The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-03
THE LOSSES OF METHUEN
A TOTAL Or 43S, OF THESE 10
WE'RE KILLED.
He DOES NOT MENTIJN THE BEERS LOSS
It's Believed to be Small. The Cape Colony
Dutch are Joining the Beers in Great
Numbers. Methuen Awai's
pa;rforoor,oo4.
Reinforcements.

London, Dec. 2-As surqnised, the
British dead and wounded at the hard
fought battle of Modder River number
ed hundreds Up to = O'clock this af-
ternoon only the bare total, 1873. of
which number 70 were killed. had been
given out.
The meagre official dispatch giving a
list of the British casualties at Modder
River and announcing the bare fact that
Lord Methuen rs still there awaiting
reinforcements is only supplemented by
a brief special message from Cape
Town tonight, stating that the Beers
destroyed the bridge over the Modder
River before the battle and are now
concentrating at Spytfontein, where the
final battle before Kimberley is reliev-
ed, is expected to take place.
The censor has apparently stopped all
press messages from the front relating
to the battle, which is not regarded as
a favorable Indication. AS to the ma-
terial results of Lord Methaen's eD-
gagement it 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 amy
case the railway must be carried over
thc bridge before the indispensable big
naval guns can pass, because Lord Me
thuen's last message showed that they
were worked on trucks along the rail-
road.
1t is a significant fact that Lord Me-
tlruen's cablegram makes no mention OF
the Boer loss, which, therefore, is as
sured to be small
A dispatch from Cape Town this even
ing says Lord Methutm's advance un-
doubtedly is beginning to affect the
Boer strategy and probably explains
the withdrawal from Moot River. The
continued presence of commanders in
Cape Colony tends to confirm the opin-
ions that the Beers are making des-
perate efforts to recruit their forces
from the Dutch residents. While it is
impossible to oEtain exact statistics, it
is absolutely certain that the disaffect-
ed Dutch have joined the Beers in great
numbers which are still increasing.
Most of the recruits, however, are young
men, General Buffers message clearly
Indicating the punishment for disloyalty
having deferred the actual holders of
farms from joining the Beers through
fear OF contiscation Of their property.
The latest news from Natal indicates
that the bulk Of the LadySmith relief
force has arrived at Frere, though there
is considerable conjecture as TO the where
abouts of General Clery, whose move
ments have not been chronicled recently.
1t is surmised in some quarters that he
may reappear in totally unexpected
quarter, on the flank or rear of General
Joubert's force. which IS supposed to
be concentrated at Grobelaar's kloof,
north Of the Tugela River. As Gene
raj Hildyard's advance guard was in
touch with the Beers as long ago as
Tuesday last, developments should NOT
be long delayed.
Dundonalds mounted force, November
2Sth accompanied by four guns, went
III pursuit Of body Of Beers return
ing to Colenso. They followed the
Beers to within two and a half miles of
Colenso when the Beers replied to the
British shells with long range guns.
There were no casualties Colenso
bridge, it is added, was afterwards
blown up.
Another detachment of three thousand
British troops sailed for South Africa
today
Owing to the phenomenal sale of the
newspapers consequent upon the war 81
paper famine is threatened. 1t is re-
ported that the American supplies have
failed temporarily