Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1899-12-14
METHUEN Is JuutEED
BOers Contest His Advance and
Force Him Back.
HIS LOSS Is HEAVY.
He Returns 10 His Position and Is In.
treBehlng Himself-Ihe Beers
Say They Captured Many
Prisoners in the Fight.

London, Dec ia-Tho war Office has
received the following dispatch from
General Methuens dated Tuesday,
Dec ~.
Our artillery shelled very strong
position held by the enemy in a long
high kopie from I o'clock until dusk
Sunday II rainod hard Sunday night
/ The Highland brigade were attacked AZ
dAybreak on Monday. The attack Was
properly timed but failed The Guards
were ordered 90 protect the Highlands
right aud rear Cavalry and mounted
infantry with a Howitzer artillery bat
terry attacked the enemy on the left and
the Guards on the right supported by
field artillery and a Howitzer artillery.
They shelled the eusmy's position from
daybfeak aud at l.li / sent the G0rdous
20 support the Highlands brigade The
troops held their own In front % the
enemy entrenchmcnis until dusk, their
position extending including a kopie
Tor distance Of six miles towards Mod.
der river Today am holding my
position aud enircnchiug myself had
10 face at least 1900 men Our loss Is
great
General Methuen as was expected,
followed mp an artillery attack with
q general assault on the Boer position
Monday and report shows the anxiety
Of the public regarding the result &C.
cAsioned by the ominous silence Of the
war Office was amply justified. Theen.
gagement is evidently Of considerable
magnitude and tho list o. killed and
wounded will be proportiona,s without
compcnsation. which victory would have
brought. II. indeed. the affair does not
turn out 20 b. more serious dsfea,
than General Methuen admits
The Hlighlandors. IL Il believed. must
have stormed the Boer position more
than once. while the fact that the
Guards were ordered 10 support the
HighlAnders' rear looks as though the
Beers may have even ouiflanked the
attackers one report says General
Cronje attacked the British. The only
compensation the British have been able
10 discover IN the disheartening story Il
in General Methuens statement that he
maintained his position Close TO the
Beers arousing the hope that he will
retrieve the situation
The apparent bombardment Sunday
and Saturday did not shake the Beers
position and IL seems certain that they
merely ithdrew their guns aud rife.
men under. while General Methuen in.
dulged in the usual artillery prellmina.
Ties on Monday and when the British
were Obliged 10 cease firing. owing 10
The danger Of hitting the advancing
troops. the Beers speedily reoccupied
the trenches and overwhelmed the
Highlanders. with terrible fire prob.
ably accompanying this by an attack
on the British right flank rear Alarm
is beginning TO be- expressed in many
quarters as to the situation Of General
Methuen
Considerable significance ia attached
70 General Meth uen's statement that he
is sntrenching himself. indicating the
fear that the Beers may follow up their
advantage, adopt the offensive and at.
tack him. Indeed. the gravity Of the
situation from the British point ot view
can hardly be overestimated General
Methuen's long lines of communication
10 Deaar are most vulnerable Should
they bc cut General Methuen would
find himself in very tight place. II
only from the lack Of supplies
The latest advices from General Cat
acre show that no anxiety Is felt for the
safety Of his remaining troop.. who have
been withdrawn 20 good positions alonf
the railroad south Of Molteno.
The war office received dispatch
from General Forester. Walker from
Cape Town saying Meihueu wires that
General Wauchopo was killed on Mon.
day.
Three hundred and twenty woundel
men arrived az Orange river from Mod.
der river
The Beers decline 10 furnish the mum.
Der Of the killed or wouadol. They
say thoy buried the dead and are remoy
ing the prisoners 10 Bloemionteiu.
Tho B1or lo7s in the battle with Cat.
acre is reported 90 have been foar killed
and nine wounded Probably this 81
correct, as NO genuine attacl, was made
by General Gatacres troops who wer.
completely surprised while IN column.
The British apparently simply rushed
up the nearest hill without orders and
without knowing where the enemy was
II also appears that the British wero fc
exhausted they were unable 20 accom-
plish anything. They had been on the
move since Ia m. the previous day