The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1899-11-25
.,rod in London Methuen's Dis
,.,ch Conceals as Much as
| 1t DisclOSes.
;,;sh Loss Looked Upon as
1,ayy Considering Compar-
alive Strength.
hrs Evidently Retired in Good
| rrder and Without Undue
Precipitation.

-. which marked the days follow.
the engagements between the Brit.
,ni Beers ut Glencoe and Nichol.
Mex. found their counterpart al
var o;,icc here during the day.
before the doors of the war Office
!. opened. the troubled and anxious
nen and men Of all stations in life
= assembled there. and when the in.
rrs were finally admitted the anx.
questions showed they feared the
rial bulletin. though black enough,
no, record the full story Of the Brit.
loss at Belmont. Up to noon the
teynneut officials had issued no fur.
ey DISPATCHES. and SO the nervous dis
ks. Of the public remains unal.
k.a,e,.
Leaves Much to He Explained.
General Methuen's message leaves a
sa. deal TO be explained. According
all PREVIOUS facts obtainable AS 10
relative strength Of the forces. the
ters must have been in decided mi
rl.v, vet the total British loss. a20
lied and wounded and missing. proves
effectiveness Of their defense and
nply jus,iti.s General Methuen's trib-
i 70 the skill and courage with which
j. burghers fought. The fact that no
kns aud only 40 prisoners were cap
W.. ty the victors and that the Beers
&.rlel off their dead and wounded.
lows ,ha, they retired in an orderly
anner, without precipitation or con-
son, and that. probably. the Boer
saalties We're not numerous. owing
.he strength Of their position. The
s,rue;ion Of the Boer ammunition
lp.urel is taken as an indication that
|eaeral Methuen occupied the captured
eltion at Belmont and destroyed the
Der supplies in order not to hamper
Be Immediate advance Of his flying
ulIn, which is marching III the
|saies, order.
The road is now presumably open to
BE- Boer position on the Modder river
faere the Guards. who apparently bore
s brnnt of the fighting, will. IN all
rooabllity. have another chance to get
Close quarters with the bayonet.
British Numbered seven Thousand.
special dispatch received here from
t!mont says that Gen. Methuen's force
laMhered 1000 men and that the Boer'
Ead 1000. The latter. it is added, helt
u eAceedingly strong position on
eres Of hills, extending dozen miles
caey We're strongly entrenched ant
aeir cannon were posted strongly ant
We're cxcellently served. The battl'
ssan AT 7 o'clock and ragged for severa
folrs. The Beers held their position
Slth great stubbornness and splendi'
soafage The British riflemen force
ae attack under q raking fire and Cal
'ea position after position with super
uash, driving out the Beers with grea
Daughter. The engagement was reaii
trseres Of battles, during when IN
|."ers were constantly carrying OH the'
|.ead and wounded.
Firss BOer Defeat.
The war office has issued the folio"
as advices: :
Cape Town, Nov. e4.-Afternoon'
.u'eneral Methuen further reports ths
we wounded are doing we'll. There 81
Vser 90 prisoners. including . derma
vemmandant and six field cornet
sineteen Of these prisoners are woune
a. ~ We are unable to estimate u
eoer losses. The prisoners say the . :
'aek was a surprise and that it was u
Only beating they hrve had. A lars
snount Of correspondence has oeen .
cured. The reservists are dong we
.olonel Poole.C Carew replaces Feathe
s'oneaugh in command of the MN
Brigade"
Ono Sergeant Major woundsd.
!, The governor Of Natal has forward.
oft,S ,as following dispatch to the c0'0n'
y Iugela Drift was attacked dur',
..e .se morning Of Thursday. NOV. 20,
ny 70 300 Boets,. who are be!leyeo-