery fire
was still as vigorous as in the morning,
but the Beers retirement in the night
saved the situation for the British.
The exhausted condition of the British
troops precluded the possibility of a
pursuit of the enemy.
The conclusion of the correspondents
that the Beers must have suffered
heavily must be confirmed from Off
rial sources before it is accepted as
fact. In any case, the Beers retired
without any sign of disorder, carrying
off their guns and equipment. Thus
Gen. Comics force is still intact. The
fact that Gen. Methuen and Col. Keke-
wich are now in communication may
cause reconsideration of the .Boer
commanders plan to give battle at
Spytfontein, where he might be stimuli
taneously attacked by both British
forces.
It is reported that Modder river
bridge has been repaired, and that the
British resumed their march towards
Kim berley to-day.
Has Methuen Entered Kimberley?
London, Dec. 5.-The Evening News
says it learns that a cable dispatch was
received to-day from an officer of the
guards saying simply; 'In -Kimbcr
ley," which, it is added. may mean that
Gen. Methuen's vanguard has entered
Kimberley.
Another Account of the Fight
Cape Town, Nov. 3O.-(Delayed in
transmission. - Some details of the
Modder river battle are at last at hand.
The battle was fought with the river
between armies. The Beers had five
miles of intrenchments on the northern
bank. For several hours there was an
artillery duel, when there was a lull in
the Boer fire, and the British infantry
advanced to the river bank without
cover, hoping to force a passage over
to the Boer position.
The British were simply moved
down in this and attempted and re-
peated efforts to cross were frustrated
by the Boer guns. Finally few of
the guards got across and held posi-
ton on the north bank despite heavy
odds. Some of the British tried to
swim the river, but were forced back
and nearly drowned. The Beers held
their position till darkness ended the
fight, when they retired unseen with
their guns to a new position to the
northward. A large part of Gen. Me-
thuen's force then crossed the river.