The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-12-09

LONDON, Nov. 3O.-It is officially
announced that General Methuen was
among the wounded at the battle of
Modder river.
LONDON, Nov. 30.-London had
shock last night In the midst of re-
joicing over Lord Methuen's great vic
tory at Modder river late editions of
the evening papers came out with pla
cards of big, black type, Surrender of
Ladysmith."
The revulSion Of feeling was only
momentary. Thousands who eagerly
bought papers soon found out that the
reported surrender was contained in
very circumstantial agency dispatch
from The Hague, DR.. Leyd's headquar
ters. Inquiry at the War Office elected
the information that no dispatch con-
tanning such news had been received.
General Methuen's march from Or
ange river is a most notable achieve
ment. in the course of week he has
marched his columns nearly fifty miles,
fought three battles and won three vic
tories. The fight at Belmont was fierce
enough with its deplorable loss to the
Guards. The engagement at Enslin or
Gras Pan had melancholy notoriety
for the terrible execution wrought
among the naval brigade, but the Mod
der river battle is likely to prove the
hardest and bloodiest of the three.
This combat, which lasted for ten
hours and was fought by men who had
neither food nor drink, under a blaZ-
ing sun, against strongly entrenched
enemy, possesses features which will
make live military history.
After Saturdays battle at Gras Pan
General MethuenS force rested on Sun
day. 1t advanced fifteen miles north
west on Monday, and at night the col
umn found itself close to the Modder
river and confronted by a Boer army Of
5000 men. strongly entrenched.
Early Tuesday morning the attack
began. The Beers must have been
posted on the north side of the Modder
river, which was running at full flood.
The British attacked from the south
side AS there was no opportunity for
outfianking the enemy's position owing
to the high water they must have made
front attack and forced the Beers to
quit their position by the superiority OF
their artillery and rifle fire, the retire
ment being accelerated by the fact that
General Pole-Carew probably late In
the engagement had succeeded in get
ting across the river with a force. NO
pursuit of the enemy appears to have
been possible.
There is little doubt that the Beers
are taking away their guns and will
fight again at ScholtZ Kop and Spyt-
fontein, twelve miles to the north.
A fourth battle must almost inevi-
tably take place. but Colonel keke-
wich will probably try to attack the
enemy in the rear. This engagement
must occur tomorrow or Saturday. and
if all goes we'll Kimberley should be
by Sunday or Monday.
Nothing is known yet Of the casual
ties at Modder river, but excluding
these General Methuen has lost nearly
500 officers and men since he began
on Kimberley.
Including prisoners now in Pretoria
the British losses under all heads since
the war began make an aggregate OF
8 900.
The Daily Mail says it discredits the
report that Ladysmith has fallen, and
SAYS it was circulated last night by Laf- |
fans News Agency in a dispatch from /
The Hague, and had no foundation
The absence of news from Natal for |
three days seems to point to the fact /
that the Beers are in force on Tugela |
river and that General Butler wishes
to keep his dispositions absolutely Sc
cret until he can strike a blow. This /
is likely to prove a difficult task, as /
the river lies before him with its /
bridges broken down and its stream I
n flood. The British column now num- /
bers $4,000, of which considerable force T
was as far north as Frere on Sunday. /
No further news of General Gatacre's
advance on the Cape Colony invaders
have been received.
AGAIN ON THE MARCH.
LONDON, Nov. 30.-Although tele-
graph and railroad communication IS