The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1899-12-15

miles toward the Modder river. To-
day / am holding my position and in
trenching myself. i had to face at
least 1900 men. Our loss was great"
COMMENTED ON IN LONDON.
The Anxiety of the Public seems to
Have Been Fully Justined.
London. Dec. 14.-Gen. Methuen, a.
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 onl-
nous silence of the war Office was
amply justified. t8
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 victory would have brought,
II, indeed, the affair does not turn out
to be more serious defeat than Gen.
Methuen admits. The Highanders, il
Is believed, must have stormed 81 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
ontfianked their attackers.
The Only Compensation.
One report says that Gen. Cronje
attacked the British. The only com
pensation the British have been able
10 discover in the disheartening story
Is in Gen. Methuen's statement that h,
maintains his position close to the
Beers, arousing hopes that he will re-
trieve the situation: 1t is apparen,
that the bombardment of Saturday ano
Sunday did not shake the Beers grir
on their position, and it seems certair
that they merely withdrew their gun,
and rifiemen under cover, while Gen
hethuen INDUCED in the usual artii.
hry preliminaries Monday, and tina,
wheH 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 .
terrible fire, probably accompanying
this by an attack on the British right
flank and rear.
Looking to 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 il
Is Now. and IL is to Butler the soldier
strong. cvol-headed and reticent, that
he county, looks for this victory"
The other papers are abusing the
government for its compliment op-
timism." and inability to grasp the
strength of the opposition it has to
overcome i'm South Africa.
A Significant Matter.
Considerable significance attaches TO
Gen. Methuen's statement that he is
intrenching himself, indicating fear
that the Beers may follow up their adj
vantage, adopt the offensive and at
tack him. Indeed, the gravity of the
situation from the British point of
view can hardly be overestimated.
Gen. Methuen's long lines of commune
cation to DeAar are most vulnerable.
Should they be cut. Gen. Methuen will
find himself in very tight place, if
only from lack of supplies.
Had n Bad Eject.
The news of the British reverse had
bad effect on the stock exchange,
where there was a general relapse.
I lie latest advices from Gen. Gatacre
show that no anxiety is felt for the
safety of his remaining troops, who
have been withdrawn to good posi-
fions along the railroad south of Mol
tcno.
An impre.nabIe Position.
IL is said that Bushmanshock is inn
pregnaole. The Beers decline to fur
IRISH the names of the killed or wound
ed. They say they buried the dead
aud are sending the prisoners to
BloemfCntein.
Boer Losses, sunday, Nominal.
The Boer loss on Sunday is reported
10 have been four killed and nine
wounded. Probably this is correct, as
no genuine attack was made by Gen.
Gatrcre's troops, who were complete
~ surprised while in column.