The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-14

LONDON Dec. H. 4:45 q. m.--Each Inn
portant battle seems to bring worse re-
verse for the British and the papers this
morning sorrcwfully admit that Lord Me-
thuen's check at Magersfontein IL the most
serious event the war has yet produced.
The Morning Post says:
1--WE have had our day Of humiliation Ap-
pointed for U.s. Let us accept It humbly
and soberly and be better and stronger Tor
the lesson 1t has taught us. This last re-
verse will make us q fresh butt OF Europe.
There never was more apt occasion to
prove to Europe what We are worth"
where Mcthuen Met HIS Cheek.
The position Lord Methuen assaulted Il
thus described by a correspondent: Mag
ersfontein range terminates on the enst
with an abrupt saddle rock. some i5o feet
high T3oer intrenchments run around the
whole 'front.' The position is some txc
miles long. due east and west. The west.
ern END OF the trenches follow the contour
Of the kopjes and AFFORD q retreat
ii, HIS Losses Very Heavy.
II Is estimated here that Lord Methuen's
forces amounted to 1900 and perhapV mora.
No reliable estimate OF his losrss haSs yet
been received. They are believed to have
been at last 40
Comment ON the Grevs situation.
All the papers comment upon the extreme
gravity OF the situation and upon the mo-
mentous decision Lord Meyhhen now has
to take--whether to remain 1t Moider river
or to retire on Orange river.
The Times says: "At least $1,000 addi-
tional men must be sent out The entiro
available reserve must be called up, and
the militia and volunteers turned to ac-
count. Efforts must be made to increase
the local colonial forces, and further Of
fers OF troops from Canada and other
colonies must be sought and accepted"
The Standard, which comments upon
..the seemingly astonishing number OF
the Beers" is driven to the conjecture
that substantial portion OF the Boer com-
mandos have been recruited from Cape
Dutch.
All Hopes Rest In Butler.
All eyes are now turned hopefully to
Gen. Butler who taking into account the
troops with Gen. White in LAdysmith,
has altogether 10000 men. The Standard
says: "At this moment there must be
few men In her majesty's dominions who
have as great weight OF care upon them
as Gen. Butler carries on his shoulders
A dispatch from Boer sources says that
Kimberley remained quiet during the bats
tie at Magersfortein.
The special correspondent OF the Dnily
Mail at Modder River. describing the
fighting. says:
1.-THE Boer trenches extended far be-
yond the kopje INTO the open plain. Those
on the plain were hidden by leaves. The
kopje were guarded by double line OF
barbed wire. Evidently they feared our
storming and bayonet attack.
I'VE raSed the kopje and trenches with
an intense, well directed fire. of thirty
guns, including a naval gun and a how
.tzer battery, both using lyddite. / be.s
lieve .aey effected severe damage. The
Boer prisoners report that one lyddite
shell fell among forty men. only Ave OF
whom escaped unhurt. Other shells burst
in the enemy's laager, causing Its COM
pletA destruction. 81
THE Beers are in stiii larger force than
we found them at Modder River. outnum-
herring us by almost three to one. The
Transyaalers are apparently dominating
in their military councils, although In
minority"