New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-14
METHUEN REPULSED.
british SUFFER A SERIOUS
REVERSE.
DESPERATE BUT UNSUCCESSFUL AT
TEMPT TO BREAK THE BOER LINE
AT OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
WAUCHOPE KILLED.
TRY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.l

rny CABLE TO TRIsUNE.1
,onao, Dec. a. a. m.-This mornings
..rsraners do not attempt TO minimize the fact
.,...1ord Methuen's repuse at Magersfontein
:. ore OF the most serious events the war has
.arcea. British arms have received severe
..oor at an exceedingly critical moment, and
49,. results cannot at present be fully estimated.
,Aa host account OF the battle comes from
..r,. Standards" correspondent. who says that
:, rrAcaution that could be dictated by prudence
"a ,een overlooked. On Saturday the kopjes
oocunied by the Beers were heavily sheled by
,,s Naval Brigade. and the next day. with the
oh,Act Of demoralizng the Beers, the whole of
Lord Methuens artillery poured hot fire into
,be laager and the kopjes. The Beers made but
q feeble attempt to reply with the twelve guns at
tba,r disposal and at midnight Lord Methuen
cont Maior General Wauchope to move on the
Boer position with troops Of the Highland Bril-
sade consisting of the 1st Highland Light In
fantry. the 1st Argyll and Sutherland High
landers and the I'd Seaforths.
They were led by guides through the night, the
rainfall. At 800 o'clock. while still in quarter
eolumn they encountered terrific fire from
trenches at the base OF the kopjes in occupa-
ton Of the Beers. and, although not yet day
light the burghers' volly did such tremendous
execution at a range Of three hundred yards that
the British troops were compelled to retreat
The brigade suffered a heavy loss. and the Royal
Hghlanders. in particular, met with terrible
punishment only 100 men being mustered on
reforming the battalion. Nothing more could be
done until the rest Of the main body had come up.
Then. at daylight. the British artillery, con-
sistng OF thirty guns. began bombardment
which lasted throughout the day the howitzers,
as before. using heavy lyddite shells. The Beers
made no serious attempt TO reply with their
guns. but their rifle fire, says the correspondent
was so persistent. concentrated and well di-
rected that 1t was absolutely impossible for the
British infantry to take the position by as
sault.
IN the course of the forenoon the Gordon
Hghlanders were sent to the front by General
Methuen, and advanced with the utmost gal
lantry to attack the Boer centre, close to where
Law their dead and wounded comrades of the
Highland Brigade. The Beers were, however
so we'll intrenched that it was found physically
impossible TO carry the position. and the Cor
dons were also compelled to retire.
General Methuen then gave UP the attack and
on Tuesday morning both sides occupied the po-
sitions held before the fight
All accounts OF the battle agree that the losses
were extremely heavy on both sides, and some
DISAPPOINTMENT was expressed when it was an
nounced at the War Office at midnight that the
list of British casualties had not yet been re-
ceived.
The Telegraph mentions that among the
killed was Lord Winchester, Premier Marques
Of England.
Apparently General Methuen is not dlscour-
AGED by his repulse. his second dispatch,
sent off from Modder River late Tuesday even
ing he explains that the Boer trenches were
Gill strongly held in the morning. he had re-
tired 10 what appears to be his old position.
The withdrawal was effected in perfect order,
security He confirms. the authority of
prisoners and Of Beers speaking to his men with
the ambulance the statement as TO the severity
Of the burghers' losses, and gathers that they
have suffered terribly. some corps being quite
wiped out, and speaks in high terms of the
kindness shown by the Beers to the British
wounded. ]. n. F.