The Van Buren press., 1899-12-16
COMMENTED ON IN LONDON.
The Anxiety of the Public Seems to
Have Heen Fully Justified.

The Anxiety of the Public seems to
Have Heen Fully Justified.
London, Dec. 14.-Gen. Methuen, a2
expected, followed up his artillery
with general assault on the Boer po-
sitions Monday, and his report shows
that the anxiety of the public regard
ing the result occasioned by the om-
inous silence of the war office was
amply justified.
Awaiting the Casualty List.
The engagement was evidently OF
considerable magnitude, and the list
OF the killed and wounded will be pro-
portionate without the compensation
which a victory would have brought,
if. indeed, the affair does not turn out
to be a more serious defeat than Gen.
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 even have
outflanked their attackers.
The Only compensation.
One report says that Gen. Cronje
attacked the British. The only com
pensation the British have been able
TO discover in the disheartening story
is i'm Gen. Methuen's statement that III
maintains HIS position close to the
Boers, arousing hopes that he will re.
trieve the situation: 1t is apparent
that the bombardment of Saturday ane
Sunday did not shake the Beers griI
on their position, and it seems certaF
that they merely withdrew their gum
and rihemeu under cover, while Gen
Methuen indulged in the usual artil'
lery preliminaries Monday, and thai
when the British guns We're obliged
to cease firing, owing to the danger o.
hitting the advancing troops, the Beers
speedily reoccupied their trenches and
overwhelmed the Highlanders with >
terrible fire, probably accompanying
this by an attack on the British right
flank aid rear
Looking 10 Butler for victory.
Alarm is beginning to be expressed
in many quarters as to the situation
of Gen. Methuen. As the Westminster
Gazette says:
"If England ever needed victory ii
is now, and II is to Butler, the soldier,
strong, cool-headed and reticent that
the country looks for this victory
The other papers are abusing the
government for its 'complacent OPP
timism," and inability to grasp the
strength of the opposition it has to
overcome in South Africa,
significant Matter.
Considerable significance attaches to
Gen. Methuen's statement that he is
iutrepcbing himself. indicating fear
flat the Beers may follow up their adj
vantage, adopt the offensive and at
tnck him. Indeed, the gravity of the
situation from the British point OF
view can hardly be overestmated'
Gen. Methuen's long lines of eommunl-
cation to DeAar are most VuIneraole.
Should they be cut, Gen. Methuen WIZ
find himself in very tight place, II
only from lack of supplies.
Had Bad Effect.
The news of the British reverse had
n bad effect on the stock exchange
where there was a general relapse.
The latest advices from Gen. .atacre
show that no anxiety is felt for the
safety of his remaining troops VINO
have been withdrawn TO good posi-
tions along the railroad south OF MOI
tenO. ,..
II is said that Bushmanshock IS I'M
nrecnable. The Beers decline to fur
Tish the names of the killed or wound,
ed They say they buried the ueau
and are sending the prisoners 10
BloemfOntein .,
Roer Losses, sunday, Nominal
Tho Eoer loss on Sunday is reported
o. have been four killed and nine
wounded. Problbly this is correct, as
no Genuine attack was made by Gen
c,,rcre's troops, who were compie'e'
" surprised while in column