Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-12-14
GEN, NETAuEs IN A TRAP
Yhe Situation Of the British Troops at
Modder River Is Very Alarming.
SUFFERED GREAT LOSS MONDAY
Gen. Wauchope Was Killed In
the Battle.
BRITISH LOOK TO BullL.IL.lE|R FOR VICTORY


Associated Press Dispatch by Special Wires.
London, Eng, Dec. la-Tbe War
Office has received the following dis
patch from Gen. Methuep, dated ycs-
teiday:
"0ur artillery she]lea Q very strong
positiop held by the enemy, in o long,
bigh kopie, from until dusk SUNDAY.
The highland Biieade attacked at day
break Monday the sppth end RI tho
kopIe. The attack was properly, timed,
protect the Higblaplers' right and rear.
fhe cavalry aAs R4,HS s,s iRss,sAy's,4
s .Sd ibe ss 81 sss 81 sp rjab s ss
S SorteH III II Hsa aStjlspyy aB Siss 5Syitl s
artillery. They shelled the ppsition
from daybreak, and Of 1.l5 ! sent the
Ciordons to support the Highland
Brigade. The troops held their own in
front of the eneIny's eptrenchmenfS
until dusk, the position extending, in
Guiding the kopje, for q distance 81 six
miles towards the Modder Riyr. Today,
] am holding my posi- ton, and on trench;
ing myself. ] had to face at least 1000
men. Our loss was great. Y
PgpLIIc ALARM Jp5TIEIEp.
Con. Methuen, as expented, followed
hp bis artillery attack with y general
assault ON the Boer position Monday,
and his report shows that the anxiety
Of the public regarding the result, &C.
casioned by the mipels silence Of the
War 0Hice; was Justified. The engage
mept was evidently Of considerable
magnitude, and the list Of killed and
wounded vii be propprtionate, With
out the compensation which . victory
would have brought, if, indeed, the
affair does cot turn out to be a moIe
serious defeat than Gen. Methpen
admits. The Highianders, it is belieyed,
must have siornlei The Boer position
more than once, while the fact that the
guards were ordered 70 support the
Iiighlandeis' rear LOOKS as though the
Beers may have even onthanked their
attackers. One report declares that
Gen. Eronje nttaeksd tbs British. Bhe
only Compensation the British hays
been able To discover ip tbs disheartep-
lug story is ip Gen. MetbHegis state
ment thai bio maintains bis pgsitisp
close to the Bears, thus prlnsipg tbs
hope that he will retrieve the sitna-
lion, Apparently, the barnLardment Of
Saturday and Sunday did not shake
the Boers' grip on their position,
and it seeing aertaip that they merely
withdrew theiI guns and Fiaemep uader
cover while gen Methnen indulgeG in
day, and that wheb tic British guns
we're obliged to cease firing, owing 10
the danger Of Killing the advancing
troops, the Beers sPesdjly reoeeppled
their trenches spd overwhelmed tho
| Highlanders glth o terrible fire, pIoh-
ably accompanying this by an attack on
the British right Hank and rear.
looKISs TO BULLER FsR yleFoRs.
Alarm is beginning te Big expressed
= many quarters % te tbs y situation q
sea; Meihnen;; !, Az the w ss aagsS
the soldier, strong. cool -headed and
r9tiqent, that the country looks t9r this
The papers are abusing the govern:
mpnt for It's 'sconplacept optipism's
aud inability TO grasp the strength Of
South Africa. .
Considerahle Significance attaches to
Gen. Methuen's statement that ne Is
enlrenehina himself, Indicating fear
that the Beers may follow Mp their nd
vantage, adopt the offensive and attack
him. Indeed, the gravity Of the stu.
alton, from the British point Of view
ran hardly be oysrestimated, Gen,
Methpen's long lines Of eommuniitcation,
10 De Aar are MOST yginerabie. Should
they be cut Gen, Merhuen will find
himself in . very tight Eiaee, il only
from lack Of supplies; tfhe news Of
the British reyeiss bad o bad effect
today on the Stock BSehange, where
theie was o general relapse. hatflrss
md Rand mines dropped g1a points, and
The latest ddyicsss from Gen, Gatacre
show that no anxiety is felt for the
safety Of his remaining troops, who have
been Withdrawn to good positions along
The railroad south Of Moiteno.
Gen. wAgGgorE BILLED,
The War Office has received the fol
SSsing dispatch from Gen, Forester
Walker,
"cane Tawp, Dee; MethHsg
wires that Gen: Wapehope was killed
in action yestsFdsy'i
Gen. Bnler's adYsnee in the dirAe-
ton Of Galensa seems TO have com-
meneed, The military ATTACHES hAFe
islt Capa Town to joi1 Gen, Butler WA
There are renewed reports Of o aahi'
net crisis al Cape Tawg, Whers " is
aig that Cav Miigsr ia ahogt to ae!
~ consequence nj Disclosures lnvelYlpe
VI Tbys q'WvtIEyi, ,ss 'aygs tay Line s.s.u.,
sa ssia A 1ss ita y5 5y sp tos sss g.
board. Ths Wits Star Tine steamer
lYmric hus baap nhaptapad for llse as