The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-11-30
METHUEN'S GREAT VICTORY
ENTIRE BOER FORCE AT
MODDER RIVER.

Despatch to the Queen Says the BATH
Was the Bloodiest of the Century
Eoers SHIELDED Out of the Trenches an
Then Charged-Tho Result Terrible
British Cross the River.
London, Nov. 29.-Gen. Lord Me
thuen has defeated the whole Boer fore
at Modder River, Cape Colony, station
Gras Pan and Kimberley. The war of
flee to-day received a despatch from
Gen. Butler, dated at Cape Town, trans
uniting the following report from Lore
Methuen:
'Modder River, Tuesday, Nov. 2S--
Reconnoitred, at a. M, enemy's posi-
ton on Modder River, and found then
strongly intrenched and concealed. Nc
means Of outhanking the river. Full
action commenced with artillery
mounted infantry, and cavalry, at $50
Guard on right, Ninth Brigade on left
Attacked position in widely extended
formation at $3.50, and, supported by
the artillery, found myself in front OF
the whole Buer force, 5000 strong, with
two large guns, four Krupps, etc.
''The Naval Brigade rendered great
assistance from the railway. After des-
perate, hard fighting, which lasted ten
hours, our men, without water or food
and in the burning sun, made the enc
my quit his position.
Gen. Pole-CareW was successful in
getting small party across the river,
CALAMITY assisted by 300 sappers.
4 speak in terms of high praise of
the conduct of all who were engaged in
one of the hardest and most trying
fights in the annals Of the British army.
If l can mention one arm particularly,
it is two batteries of artillery"
A despatch from Windsor says that
Gen. Lord Methuen's despatch to the
Queen after the battle of Modder River
says: THE battle was the bloodiest of
the century. The British shelled the
enemy out Of the trenches and then
charged. The result was terrible"
That great battle would be fought
at Modder River had been expected, and
that the Beers defended their positions
with all their oldtime bravery is shown
by Gen. Lord Methuen's despatch, and
will probably be further shown when
the British casualties are made known.
There is no doubt that Lord Methuen
has gained real advantage, though
the details must be awaited before the
full effect of his fighting can be gagged.
Presumably, the Burgher army was on
the south bank of the river, but wheth-
er, when the Beers retreated, they cross
ed the river northward or retired in an
easterly direction into the Orange Free
State, is unknown. The bridge had been
previously repo1 ted destroyed, but it
may have been repaired. The British,
in any event appear to have surmount-
ed the difficulties of crossing the river
and to have seized for themselves po-
sition on the north side Of the stream.
This success clears another stage of
the road to. Kimberley, the sige of
which Gen. Cronje must have partially
raised In order to give battle to Lord
Methuen. There is little reason to doubt
however, that the Beers will again rally.
The Beers are understood to have
strong Jaeger at Spytfontein, fourteen
miles north of the Modder River, so
that another enga cement possibly
awaits the British before they can begin
the last stage of the eleven miles from
Spytfontein to Kimberley. Gen. Cronje,
if he remains, will run risk of being
caught between Lord Methuen and Col.
Kekewich, the British commander at
Kimberley.
A revised list of the British casualties
at Belmont shows: Officers killed 4,
wounded %, non-commissioned officers
and prlvates killed as, wounded 225, Of
which number the Guards had IS killed
and 1853 wounded.
A belated despatch from Orange River
says that Lord Methuen's troops are
advancing under the greatest difficult
ties, fighting an everywhere present but
almost invisible foe.