The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-05
BRITISH FACED BIG ODDS.
Victory AT THE MoDDER RIVER
WAS BRATELY WON.

WAS BRdTELY WON.
Beers Were Strongly Entrenched but Fell
Hack During the Night After Fourteen
Hours Of FiEhtipg-British Were with
out Cover and Exposed to a Terrific
Fire-Advance Was to BE Continued on
Dec. i-Movements Of the British Troops
in Satai Kept secret-Ladysmith Has
Been Heavily Bombarded-Cape Colony
Volunteer Troops Arc to he Mobilizcd.
Sp,cta, Cable D,,poieh,s TO TIE Sun.
lo>p,S. Dec. 5.-To-day. just a week after
ue battle OF Modder River. the morning
rnpers print under date OF Nov. ~.
their correspondents dissertations OF the
engagement. There is nothing whatever
in any OF them TO justify their
detention or explain why they were withheld.
unless The censors were engaged In trying to
harmonge their conflicting statements.
No two OF the stories agree. and each leaves
something unex planned. The fullest descrip-
ton Of the Boer position Is published by the
Chronicle. which saws:
ION the south side OF the Modder River
there Is a vast plain. stretching as far as
the eye can reach. Along the river
the north bank has been strongly forth
fed TN the east side OF the bridge
stands Ro.tall's Junction Hotel and the Farm
Hotel, stone buildings, with number OF OUT
houses OF galvanized iron. the whole sur
rounded by trees. This group OF buildings
was tho centre OF the Boer position.
Here the main body Of the enemy was
concentrated. On the right the snemy's
line extended for two miles aud on the left.
from the bridge. II extended three miles.
reaching beyond the border and into
Free state territory. The Bocr left
flank rested on farmhouse JUS. across
the border. The farm was surrounded by
earthworks. in which two guns wero mounted
There were also two guns on the extreme
right. and others were distributed along
the line. Close to the bridge were sew
cral guns. including long Tom The
enemy was better equipped In heavy
ordnance than the British About one hundred
yards In advance Of the centre the enemy had
small post. Along the whole OF his front
be- had dug rife pits. strengthened
with brcastworks OF sand. rivetted with
galvanized iron plates. and parapets
ot sandbaGs These works were admirably
constructed and gave the rinemen an abso-
!utey rias-proof cover"
After describing the British formation as
previously known. the artillery opening and the
subsequent advance ~ the infantry. the cor
on our Infantry. but not rife shot was fred at
the British until they were within 800 yards
Of tho Boer POSITION Then fearful
nre broke from the intrenchmenta. sup
pemeuted by several Norienteldts and
Maxms The bullets pourei upon
our advance line. hut all the time it
was absolutely impossible 10 catch a glimpse
Of the enemy. oar men fired as best they
could While under this whitening fusillade
they fell In scores. There was no cover
procurable So the order was given TO
the men TO lie down. and then for
ihrrc hours IL rained load without INTERN ssion.
IL meant instant death 10 staud upright. By a
series OF short PUSHES our men sought To get to
closer quarters with the enemy. Cndlsmayed
by the torrent OF shot and shell they
Sirpve to press forward. pouring volley after
volley into the enemy's works. The ground
was strewn with our dead The officers set a
magnificent example in sacrificing themselves
unhesitatinRly. Thus fell Col. Stopford OF the
Coistream Guards and many others until the
ground was Uttered with the dead
a, length the scots Guards reached the bed
OF dried IN watercours-. They dashed into
II white n hail of the enemys bullets swept ovei
their heads. Then up the slope OF the oppo.
sit. bank they went until they stood
again on level ground. IuIly exposed
to tho enemy's fire. The cover afforded by the
watercourse was gone and they were assaileG
in front and on the flank by murderous fire
II s'mp!y rained bullets and they lost heavily
Meanwhile the Grenadiers. the Coldstrean
Guards the Northumberands. the Highlander
and the rest OF the Ninth Brigade were push
ing calamity forward on both sides OF the
railway. which bsected our advancing line
The railway line Is here higher than the sur
rounding plain and every one who tried to ad
vance along II was hit.
The whole OF our line was now about 6O'
yards from the south bank of the river. and
taking advantage Of tho little cover procura
bio the infantry lay for hours return
ing the Boer fire. Still not one o
the enemy could be seen. 1t wa
at the best baphazard firing severa
PUSHES were made for the river at variou
points. Accompany OF tho Argyll and suther
land Highlanders succeeded In getting across
but lost heavily. and had to fall back to tn
south bank. We found hve OF their dead II
me Boer entertainments to-day.
The northumberland Regiment and thu
Guards also attempted the desperate task an'