The Washington weekly post., 1899-12-05
BOer Position Too Strong to
BE Carried by Storm. =
VAGUE ADvNEs About NETHUEy
War Oahee Still Di-ieeiiHed TO EBIiEhteH
London TO the Situation at Yodder
River, but Beiatea Accounts Of the Battle
Of Last Week Are New Coming Through
Dispatch from Mafeking stating That the
Besiexing Force Has Withdrawn.

has the following from Frere Camp,
dated Wednesday, November y:
The BOer camp at COicnsO is visible
from a point near Chleveley II is a
strong position and difficult for direct
front attack"
There Is little further news from the
seat OF war. Even the latest accounts of
the battle at Modder River fail to give an
Intelligent idea Of what happened. There
IS a feeling Of disappointment and a con-
tnulng anxiety respecting Gen Lord
Metnuen. The Times says, editorially:
Tie battle affords splendid proof Of
the unsurpassed qualities OF the British
solder, but while victories won solely by
the exercise Of these qualities are indeed
magnificent they are not war. They fll
Us with pride, but with pride not unmin-
gied with regret at the persistent per-
YeTslty OF circumsta-e ices, which apparent
ly prevents Us obtahiing equal or greater
results by processes savoring a little OF
That military science of which We hear
50 much
Inc Cape Town correspondent Of the
Standard says: '',rhe government intends.
at an early date. 10 send one of the min
lsters to England 10 urge upon the i'm
perial authorities the acceptance of the
cape cabinets view regarding the final
settlement after the war"
The special correspondent of the Daily
News with Gen. Methuen, telegraphing
from Modder River on the day after the
battle, says: Il hear that the Beers are
IN full retreat to Bioemfontein."
Holder River Fight a Waterloo.
The correspondent of the Associated
Press with Gen. Lord Methuen's column,
telegraphing from Modder River last
Thursday, says:
Ihe waterloo of the campaign has been
fought and won. The battle was conduct
ed with unprecedented stubbornness on
ooth sides. There was one continuous
roar Ike the explosion of countless fire.
crackers. There was no flinching on either
SIDE and not moments pause,
For five hours the British batteries
poured tons OF shrapnel and shells into
the Boer position. Lord Methuen had
twenty-five guns, and each fired an av-
erage OF 200 rounds. The Beers had an
almost equal number of guns. which. 1t is
reported, were mostly served by French
and German artillerists
1t IS believed that the Beers had on-
cupled the position seven weeks before
ana mad spent the interval in fortifving
ana rendering 1t, as they considered. i'm
pregnabIe They did not seem TO fear TO
eXpend their ammunition, and their guns
were well and smar.ly handled.
owing to the bend in the river on the
rght, the Beers had an opportunity of
cross-firing on the British attack. A Boer
Hotchkiss was directed with marvellous
accuracy against British Maxim. killing
the sergeant in charge. wounding an Of
fcer, and disabling the gun. This oc-
CURED quite at the beginning of the en-
gagement. Whenever the Boer fire was
silenced in one direction, it was immedi-
ately reopened in another
lowing to the terrific fire. nobody on
the plain was out Of range. Stretcher
bearers found it impossible 10 go forward
III the few cases they We're called upon to
attend, and the wounded were compelled,
if possible, to crawl out of the lines.
Nothing safe in the Fire Zone.
mo quarter seems TO have been given
on either side. The British assert that,
amid the bullets, the ambulance wagons
displayed their flags promiscuously to no
advantage. These were repeatedly driven
back and compelled to take refuge out Of
sight.
1T is alleged that the Beers used dunn
dums and made special targets of the
horses on the plain in the hope OF hitting
the riders. While the Argyll Highlanders
were pushing across the river they were
fired upon from house and several fell
Thereupon the Highlanders stormed the
house, and, although the Beers hoisted a
white flag, no attention was paid to it, and
all the Beers were shot.
1T is reported that Gen. Cronie, with
his contingent, retreated toward Iange-
berg at O'Clock in the afternoon. Others
followed In the direction of Jacobsdal, and
the main body of the Beers retired with
the guns about eight in the evening.
'On the following morning at daybreak
the British fired few shells into the viii
lage. Getting no response, a patrol of
cavalry crossed the river and found the
enemy's camp deserted. Dead Beers and
many who were dying were to be seen
everywhere in the intrenchments. as well
as numerous new graves. Several build
ingS were in smoking ruins.
Some of the Boer prisoners say that
Gen. Cronje was in supreme command.
He hac 10 whip his men to prevent them
from deserting, and despite this many
threw down their rifles and fled"
Julian RaIph's Description.
Julian Ralph. describing in the Daily
Mail this morning the battle at Modder
River, says:
81 can testify that the British never
once saw the enemy, yet they were not
able to raise hand or foot without being
riddled. Despite all this, however the
day belonged to the artillery. The in
fantry never advanced two PAGES during
this day of hell. The shells of our twenty
guns were accurately planted in the en-
emy's trenches, and broke the heart of
the Beers. for after dark they all re-
treated"
Mafeking IS safe. or was so on Noye:n-
ber p The British had captured twenty
five burghers Of Commandant Dutoit's
force.
The Cape Times has the following dis
patch from Mafeking: Gen. Cronje, with
100 wagons and a large body of Beers. has
left his laager, practically raising the
seige, although desultory firing can be
hearc."