The record-union., 1899-12-17
BRITISH SUFFER
HEAVY LOSS.


fcontinusd from Eirse Raeay
In addition to the denial from Water
ford, cabled yesterday to the Associat-
ed Press, the commanding officer of the
First Battalion of the Royal Irish Regi-
ment at Aldershot has telegraphed to
the Associated Press saying there is
absolutely no truth in the statement
cabled to the United States that the
reserves of he battalion cheered for
President Kruger and threw their rifles
and Announcements into the river when
leaving Waterford on their way to
South Africa. He adds: '"The Royal
Irish Reservtsts arrived here complete,
as dispatched from Clonrnel. There
were no deficiencies in either men, arms
or accoutrements."
Rear Admiral Lord Charles Beresford
this morning confirmed the Associated
Press announcement Of his announce
ment to the second in command of the
British Mediterranean fleet. He has in
formed his constituents that this neces-
states his resignation of his seat in
the House Of Commons. He has repre-
scented York City in the Conservative
interest. s
BoERs ENrRENCH1NG AT MOD
DER RIVER.
MODDER RIVER, Friday, Dec. 49,.
During a demonstration in force this
morning the British guns shelled the
Beers for a couple OF hours. The Beers
did not reply until the British were
retiring. The Beers are further en-
trenching and strengthening their old
defenses, with the evident intention Of
fiercely disputing control of the rail-
road.
WE'RE HEAPS OF DEAD ON THE
FIELD.
PRETORIA, Dec. 16.-An official dis
patch from the Modder River says:
The Beers captured a great quantity
of loot including 200 Lee Metford cases
Of cartridges and hundreds of bayohets.
Great numbers of the British have re-
tired from Tweo Rivieren in the direc-
ton of Belmont. The loss Of the Brit
ish was very great. There were heaps
Of dead on the field. The wounded are
being attended to temporarily at Bis-
sells farm. The sappers and miners
must have suffered severely. The Beers
suffered heavy losses in horses. I can
not otherwise describe the battlefield
than as a sad and terrible slaughter,
Monday was for us a brilliant victory.
1t has infused new spirit in our men
and will enable them to achieve greater
Deeds
BRITISH FORT DEMOLISHED.
PRETORIA, Wednesday, Dec. 3D.
Advices from Mafeking say that an at
tack on small British fort has been
made with good results. The fort was
demolished. Heavy cannon firing is
proceeding.
Colonel Baden-Powell has sent the
Beers a notice, advising them to lay
down their arms and return to their
homes, promising them that protection
VIII be given them as soon as Great
Britain has taken over the Transvaa1.
BRITISH PUSHING THE BOERS
BACK.
CAPE TOWN, Dec 16-Advices from
Buluwayo say that a dispatch from
Mafeking, dated December 9th, an
nounced that the scheme of advancing
the military works was acting well.
and had forced the Beers to eyacuate
the strong commanding Notifications
northeast Of the town It was added
that the British continued pushing
back the Beers, and were then working
toward their main siege batteries. The
British casualties were traing. The
Boer force was then reduced to about
700 men, with four field guns and
some siege guns.
AUSTRALIAN CONTINGENT AC-s
CEPTED.
SYDNEY IN. S. W., Dec. l6.-The
imperial authorities have telegraphed
to the Governor of New South Wales.
Earl Beauchamp, accepting the offer
OF further Australian contingent for
South Africa, and suggesting that the
men should be mounted and good shots
WINSTON CHURCHILL.
LONDON, Dec. ia special dis
patch from Pretoria dated Wednesdar-
December 18th, says that before the
escape of Winston Churchill he wrote
to the Transvaal War Office declaring
that, as correspondent, he considered
his detention as war prisoner uniusti-
fable. He expressed in his letter the
highest appreciation of his treatment
His escape was cleverly executed. but
there is little chance of his being able
to cross the border.
LORENZO MARQUES (De,apoa
Bay, Dec. 16.-It is rumored that Mr.
Churchill, the newspaper correspondent
Who recently escaped from Pretoria
has been captured at Waterfalboven.
about half way between Pretoria and
Portuguese territory.
THE DUTY OF BRITONs
LONDON, Dec. 16.-Right Hon H.
H. Asquith, addressing the Tyneside
Liberal Association at Newcastle this
evening, said:
Nothing is more unjust than to seek
to undermine the confidence of the
country and the army in gallant CEN
eral on the strength of a single error
OF judgment or a single reverse. Nor
is it a time when it becomes RESPONSE
Bile persons to go about whistling for
alliances or dazing the world with ex-
hibitions of freaks Of diplomacy. The
situation confronting us, after reading
to-day's painful news, is SO serious that
1t is hardly possible to speak or think
of any other topic. We cannot AFFORD
to spend time in unavailing regrets:
sterner and more urgent duties are laid
upon us. We must not exaggerate the
reverses and disasters of to-day. They
may become the victories of to-mor-
row.
AT the same time, let us not under
estimate the gravity of the task before
us. The war has developed proportions
which may make it the turning point
in the fortunes of the empire. It has
become wider and deeper than the oues-
ton of maintaining our position IN