The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-12-14
bad FOR THE BRITISH
Signal Defeat Of Lord Methuen's
Forces at Magersfontein,
GEN. wAUOHoPB AMONG THEDEAD

AhhAhNH ~ NNA'hfA W
watch and CIndstone's Political
opponent-Gcn. Mcthucn's Losse.
Believed to Be at Least $50.
London. Dec. 14.--Each important
battle seems to bring a worse reverse
for the British, and the papers this
morning surrowfully admit that Lord
Methuen's check at Magersfontein rs
the most serious event the war has yet
produced. The position Lord Alethuen
assaulted IL thus described by a corre-
spondent:
Magersfontein range terminates on
the east with an abrupt saddle rock,
some $50 feet high. Boer entreuch-
meuts run around the whole front.
The position is some two miles long,
due east and west The western ends
Of the trenches follow the center of the
kopjas and afford retreat.
Ii il estimated here that Lord
Methuen's forces amounted TO 1000
men and perhaps to more. No reliable
estimate of his losses has yet been re-
ceivsd They are believed to have
been at least i50
Julian Ralph, describing the battle
at Magersfontein in a special dis
patch to The Daily Mail, says
The Beers were entrenched at Ma
gersfontein, four miles north Of Mod
der river. At dawn Monday the High
landers, advancing across the veldt,
we're suddenly subjected TO a murder
Gus fire from the trenches about 200
yards in front The greater part oil
the fearful loss Of the day was thus
suffered in a single minute.
Startled and overwhelmed the bri-
gade retired quickly, but soon rallied
and retained their position. This was
on the left.
On the right the Guards brigade ad-
yanced across the veldt against other
trenches and fought an invisible foe
for Is hours.
At IL in the morning the Gordon
Highlanders we're sent forward. The
Beers allowed them to pass one line
OF trenches, and then enfiladed them.
We raked the Boer trenches with ar
tillery throughout the day The fight
ing only ceased with nightfall.
The British casualties included the
Marquis of Winchester, major OF the
Second battalion, Coldstream Guards
who was killed, and Colonel Downham
Of the First battalion, Gordon High
landers, who was mortally wounded
When the Highlanders met the
murderous blank fire Of the Beers they
we're about movn down. The Black
Watch regiment, on reforming, was
able to muster only $50 men. The
Beers lost heavily in the trenches and
also in the wire entanglements when
they came into the open in an at
tempt to make a flank attack on the
British
The terrific British artillery fire
provoked no response except from the
Boer rifles until nearly o'clock in the
afternoon. when the Gordon High
landers formed TO renew the attack on
the entrenched kopje. They advanced
with the utmost gallantry to attack
| the Beers, close to the place where lay
| their dead and wounded comrades of
| the Highland brigade
The enemy opened with q heavy
shrapnsl fire as TIE British advanced
| and it was found physically impossible
to take the Boer trenches. The Brit
ish got within 200 yards, but could
| not get nearer. 1t was here that Colo
mel Downham fell.
The Beers had had free recourse "a
barbed wire entanglements, which Of
fered great obstacles even after the
damage inflicted by the British artil-
lery fire
Tuesday morning both sides occu
pied the positions they held before the
battle. The greatest bravery was dis
played by both officers and men. Tn,
wounded include Lieutenant Colone
A. E. Codrington and Captain Sterling
both OF the First battalion of the Cold
stream Guards.
The war Office has also received tn
following dispatch from General For
estler- Walker, dated Cape Town, Tues
day: "Methuen wires that Genera
Wauchope was killed in action yester
day" General Andrew Wilbert WAUGH
ope, G. B., G. NJ. G.. V. c., was one o
the bravest and most experienced OF
ficers in the British army. He becam
famous 20 years ago as the colonel o
the celebrated BLACK Watch" A pc
culiar distinction was his Tory con
didacy for parliament for Midlothia
against the late William Evart Glad
stone.
All the papers comment upon tn
extreme gravity Of the situation, an
upon the momentous decision Lor
Methuen now has to take-whether t
remain at MCdder River or to retir
on Orange River. ! he Times says
"At least 10000 additional men mus
= be sent out The entire available re
= serve must be called up, and tn
:. militia and volunteers turned to az