The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-12-27

Gas the Beers occupied the trenches
strongly this morning, retired II
perfect order here, where am II
security. gather from prisoners ant
from Beers speaking to ambulance mer
that their losses were terrible, some corp:
being quite wiped out. They have been
most kind to my wounded"
It is estimated that Lord Methuen's
forces amounted to II 900 men, and per-
haps to more. Among the British ktllec
was General Wauchope, who died leading
his troops.
The British casualties also included the
Marquis OF Winchester, Major OF the Sec
ond Battalion Coldstream Guards, who was
killed, and Colonel Downham, OF the First
Battalion Gordon Highlanders. who was
mortally wounded. Among the wounded
wore Lieutenant Colonel A. D. Codrlng.
ton and Captain Sterling, OF the Coldstrean
Guards.
The War Office has received the following
dispatch from General Methuen, dated
Tuesday: ne
"Our artillery shelled very strong po-
sitfou held by the enemy IN long. nigh
kopje from until dusk Sunday. It ratned
hard last night. The Highland Brigade
attacked at daybreak Monday the south
end OF the kopje. The attack was properly
timed, but failed. Tue Guards were Or
dered to protect the HIghlanders' right
and rear. The cavalry and mounted infan-
try, with a howltzer artillery battery, at
tackled the enemy on the lett and the
Guards on the right, supported by field ar
tilfery and howl.zer artillery.
"They shelled the position from day
break, and at LIS I sent the Gordons to
support the Highland Brigade. The troops
held their own In front OF the enemy's in
trenchments until dusk, the position ex-
tending, including the kopje, for dis
tance OF six miles toward the Moddet
River. I, to-day, am holding my position
and intrenching myself. had to face at
least $4,000 men, Our loss was great"
The position Lord Methuen assaulted Is
thus described by correspondent:
"Magersfontein Range terminates on tho
east with an abrupt saddle rock, some 150
feet high. Boer intrenchments run around
the whole front. The position ts some two
miles long, due east and west. The western
ends OF the trenches follow the contour OF
tho kopjes and AFFORD a retreat"
The Daily Mails correspondent says that
the murderous fire on the Highlanders at
200 yards caused In a single minute the
larger part OF the fearful British loss. He
adds: STARTLED and overwhelmed tho
brigade retired quickly, but rallied aud re-
taine6 their position" The Guards, who
crossed the open veldt against the trenches
on the right, fought an invisible foe for
fifteen hours.
According to another telegram the Boers
had trenches on the level veldt far beyond
tho foothills. These were hidden by screens
OF leaves. Some trenches between these
and the hills were guarded with barbed
wire, the enemy evidently fearing q bavonet
attack. The Beers used only one gun until
sunset, when few rounds were fred from
four guns.
Prisoners say that one Of the lyddite
shells fell on forty men, and that only five
escaped unhurt. Other shells burst In the
laager, completely destroying 1t. The
Beers are said to have outnumbered the
British almost three to one.
A dispatch from Cape Town states that
twenty y-seven wounded officers and 266
wounded men have arrived at Orange
River from Modder River.