Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-29
Driven From Their Strong Position
at Modder River.
BATTLE RACED FOR TEN HOURS
General Methuen Says It Was
Boodiest of Century
BULLER'S OFFICIAL DISPATCH

battle at Modder river has been fought
and Gen. Methuen has added ancth.r VIC
tory to his achievements Of the past week.
That the Beers defended their positions
with all their old-time gallantry is amply
proved by Gen. Methuen's dispatch and It
will probably be further testified to when
the list of British casualties IS made
known.
There appears TO be no doubt that Gen.
Methuen has gained a real advantage.
though the details must be awaited before
the full effect Of his ten hours desperate
fighting can be Rauged. Presumably The
burgher army was on the south bank Of
the river, but whether, when the Beers re-
treated. they crossed the river northward
or retired in an easterly direction into the
Orange Free State. is unknown. Possibly
the Beers had repaired the bridge, Previous
ly reported destroyed. and managed TO
withstand the British attack with their
rear guard. while their main body escaped
over the bridge. the rear guard destroying
the bridge behind them.
The British, however appear to have sur
mounted the difficulties of crossing The river
and to have seized for themselves a posi-
ton on the north side of the stream.
Effect on Siege of Kimberley.
This success of the British clears an
other stage Of the road to Kimberley, the
siege Of which General Cronje must have
partially raised in order to give battle TO
General Nethuen. There is little reason
to doubt however, that the Beers Will
again rally. as heretofore. after a SEEM
ingly crushing defeat unless they have
lest their guns, of which there is no men,
ton I'm the official dispatch.
The burghers are understood to have a
mil
north of the AIodder river, SO another en-
gagement possibly awaits the British be-
fore they can commence the last stage OF
the eleven miles from SpyfonteIn to KIM
berley, though, 1t is pointed out General
Cronje will thereby run great risk OF
being caught between General Methuen and
Col Kekew!ch, the British commander at
Kimberley.
A beIated dispatch from Orange River
says General Methuen's troops are advanc-
ing under the greatest difficulties lighting
an omnipregent bat almost invisible foe.
A special dispatch from Windsor says
that General Methuens dispatch to the
queen after the battle Of Modder river
says:
THE battle was the bloodiest of the cen
tury The British shelled the enemy out
of the trenches and then charged The re-
suit was terrible"
Buffers Official Dispatch.
The war Office has received the following
dispatch from General Butler;
CAPE TOWN, Tuesday, November 2s,-
Gen. Methuen reports:
.MODDER RIVER Tuesday. November
! 2S,-Reconnoltered at am. euemys po-
| sition on river Modder and found them
| strongly entrenched and concealed. No
H., rgr- hi fr1T1
Action commenced with artillery, mounted
infantry and cavalry at 80 am. Guard on
| right. 9th Brigade on eft. Attacked posi-
ton in widely extended formation at go
| and. supported by the artillery. found IL
! self in front of the whole Boer force,
| 5000 strong, with two large guns. four
Krupps, etc.
The naval brigade rendered great as
sstance from the railway.
| After desperate hard fighting. which
| lasted ten hours. our men. without water or
| food and in the burning sun, made the en-
emy quit his position.
| General Pole-Carew was successful IN
getting a small party across the river gal
| ,antly assisted 10y roo sappers.
| Il speak in terms of high praise Of The
| conduct OF all who We're engaged IN one Of
the hardest and most trying fights in the
! annals OF the BRUSH army II 1 can men,
ton one arm particularly it is two batter
| les of artillery.
| Revised List of British Losses.
| \ revised list Of the British casualties at
| Belmont shows officers killed, /; wounded.
| -; ncn-commssioned officers and priyates
| xii ed. 20: wounded. 225 Of which number
the Guards had 80 killed and 1873 wounded.
| y revised list of the casualties sustained
/ by Gen Hildyard's forces at the battle OF
Beacon Hil shows: Killed, 49, wounded. n
| missing, l; prisoners, $.
Sortie at kimberley.
| PRETORIA, November 27.-Cen. Dutort
| reports that the British made a sortie from
! Kimberley early Saturday morning and
| fired on the Beers with artillery and in
| fantry in the darkness. The British
| SORTED where the Bloc mhof Boer fofse WAS
| stationed. On our Uhe Boer) side there
! We're 200 men. Gen. DuUort, who nine
| miles off, hastened to the assistance Of the
| Bloemhof contingent with loo men Nine
| burghers were killed, seventeen were
| wounded and there were some missing.
| The British left on the field private and
| a sergeant.
! 1t is reported that the British attempted
| to leave Kimberley on the east side to as
| sist the troops from Belmont. Com
mandant Lubbe was slightly wounded.