Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-14
.STACCERS HUMANITY
Continued from First page.)


Beers, on the open ground directly in front
moved with the object Of making a flank at
! tack, but this was frustrated by the Guard.
and artillery
The Beers recommended shelling in tn,
evening, but no damage was done. Tn,
British slept on their position. 1t Is eX'
pected that there will be renewal of tn,
fighting tomorrow. The losses on both sides
we're heavy.
Methucn Reports Serious Losses.
LONDON, Dec 13.-General Methuen's re.
port from Modder river shows that he met
with a serious check Monday and suffered
great losses.
The war Office has received the following
dispatch from General Methuen, dated
Tuesday, December 12:
"Our artillery shelled a very strong posi-
tion held by the enemy in a long, high
kopje from until dusk Sunday. 1t rained
hard last night.
THE Highland brigade attacked at day
break on Monday the south end of the
kopje The attack was properly timed, but
failed. The Guards were ordered to protect
the Highlands right and rear. The cavalry
and mounted infantry, with a howitzer ar
tillery battery attacked the enemy on the
left and the Guards on the right, supported
by field artillery and howitzer artillery.
They shelled the position from daybreak, and
at lis | sent the Gordons to support the
Highland brigade. The troops hold their
own in front of the enemy's entertainments
until dusk, the position extending, including
the kopje, for distance of six miles toward
the Modder river. Today ! am holding my
position and entrenchlng myself. l had to
face at least $4,000 men. Our loss was
great"
story from Boer Sources.
PRETORIA, Monday, Dec. 11.-An official
report says: "a battle at Modder river
began yesterday with cannon firing, heavy
fighting proceeding from $3.50 o'clock in the
morning until $3.50 o'clock, with cannon
MaXims and rifles. A bombardment began
at 4:30 O'Clock and the fighting still con-
tinues. balloon has just arisen above the
British positions, where it remained ten
minutes and descended. There were heavy
rains during the night"
AT o'clock this morning another report
was received from Modder river A dispatch
rider brought word that all the Boer posi-
tions have been maintained and that forty
one British prisoners had been taken At
$3.50 O'Clock it was reported that the heavy
cannon fire had somewhat abated. The
British are constantly using their balloon.
The fighting was still going on at noon.
Kimberley is still quiet.
AS the day progressed and the driblets of
information leaked out, the extreme gravity
of General Methuen's position was more
fully recognized and the possibility of his
isolation created no small alarm in military
circles 1t was thought in some quarters
that he ought to retrace his steps to Orange
river before his lines of communication
were severed.
General Wauehopes death was much de-
plored. He rendered notable service at the
battle of omdurman, for which he was
thanked by both houses of Parliament.
A pathetic circumstance was that General
wife was among the inqurers
at the war office few minutes before the
telegran' announcing his death was posted
The Stock exchange today closed grave and
anxious. There was considerable nervous
ness as to the ottcome of the settlement and
there were rumors of further failures. Con-
soils were weak and Kaffirs were more de-
pressed than at any time during the pres
ent year
There was little excitement noticeable at
the war office, but at the clubs and hotels
there was considerable gloom and forebod-
ings that the brief announcement that over
300 wounded had arrived at Orange river
Indicated that General Methuens losses were
the most severe reported.