The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-21
ANOTHER BRITISH DEFEAT.
Gen. Methucn Checked in His Adj
vance and Thrown Back-A Dis
tinguished Officer Killed.


vance and Thrown Back-A Dis
tinguished Officer Killed.
Each important battle seems to bring
worse reverse for the British, and
the London newspapers sorrowfully
admit that Lord Methuen's check gt
Magersfontein is the most serious
Morning Post says 1--WE have had
our day Of humiliation appointed for
us. Let us accept 1T humbly and sober
ly and be the better and stronger for
the lesson 1t has taught US. This last
reverse will make us q fresh butt OF
Europe. There never was more apt
occasion TO- prove to Europe what VIC
are worth"
The position Lord Methuen assaulted
ID thus described by a correspondent :.
"Magersfontein range terminates
on tie east with an abrupt saddle rock,
some 150 feet high. Boer entrench.
ments run around the whole front.
The position is sOme two mil % long,
due east and west. The western euds
OF the trenches follow the contour OF
the kopjes and afford retreat"
1t is estimated that Lord Methuen's
forces amounted to IL 900 men and per-
haps more. No reliable estimate Of
his losses has yet been received.
All tho papers comment upon the
extreme gravity Of the situation and
upon the mOmentous decision Lord
Methuen has now to make-whether to
remain at Moddar river or to retire on
Orange river. The Times says: AT
least &c, 600 additional men must be sent
out. The entire available reserve must
be called up and the militia and volun-
teers turned to account. Efforts must
be made to increase the local colonial
forces, and further offers OF troops
from Canada and other colonies must
be sought and accepted"
The Standard, which comments upon
the "seemingly astonishing numbers
Of Boers," is driven to the conjecture
that substantial portion of the Boer
commanders has been recruited from
the Cape Dutch.
ALI eyes are now turning hopefully
to Gen. Butler, who taking into &C
count the troops with Gen. White at
Ladysmith, has altogether 10000 mon.
The Standard says: "At this moment
there must re few. mon in her majesty's
dominions having great a eight of caro-
upon them as Gen. Butler carries on his
shoulders"
The special correspondent OF The
Daily Mail at Moddcc river, acscr;b.
ing the fighting says:
The Boer trenches extended far
beyond the kopje into ths open plain.
Those on che plain were hidden by
screens of leaves. Those near the
kopje were guarded by double line of
barbed wire. Evidently they feared
our storming and bayonet attack.
:" We teked the kopis and trenches
with an Intense, well directed fire, of
various guns, including O naval gun
and Howitzer battery, both using
lyddite. l believe they suffered severe
damage. The Boer prisoners report
that one lyddite shell fell among forty
men, only five Of whom escaped un.
hurt. Other shells burst in the enemy's
lager, causing its complete destruc.
tion.
1.-THE Beers are in still larger force
than we found them at Modder Tiver,
outnumbe ring us by almost 3 to |. The
Transvaalers are apparently dominst-
Ing In their military councils, although
In minority"
The British casualties included tho
Marquis OF Winchester, major OF the
Second battalion .Coldstream &uards,
who was killed, and Col. Downhana of
the Gordon Highlsnders, who Mas
mortally wounded.
When the Highlanders met the mur-
derous point-blank fire Of the Boers
about 200 were mown down. The Black
Watch regiment on reforming was able
to muster only l60 men. The Rners lost
heavily In the trenches and also in the
wire entang lements when they came
into the open in an attempt to make a
flank attack on the British.
The terrific British artillery FIRE pro-
vOked no response except from the
Boer rifles until nearly 4 o'clock la the
afternoon when the Gordon Highland
ers formed TO renew the attack on the
entrenched kopje. They advanced with
the utmost gallantry to attack the
Beers, close to the place where lay
their dead and wounded comrades Of
the Highland brigade.
The enemy opened with heavy
shrapnel fire as tho British advanced,
and it was found physically impossible
to take the Boer trenches. The British
got within 200 yards. but could not get
nearer. 1t was hero than Col. Down
han fell.
This morning (Tussdsy) both sides
occupied the positions they hold before
the battle. The greatest bravery was
d aplayed by both officers and men.
The wounded include Liout, Col. A. 70.
Codrington and Capt. Sterling, both of
the First battalion of tho Coidstreana
GUARDS.
A detachment OF Boers, posted among
some thick bushes to the east maintain.
ed q most destructive FIRE on our right.
With the remarkable talent for taking
cover which the Boer always displayo
they were generally speaking invinci.
BILE, and, although tho ehemy's artilo.
ry was practically silenced, his rife flre
was 80 persistent and concentrated, es
we'll as usually we'll aimed, that Il was
absolutely impossible for the British
infantry TO take tho position by assault.
AT the first advance OF the Highland.
ers the Boer shooting Was some wh at
high, probably owing to the darkness.
Otherwise the British losses would
have been still heavier.
LONDON, Doc. 4.--The British have
met with disastrous defeat in'South Al.
RIGA. The Boers have overwhelmed
the queens army in Gaps Colony, and
two genersls, Gatacre and Methuen,
have tasted the bitterness OF Boer VIC.
tory. Their armies have been forced