The Afro-American advance., 1899-12-16
CASUALTIES O|aNEIHU[N.
Killed, Wounded and Missing in
Battle at Modder River
Placed at S37.
DRAMATIC SCENES At THE WAR OFFICE.
REPORT Reaches London That Gems.
Hulier and =Ciers=iIaNe Entered
Lndy dySmith and Captured 10000
nOcrs, Hut ~ IL Not Crcdited-Be-
HcNcd to lie Impossible.

London. Dec. I5,--.Nn official report
gives the total number OF killed,
wounded and missing of all arms in
the engagement Of Sunday aud Mon
day north OF Modder river as sl7,
Thepwerc Is officers killed and four
wounded, and in addition five are
missing and one is known to have
been made prisoner,
A revised list Of the total casualties
to the British troops at Magcrstontcin
places the number at s32.
Losses of Highland nriRadc.
The war office has received mes
sage stating there were $50 casualt IS
among the non-CommisSioncd officers
and men of the Highland brigade at
Magrrsfontriu, The brigade lost ten
officers killed, 3s wounded aud four
missing.
Gatacrr'u Casualties.
The war Office has received from
Gen. Gatacrc the following list Of cas-
unlties, furnished by spundent
who was permitted Ia visit the Roor
camp with the ehaplains and Is he
lieved to be reliable
Second Royal Irish, 10 killed, a2
wounded
First East t.ancashircs, one wound
ed
Second Northumberland. ie killed,
- wounded,
All the nbove wounded men are pris-
oners.
Dramatic scenes nj Mnr OMrc.
The scenes nj the war office Thurs
day morning when Gen. Meihucu'S
casualties were posted We're highly
dramatic. There was steady incur
sion of anxious inquirers from the
moment the doors opened. and there
WAS intense excitement when an olii-
cial appeared benring the ominously
long list OF names, The women pres
cnt crowded eagerly forward and
begged for copies Of the lists. Hut the
supply WAS not sufficient and the Off
cini read ont the lists. Intense feel
ing was evident on all the fnce..
IL wns "a memorable scene. Some Of
the women were 70 overcome thnt
ibfN iihu 10 w hNFtNAfiA AiAFiA tHf iRAitRs
UndeFcarrept of IndIRsatIon.
While The oujwardly-calm attitude
OF the press aud people here during The
present crisis commands admiration.
there is an undcreurrent of intense in
diRnatiou against the war office and thc
government which threatens 10 have a
serious addition la the biundrrs of the
generals aud the further evidences Of
the breakdown Of the transport and In
tellgencr departments which are daily
coming 10 light. II VAS freely predict
ed Thursday morning. even in high mill
tary circles, that the South African
campaign will last until June, II was
also expected that Gen. Methuen would
have to retire south Of the Orange
river, ns It was claimed hc cou.d not
hold ont long al the Moddcr river, where
his ammunition and food supplies were
not expected 10 laat over week. In
fact. ii was said that his line ~ com
munications was probably already cut
and IL was claimed that Gen. GaiAcre
was similarly weakened by his re.
verse and the revolt Of the c0lOnitts,
and II was added that be might have 10
choose between q siege and retreat.
The afternoon papers of oil shades Of
politics follow the morning papers in
facing the situation courageously and
demanding the immediate dispatch Of
reinforce ccmcntS. Thus the radical Star
says;
"The aiako the gambler Chamberlain
haa thrown on the table IL not merely
South Afrlga. but The empire. n is too
late 10 regret the game We have 20
choice but 20 p.sy tt. even n ~ Involves
sending abroad thH militia our AfmlfH
IN South Africa must be ampy rfen.
forced"