Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-11-29

London, Nov 29.--The war office has
received the following dispatch from
Gen. Butler:
"Capelown, Tuesday, Nov 2S.-Gen.
Methuen reports.
Modder River, Tuesday. Nov. 2S:--
Reconnoliered az 3 a. m, enemys posi-
ton on River Modder, and found them
strongly entrenched and concealed. 30
means Of outnanklng. the river being
full. Action commenced with aril-
lery mounted infantry and cavalry at
$3.50, guard on right, ninth brigade on
left, attacked position In widely ex-
tended formation at $3.50, and support
ed by the artillery, found itself In front
Of the whole Boer force. 5000 strong
with two large guns, four Krupps, etc,
The naval brigade rendered great
assistance from Che railway.
After desperate, hard fighting,
which lasted ten hours, our men With
out water or food and In the burning
sun, made the enemy quit his POSI-
ton.
General Pole Carew was successful
in getting a small party across the
river, CALAMITY assisted By 800 sappere.
~ speak In terms OF high praise OF
the conduct Of all who were engaged
in one OF the hardest and most trying
fights In the annals OF the British ar
my. II can mention one arm par
ticularly, II is Two batteries Of artl-
lery.'"
The expected great battle at Modder
river has been fought and Gen,
Methuen has added another victory 10
his achievements Of the past week. That
the Beers defended their positions with
an their old-tlme gallantry is amply
proved by Gen. Methuen's dispatch
and II will probably be further testified
60 when the list Of British casualties
is made known. There appears to De
no doubt that Gen. Methuen has gained
a real advantage, though the details
must be awaited before the full effect
Of his ten hours desperate fighting
can be guaged.
Presumably the burghers' army was
on the south bank Of the river. but
whether when the Beers retreated they
crossed the river northward or retired
in an easterly direction into the on
ange Free State. Is unknown. Possibly
the Beers had repaired the bridge pre-
viously reported destroyed. and man
aged TO withstand the British attack
with their rear guard while their main
body escaped over the bridge the rear
guard destroying the bridge behind g.
The British, however, appear to have
surmounted the difficulties Of crossing
the river and TO have seized for them.
selves a position on the north side Of
the stream.
This success OF the British clears an.
other stage Of the road to Kimberley,
ten siege Of which General Cronje must
have partially raised In order TO give
battle 10 General Methuen.
There IS little reason TO doubt, how
ever, that the Beers viii again rally
as heretofore, after a seemingly crush
ing defeat, unless they have lost their
guns, OF which there is no mention In
the official dispatch.
The burghers are understood to have
a strong lager at Spytfontein. four
teen miles north Of the Modder river.
so another engagement possibly awaits
the British before they can commence
the last stage Of the eleven miles from
spytfontein 10 Kimberley. though II Is
pointed out that General Cronje VIII
thereby run a great risk OF being caught
between General Methuen and Colonel
Kekewich. the British commander al
Kimberley
A belated disDatch from Orange riy-
er says General Mcthuen's tr00ps are
advancing under the greatest dilicul-
ties. fighting an umnnresent but al
most invisible Zoe.
A special dispatch from Windsor says
Gen. Mo'huen's dlspatth 10 the queen
after The battle Of Mo1der river. says.
The battle was the bloodiest OF the
century. The British shelled the enemy
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