The record-union., 1899-12-09
Iethuen by harassing the Beers from

Methuen by harassing the Beers from
the rear.
According to a special dispatch from
Lourenzo Marques, the Modder River
battle is described by a Boer cores
fiercest with Cronie as zone of the
fircest the Beers ever experienced"
The correspondent goes on to say:
General Cronje's wing sustained al
most solely the fearful attack Of the
British right throughout the day. The
Iransvaalers tenaciously held their po-
sltions until in the evening, when the
Free State Burghers were forced to re-
tire by the heavy British shell fire. Cen
eral Cronje then retired under cover of
darkness. after facing the conc
cd flre Of all the British batterie
The Beers freely acknowleog,. s nc
herculean assaults of the British and
death dispensing fire of the attacking
infantry, but they held their position
for thirteen hours against the flower of
the British army, replying solely with
their Mausers and maintaining an UNI
interrupted rifle fire. The Boer artil-
lery was silenced early in the battle,
through the overwhelming number of
the British artillery"
MAFEKING RELIEVED.
LONDON, Dec. S.-While nothing in
the latest messages from the British
camp at Modder River indicated an
immediate advance, it appears that
Pretoria has news that fighting was re-
sumed Wednesday. 1t is not shown,
however, whether General Methuen
has advanced on the new position taken
, he he mo
in reconnaissance in force.
Reports were again current at
Orange River Tuesday. December 9Th,
that Mafeking has been relieved. 1t
is known through dispatches from
Magalapye that preparations were COM
pleted there to advance in force No
vember 10Th from Rhodesia, for the
purpose of repairing the railroad line
and restoring communication with Col
onel Baden Powell. The Beers, how
ever, were strongly entrenched near
Gaberones, midway between Magalapye
and Mafekng.
Reinforcements are rapidly arriving
at Sterkstroom, to strengthen General
Gatacre, including the much needed ar
tillery. The authorities expect speedy
news that General Gatacre has taken
the offensive, thus diverting a portion
of the Orange Free State forces now
obstructing the advance of General
Methuen.
detachment of Cape police had a
skirmish with the Beers Thursday. De-
cember 18th, near Indwe, while General
French reports important reconnoiter-
ings Wednesday, December 9th. from
Naauwpoort, showing preparations to
attempt the recapture of some of the
British towns occupied by the Burgh-
ers.
A War Office dispatch from General
Butler confirms the statement that
photographic communication has been
fully established with Ladysmith, and
that General Butler and General VIII te
have been comforting as to their future
movements.
The latest advices from Frere Camp
show that the bombardment of Lady
smith was continued Thursday, Deem
Der It'll. A pneumatic dynamite gun on
Umbulwana Hill commenced the work
p The Tugela River is low. 49, = s -
Free Staters are reported to be loot
ing Acton Holmes, on the way back
to the Free State border
According to special dispatch from
Pretoria, General Joubert recently pro-
posed an exchange of prisoners, espec-
tally Lady Sarah Wilson, for Beer
lady taken prisoner at Mafeking. Lady
Wilson is an aunt of Winston Churchill.
and the wife of Captain C. O. Wilson
of the Royal Horse Guards. This was
the first definite news that she was a
prisoner. Lady Wilson has been act
ing in the double capacity of newspa-
per correspondent and Red Cross nurse,
and there had been much anxiety about
her. When last heard from Lady Will
son had left Mafeking on horseback
with her maid as her sole companion
She was reported to have reached
Setlagoli.