The Washington weekly post., 1899-12-05
DETAILS OF NETHUEN,s FIGHT.
Boer Fire Too Hot for British. but Crsrje
ReTreated During the Night.

London. Dec. 4-Tne later details re-
ceived from MOdder River seem TO show
that even the desperate courage the at
tacking force displayed all day lonr CNo-
vember - failed 10 drive the Beers from
their strong in.renchments. and night fell
on an undecided battle. But. apparent
~. during the course OF the night Gen.
Cronje. commanding the Beers. who are
said 20 have numbered Il, 600 men, decided
that the struggle was hopeless. for the
British found the town and surrounding
positions evacuated when daylight broke.
and the whole British army crossed the
river and encamped on the BOer positions.
The experts here are unanimous in ex-
pressing the opinion that Kimberley's
needs must be very pressing TO induce
Gen. Methuen to expose the whole OF his
command 10 the Boer marksmen, snugly
intrenched in the semi-circular position.
So deadly was the fire zone that the
Scots Guard We're compelled to leave
their Maxim guns behind when they were
forced 10 seek less exposed ground. 1t
was only after dusk that a portion of the
British troops succeeded in crossing the
river by a mill dam on the extreme left.
When night fell the Boer artillery fire
was still as vigorous as in the morning,
but the Beers retirement in the night
saved the situation for the British. The
exhausted condition of the British troops
precluded the possibility of a pursuit of
the enemy.
THE battle started at daybreak," says
one account, 'our guns shelling the
Beers left. The enemy replied with ar
tillery, Hotchkiss and Maxims, and the
artillery duel lasted some hours. Then
there was q brief Iull in the enemy's
operations, of which the general immedi-
ateIy took advantage. Our infantry ad-
vanced across the plain toward the
river in two brigades. The Guards, on the
right, were met by an awful hail of bull
let's from the enemy's sharpshooters,
posted close to the river on the opposite
bank Our men had no cover whatever,
and were simply moved down. 1t seemed
impossible to live through the terrible fire.
but the brave fellows did not retreat an
inch. The Boer FIRE was horribly accur-
ate; and they must have numbered at
least 10000"
"The Scots Guards advanced 900 yards
before they were fired on. Then they had
to lie down TO escape the deadly fusillade,
which lasted without intermissi0n
throughout the day.
1.-THE Highlanders made several attempts
to force a passage of the river, but they
were exposed to such murderous enfIad-
ing fire that they had to retire after they
had suffered terribly. Subsequently a
party of the guards got over and held
their own for hours against vastly su-
perior force.
"The general opinion of the staff is that
there had never been such a sustained
fire in the annals of the British army as
that which our troops had TO face yes
terday. Our men fell in dozens while try
ing to rush the bridge.
Among the many heroic deeds. one OF
the most conspicuous was that of Lieut..
Col. Codrington, of the Coldstream
Guards; Capt. Sellpein, of the Queensland
contingent and a dozen members of the
Coldstream Guards, who jumped into the
river and swan nearly to the Ctner side
in the face of steady fire, but who were
forced to retire, and, joining hands, swan
back, two of their number being drowned
in the retreat.
, Might put an end to the terrible blood
shed. The infantry brigade was dread
fully cut up, while the enemy's loss was
tremendous"
The conclusion of London newspaper
that the Beers must have
suffered heavily must be confirmed from
OffciSI sources before it is accepted as
fact In any case the Beers retired with
out any sign of disorder, carrying off their
guns and equipment. Thus Gen. Cronie,S
force is still intact.
The fact that Cen Methuen and Col.
EekeWich are now in communication may
cause a reconsideration of the Boer COM
manders plan to give battle at Spyfon-
tein, where, he might be simultaneously
attacked by both British forces.
It is reported that Modder River bridge
has been repaired and that the British
resumed their march toward Kimberley
to-day.