The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-12-09
DETAILS OF THE FIGHT.
A Correspondents Account of the
Battle at Modder River-Cor.
rectcd List Of Casualties.

London, Dec. 5.-A correspondent
with Gen. Lord Methuen's column, tele-
graphing from Modder river last
Thursday, says:
1.-THE Waterloo of the campaign has been
fought and won. The battle was conducted
with unprecedented stubbornness on both
sides There was one continuous roar, like
the explosion Of countless firecrackers.
There was no fiinching on either side, and
not moments pause. For five hours the
British batteries poured tons Of shrapnels
and shells into the Boer positions. LORD
Methuen had 90 guns, ard each fired an av-
erage of 200 rounds. The Beers had an al
most equal number Of guns, which. 1t is
reported, were mostly served by French
and German artilerists.
ut is believed that the Beers had occu-
pied the position seven weeks before and
had spent the interval in fortifying and
rendering it, as they considered, impres-
nable. They did not seem TO fear to spend
their ammunition and their guns were we'll
and smartly handled.
lowing to the bend in the river on the
right, the Beers had an opportunity OF
cross firing on the British attack. Boer
hotchkiss was directed with marvellous ac-
curacy against British maxim. killing the
sergeant In charge, wounding an officer
and disabling the gun. This occurred quite
at the beginning of the engagement. When
ever the Boer fire was silenced In one d.
! rection 1t was immedia tely reopened In an
other. Owing to the terrific fire nobody on
| the plain was out of range. Stretcher pear
ers found 1t impossible to go forward Ia
the few cases they were called upon to at
tend, and the wounded were compelled, II
possible. to crawl out of the lines.
mo quarter seems to have been given on
either side. The British assert that, amid
the bullets, the ambulance wagons dis
PLAYED their flags promiScuously to no ad-
back and compelled to take refuge out of
sight 1t is alleged that the Beers used
dumdums and made special targets OF the
horses on the plain In the hope of hitting
the riders. While the Argyll highlanders
were pushing across the river they were
fired upon from a house and several fell.
Thereupon the highlanders stormed the
house, and, although the Beers hosted a
white flag. no attention was paid to 1t, and
all the Bocrs We're shot
"It is reported that Gen. Cronic. with his
contingent, rctrcated toward Langeberg
at four o'clock in the afternoon. Others
followed In the direction Of Jacobsdal. and
the main body of the Eoers retired with tho
guns about eight in the evening.
ION the following morning at daybreak
the British fired few shells into the VIII
lage. Getting no response, II patrol Of cav
, airy crossed the river ard found the enc
my's camp deserted Dead Doors and many
who were dying were to be seen every
where In the intrcnchments, as we'll as
numerous new graves. Several buildings
were In smoking ruins.
t "Somc OF the Boer prisoners say that
r Gen. Cronje was In supreme command. He
had to whip his men to prevent them from
deserving. and despite this many threw
down their rifles and fled"
London, Dec 5.-Thc corrected lis
y of casualties, noncommissioned officers
i and men, shows 70 killed, 372 wounded
Il and seven missing.
Cape Town, Thursday, Nov. Goth
: Cape Times has the following dispatc1
- from Mafcking: Gen. Cronje, with 10
u wagons and large body of Beers, ha
i, left his laager, practically raising TIL
y siege, although dcsultory firing can b
q heard"