The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-09
READY TO ATTACK
BRITISH HAVE COMPLETED
BRIDGE AT FRERE, AND TRAINS
ARE NOW CROSSING
FIERCE FIGHTING Is EXPECTED
GEN. METHUEN's FORCE OF ELEv-
BY FIFTEEN THOUSAND BOERS
CARNAGE AT MODDER RIVER

CARNAGE AT MODDER RIVER
BOer Reports Admit 1t Was Most
Trying Experience Since War
Was Inaugurated-Their Artillery
Was SIIenced Early by the Supe-
riOrity of the British Cannon
Cheering Reports for BrttOns.
FRERE CAMP, Dec. s.-The bridge is
finished and trains are now traversing it.
LONDON, Dec. 9.-Lord Methuen's re-
storation of the railway, while relieving
q load of anxiety here, accentuates the
dangers still threatening his force. 1t is
gathered from the brief official dispatch
that COmmandant Prins Loos' contingent
was taken between forces acting from
Belmont and southwark from Modder
River. 1t is quite possible, however, that
reinforcements were sent to Belmont
merely as a precautionary measure.
There is little other news of import
ance. Reports continue to come from
Ladysmith that dissension exists among
the Beers, and especially that the Orange
Free State troops are discontented. There
are also all kinds of rumors of movements
of commandos from place to place, but
the fact is that little is known here re-
garding the actual position of the Boer
forces. Moreover, the rumors Of a col
lapse of Boer spirit have been heard so
often as rot 10 cause much satisfaction
now.
GEN. WALKERS REPORT.
Gen. Forestier-Walke has sent the fol-
lowing dispatch, dated at o'clock last
(Friday) evening, to the war Office from
Cape Town:
Telegraph and railway communication
to MOdder River has been reopened. A
battery of field artillery and a battalion
of infantry We're dispatched from Modder
River against Commandant Prins Loos'
force of 1000 Beers with one gun, who
had destroyed the railway. Our losses
were fourteen wounded.
Belmont has been strengthened by in
fantry and two guns, and a cavalry regi-
ment and troops from Nauawpoort Occu-
pied Arundel Thursday.
THE enemy's forces near Gen. Gatacre
are reported as follows: At DOrdrecht,
800; marching from jamestown to Dord-
recht, zoo, with guns; at Stormberg,
1880; at Waterfall large force, strength
unknown; at Molteno, about 400
Lord Methuen reports ca asualties Dec.
6, on patrol duty, as follows: Missing,
Lieut.. Tristram and four men of the
Twelfth lancers; wounded four men
BOERS AROUND METHUEN.
Some interesting light is thrown on the
position of affairs along the Western
frontier by a dispatch issued by a Boer
agency last evening in Berlin. The dis
patch says:
"COmmandant Prins Loos force is near
Jacobsdahl, between Modder River and
Riet river. Gen. Cronje is still on the
north bank of Modder river his rear
being protected by fortified positions at
SDytfOntein.
THE hills between Modder River and
SpytfOntein and those between Jacobs
dahl and Riet river are occupied by
Beers. Commandant Del Nre's force is
stationed between Gras Pan and Honey
Nest Kloopf"
If this dispatch be correct-and it IS
especially significant, when judged in
connection with Gen. Forestler-Walker' s
advices to the war office-there must be
some $4,000 Beers around Lord Methuen
who IS believed to have II, 900 men KIM
berley, however, possessing an armored
train, can materially assist Methuen by
harassing the Beers from the rear
BOERS FIRE UPON PATROLS.
The following advices have been re-
ceived from Gen. Methuen's force at
Modder River, under date Of Tuesday,
Dec 8:
'Boers are seen daily passing between
Spytfontein and Jacobsdal laagers. They
frequently fire on patrols. Mounted IN
tantry received a severe fire, while pa
trolling six miles towards the north.
from hill. There was no casualty. An
hours cannon firing has been heard at
Kimberley"
MODDER RIVER FIGHT FIERCE.
According to a special dispatch from
Lourenzo Marques, the Modder River
battle is described by a Boer correspond
ent with Gen. Cronje as the "fercest the
Beers ever experienced" The CORE
spondent goes on to say:
Gen. Cronje's wing sustained almost
solely the fearful attack of the British
right throughout the day The Trans
vaalers tenaciously held their positions
until in the evening, when the Free
State burghers were forced to retire bv
the heavy British shell fire. Gen. Cronje
then retired, under cover of darkness.
after facing the concentrated fire of all
the British batteries
The Beers freely acknowledge the her
culean assaults Of the British and the
deadly firing Of the attacking infantry,
but they held their positions for thirteen
hours against the flower of the British
army, replying solely with their Mausers
and maintaining an uninterrupted rifle
fire. The Boer artillery was silenced
early in the battle, through the over
whelming number of the British artil-
lery."
BRITISH ADVANCING.
PRETORIA, Thursday, Dec. THE
following dispatch, dated today, has been
received from the head laager, near
Ladysmith:
The British are advancing on Colenso.
but last night passed without an attack
There was a desultory cannonade this
morning, the naval guns in Ladvsmith
replying vigorously to our fire."
MR. MACRUM HEARD FROM
WASHINGTON, Dec. S-Mr. Macrrm
has broken his long silence, and in a
cable message received at the state de-
partment today, dated Pretoria, he an
nounces that he will sail on the Sth inst
via Naples, for the United States This
IS an indication that he has received the
departments cablegram granting his ap-
plication for leave of absence. Mr.. Adel-
bert Hay, who is going to Pretoria to re-
place Mr.. Macrum, will leave Washington
tomorrow to begin his journey.
IoWANs TO JOIN BOERs.
HOLSTEIN, To-, Dec. S.-William and
Daniel Davies have sold their fine 36O-acre
farm here and will go to South Africa