New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-30
LORD METHUEN'S ADVANCE.

Lord Methuen appears to have won at Mod
der's River the most important battle thus far
Of the war. 1t probably outranks Glencoe,
Elandsaagte and the battles around Ladysmith
in point of numbers engaged and losses sus-
tanned on both sides. 1t certainly surpasses
them in Importance of results For they We're
followed by retreat and confinement within be-
sieged Ladysmth, while this opens the way for
further advance toward Kimberley, and proba-
bly, assures the relief of that city from the state
of siege it has long endured. Lord Methuen has
certainly made good progress. He is now more
than six hundred miles from Cape Town, fifty
miles beyond the Orange River and about
twenty miles from Kimberley. The successive
points taken by him after crossing the Orange
River, TO w.t. Belmont Gras Pan, Honey Nest
and MOdders River, are about dozen miles
apart Modder's River is an Insignificant viii
lage and railroad station at the junction OF a
small stream Of the same name with the scarcely
larger Riet River Beyond 1t the stations and
villages are closer Decentralization, Spytfon-
tein, Wimbledon; then the considerable town Of
Beaconsfeld, which is practically a suburb of
Kimberley, with ten thousand inhabitants and
containing the Du Tolt's Pan and BulfOntein
diamond mines; and then Kimberley itself. 1t is
understood that Beaconsfield is still in British
possession. standing siege along with Kimberley
| and defended by the same general force The
railroad from Modders River TO BeacOnstield Is
probably not in a condition TO be used. That
does not matter, however, as the distance is so
short and as there is good hghroad running
parallel with the railroad Just to the east of 1t.
| BY the end Of the week, then, II not earlier,
we may expect the siege OF Kimberley to be
| raised. That will be an important point gained
| for the British. But 1t will not be the winning
| Of the whole campaign. The scene Of conflict
will still be on British and not on BOer ground
and there will still be long march to be made
! by Lord Methuen before he can invade the land
| of the Beers. Alafeking Is not so important q
place rs Kimberley, but it must, Of course be re-
lieved at the earliest possible moment for ii is In
| far worse straits than Kimberley. 1t is also
more than two hundred miles further on and
the railroad thither has been broken in many
places, and the country is not an easy one to
march through, and 1t Is swarming with guerilla
parties Of Beers. If General Cronjes army has
been really shattered at Modder's River there
may not be another pitched battle on the whole
way to Mafekng but there will doubtless be
many skirmishes and ambuscades. 1t is not &c
beyond Kimberley with as great a force as he
now has. He will probably have to leave a bri
gade or two AT Kimberley TO reinforce its garri
son and to guard against another attack from
over the border For from Kimberley It is only
five miles TO the Orange State border and hun
dred and thirty TO Bloemfontein itself SO we
may expect to hear OF some arduous work be
! fore the western regions are pached.
Whether such clearing OF the line to Mafeking
or even to Buluwayo is the sole mission of this
daring and masterful commander is, however
] an open question. We do not as yet know how
many soldiers may be on their way up TO ton
/ him. 1t will not escape notice that he is now not
| only nearest OF all British commanders to Bloom
| fontein, but nearest TO Pretoria TOO. And he is
on the most direct road thither-we might SAY
almost the only practicable road For an adj
vance across the Drakensberg from Natal would
be most difficult. One from Coesberg by wa,
OF Norvars Pont and Bloemfonteln would b,
easy II the railroad were to be utilized But IN,
! Beers will make sure that the railroad shall no