Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-14
NO COMPENSATION FOR LOSS
Setback for Methuen Severe Blow
Turn to Butler for
Relief.

LONDON, Dec. 13.-General Methuen, as
expected, followed up his artillery attack
with a general assault on the Boer positions
Monday and his report shows that the
anxiety of the public regarding the result oc-
casoned by the ominous silence of the wal
office was amply justified.
The engagement was evidently of consid-
erabe magnitude, and the list of the killed
and wounded will be proportionate without
the compensation which victory would have
brought, If. indeed, the affair does not turn
out to be a more serious defeat than Gen
eral Methuen admits. The Highlanders il
is believed, must have stormed the Boer
position more than once, while the fact that
the Guards were ordered to support the
Highlanders rear looks as though the Beers
may have even outflanked their attackers.
One report says that General Cronje attacked
| the British.
The only compensation the British have
been able to discover in the dlsneartening
story is in General Methuen's statement that
he maintains his position close to the Beers,
arousing hope that he will retrieve the sit
uation.
| 1t is apparent that the bombardment of
Saturday and Sunday did not shake the
Beers grip on their position and it seems
certain that they merely withdrew their guns
| and rhemen under cover, while General
| Methuen INDUCED in the usual artillery pre-
! liminaries Monday and that when the British
! guns were obliged to cease firing, owing to
| the danger of hitting the advancing troops,
| the Beers speedily reoccupied their trenches
| and overwhelmed the Highlanders with a
| terrible fire, probably accompanying this by
| an attack on the British right flank and rear.
| Alarm is beginning to be expressed in
many quarters as to the situation of Cen
| eral Methuen, AS the Westminster Gazette
says; "If England ever needed victory it
is now and 1t is to Butler, the soldier
strong, cool headed and reticent, that the
| country looks for this victory
The other papers are abusing the govern
ment for it's "compacent optimism" and in
| ability to grasp the strength of the Oppo-
sition II has to overcome In South Africa.
Considerable significance attaches to Cen
eral Methuen's statement that he is en-
trenching himself, indicating fear that the
Beers may follow up their advantage, adopt
the offensive and attack him. Indeed the
gravity Of the situation from the british
point of view can hardly be oyerestimated.
General Methuen's long lnee OF communica-
tion to DeAar are most vulnerable, Should
they be cut, General Methuen will find him
self in a very tight place, if only from lack
Of supplies.
The news OF the British reverse had bad
effect on the Stock exchange, where there
was general relapse. Kafirs and Rand
mines dropped 21s points and DeBeers
dropped q.
The latest advices from General Gatacre
show that no anxiety is felt for the safety
of his remaining troops, who have been with
drawn to good positions along the railroad
south Of Molteno, 1t is said that Bushman's
Heck is impregnable. The Beers decline 10
furnish the names of the killed or wounded
They say they buried the dead and are send
ing the prisoners to Bloemfontein
The Boer loss on Sunday is reported to
have been four killed and nine wounded.