Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-11-30

LONDON. November 29.-The ex-
pected great battle at Modder river has
been fought and Gen. Methuen has ad-
ded another victory to his achieve
ments Of the past week. That the Beers
defended their positions with all their
old-time gallantry is amply proved by
Gen. Methuen's dispatch, and it will
probably be further testified to when
the list of British casualties is made
known.
There appears to be no doubt that
Gen. Methuen has gained a real advan-
tage, though the details must be await
ed before the full effect of his ten
hours desperate fighting can be gagged.
Presumably the burgher army was on
the south bank of the river, but wheth-
er, when the Beers retreated they
crossed the river northward or retired
in an easterly direction, into the Or
ange Free State, is unknown. Possibly
the Beers had repaired the bridge, pre-
viously reported destroyed, and man
aged to withstand the British attack
with their rear guard, while their main
body escaped over the bridge, the rear
guard destroying the bridge behind
them. The British, however, appear to
have surrounded the difficulties of
crossing the river and to have seized
for themselves a position on the north
side of the stream.
This success OF the British clears an
other stage Of the road to Kimberley,
the siege of which Gen. Cronje must
have partially raised in order to give
battle to Gen. Methuen. There is little
reason to doubt, however, that the
Beers will again rally, as heretofore,
after a seemingly crushing defeat, I'M
less they have lost their guns, of which
there is no mention in the official dis
patch.
The burghers are understood to have
a strong lager at Spyfontein, fourteen
miles north of the Modder river, so an
other engagement possibly awaits the
British before they can commence the
last stage of the eleven miles from Spy
fontein to Kimberley, though, it is
pointed out, Gen. Cronje will thereby
run a great risk of being caught be-
tween Gen. Methuen and Col. Koke-
witch, the British commander at KIM
berley.
A belated dispatch from Orange river
says Gen. Methuen's troops are adj
vancing under the greatest difficulties,
fighting an omnipresent but almost in
visible foe.
The war Office has received from Gen.
Butler, under date of Cape Town, No
vember 2S, the following report by
Gen. Methuen, dated Modder River,
November %:
"Reconnoitered at 5 a. m, enemy's
position on river Modder, and found
them strongly entrenched and conceal
ed. No means of outfanking, the river
being full. Action commenced with ar
tillery, mounted infantry and cavalry,
at $50; Guard on right, Ninth Brig
ade on left, attacked the position in
widely extended formation at $50, and,
supported by the artillery, found itself
in front of the whole Boer force, 5000
strong, with two large guns, four
Krupps, etc.
1.-THE naval brigade rendered great
assistance from the railway.
after desperate, hard fighting,
which lasted ten hours, our men, with
out water or food and In the burning
sun, made the enemy quit his position.
Gen Pole-Carew was successful in
getting a small party across the river,
CALAMITY assisted by 800 sappers.
Il speak in terms of high praise of
the conduct of all who were engaged in
enc of the hardest and most trying
fights in the annals Of the British
army. If I can mention one arm par
ticularly, 1t is two batteries of artil-
lery."
A special dispatch from Windsor
says that Gen. Methuens dispatch to
the Queen after the battle of Moot river
says:
THE battle was the bloodiest IN the
century. The British shelled the enc
my out Of the trenches and then charg-
ed. The result was terrible"