Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-12-03


METHUEN Is MAKING SINCE
THE FIGHT-LOYALTY OF THE
BORDER DUTCH Is WEAKENING.
LONDON, December 2.-The revised
list of Modder River casualties, nom
commissioned officers and men, is di-
vided as follows: Ninth Laneers. one
wounded; engineers, two wounded; ar
tillery, three killed, 20 wounded Sec
ond Coldstreams. ten killed, Sc wound
ed; Third Grenadiers, nine killed, SO
wounded, four missing; Scots Guards,
ten killed, 81 wounded, one missing;
Northumberland Fusiliers, eleven kill
ed, 81 wounded; First Northumber-
lands, three wounded; Second York
shire, nine killed, A wounded First
North Lancashire, three killed, IL
wounded; Argyll and Sutherland High
landers, Is killed, So wounded, two
missing; First Coldstreams. 20 wound
ed; South African reserve, one wound
ed medical corps, one wounded.
An official rectifcation of the list OF
the Modder river casualties among the
non-commissioned officers and men
makes the total losses of the North
Lancashires three killed and sixteen
wounded; OF the Northumberland Fu-
siliers eleven killed and "a wounded,
and of the Argylls IS killed and 81
wounded.
1t also adds to the list the Remington
guides, three men wounded.
The aggregate of casualties among
the non-commissioned officers and
men is ASP.
According to a special dispatch from
Cape Town, Gen. Joubert was killed
November 10, but Gen. Buffers dispatch
of November 20 showed that Gen.
White was in communication with Gen.
Joubert or somebody personating him
about November 10.
official despatch giving list OF tho
British casualties at Modder river and
announcing the bare fact that Lord
Methuen is still there awaiting REM
forcements, is only supplemented by
brief special message from Cape Town
tonight stating that the Beers de-
stroyed the bridge over the Modder
river before the battle and are now
81 In,
final battle before Kimberley is expect
ed to take place.
The censor has apparently stopped
all press messages from the front re-
lating to the battle, which is not re-
garded as a favorable indication. As
TO the material results OF Lord Me-
thuen's engagement, 1t Is not yet clear
whether Lord Methuen's force actually
crossed the Modder river or Is still
awaiting the rebuilding of the bridge
before the artillery and cavalry can
cross. In any case the railway must
be carried over the bridge before the
indispensable big naval guns can pass,
because Lord Methuen's last message
showed that they were worked on
trucks along the railroad
1t Is a significant fact that Lord Me-
thuens cabegram makes no mention
Of the Boer loss, which, therefore, is as-
sumed to be small.
A despatch from Cape Town tkis
evening says Lord Methuen's advance
undoubtedly is beginning to affect the
Boer strategy and probably explains the
withdrawal from Moot river. The con-
tinued presence OF Cornmandos in Cape
Colony tends to confirm the opinions
that the Beers are making desperate ef-
forts to recruit their forces from the
Dutch residents. While It Is jmpos-
sible TO obtain exact statistics Ii Is abb
solutely certain that the disaffeeted
Dutch have Joined the Beers in great
numbers, which are still increasing
Most OF the recruits. however, are
young men. Gen. Buffers message
clearly indicating the punishment for
disloyalty having deferred the actual
holders Of farms from joining tho
Beers through fear OF confscation of
their property.
There are now clear proofs that ths
loyalty Of the border Dutch is unable
to Withstand the proximity Of Boer
comnandos. The rest OF the colony q
apparently quiet, but there is a strong
undercurrent OF sympathy for the
Beers. The outlook regarding Cape
Colony. however, may be regarded al
hopeful
The Beers. as well as the British, un@
derestimated the strength OF their op-
ponen1s, and every engagement has
evidently tended 10 establish hearty
respect for Tommy Atkins.
LONDON, December 2.--rhe latest news
from Natal indicates that the bulk Of tho
La6ysrnitn RELIEF force has arrived az
Frere. though there Is considerable con-
lecture az to the whereabouts Of Gen. C1e-
ry. whose movements have not been cfron-
icied recently. It is g1Tulsed fl set quar-
ters that he may reappear IN a totally un-
expected quarter. on the flank or rear Of
Cen Joubert's force. which ~ supposed TO
be concentrated AZ GrooesaArs KIoof. north
Of the TuEela river
Another detachment Of 800 British
troops sailed for South Africa to-day.
Owing to tbs phenomenal sale OF tfs
newspapers consequent upon the war
paper fausare is threatened II IS reportes
that the American supplies have failed
temporarily.
THEIR MAIL STOPPED.
cTMTNN Att. O.. December p