The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-12-05
BATTLE OF MODDFR RIV Err
slaughter ON British Side Was Ter
ribIe.


slaughter ON British Side Was Ter
ribIc.
London, December 4.-Ths Daily
Chronicle Publishes the following de-
spstch dated Wednesday morning Novem-
Der o, nom its correspondents at Moider
River camp:
The ssverest engagsm ent our column
has ret had and probably the se,ersst of
ths whole campaign was fought yesterday
ON tbs banks Of the Acdder river. The
battle was waged tieroely for nearly four
teen hours.
The enemy occupied strongly en-
trenched position, their front extending
i've milss along the bank Of the stream
They wsrs all supplied with artillery and
! fought desperately.
Our force consisted of the Second bat
talon of the Cold Stream guards, the
first battalion Of the Scots guards the
Third battalion Of the Scots Guards, the
Tnird battalion Of the Grensdier Guards,
the First battalion Of the Northumber-
land Fusiliers, the Secord battalion Of the
Yorkshire Light Infantry. The Kings
Own, q part Of the Eirst battalion Of the
Loyal North Lancashire regiment. the
Ninth Lancers, tbs Mountain Infantry,
three batteries of field artillery ami ths
First Battalion OF the Argyll and South
erland Highlanders, princess Louiss'a)
The latter reinforced us from General
Wanhote's briaEds and arrived just In
time for the fight. The battle started at
day light, our guns Smelling the Beers
lsfs. The enemy replied with artillery,
Rotchkiss ard Maxlms and the artillery
duel lasted some hours. Then there was
brief luli IN the enemys' operations of
| which the general Immediately took sd-
vantage. Our infantry advanced across
the plain towards this river In two
bIigades.
The guards on the right were met by
nm awful hail Of bullets from the ereny's
shsrpshooters, posted close to the river
on the opposite bank. They had no cover
whatever and were simply moved down.
1, seemed Impossible TO live through the
terrible tire, but the brave fellows did
not retreat an inch. The Beer ire was
horribly accurate and they must have
mum bered at least 10000.
| The Scots Guards advanced six hun
dred yards before they were fired on.
Then they haa to lie down to escape the
deadly fusiIads which lasted without In
Permission throughout the day.
The Highlsnders made several attempts
TO force q passage OF tine river, but they
were exposed to such murderous lice
that they had to retire after they had
suffered terribly. Subsequently party
Ct the guards got over and held their own
for foprs against vastly superior force.
The general opinion Of the staff Is thai
there had never been sueh sustained fire
In the annals Of the British army ~ that
which our troops had to face yesterday.
Our men fell in dozens while trying t,
rush the bridge.
Among the many heroic. deeds, ons Of
the most conspicuous was that OF Lieut..
Col. Coddington Of the Cold Stream
Guards; Captain Sellpein Of the Queens
land contingent and . dozsn members of
the Cold Stream Guards, who jumped In.
to the river and swan nearly to the other
side In the face Of steady fire, but who
were forced to retire and joining hands
swan hack, two of their number being
nearly drowned In the retreat.
The British guns kept up heavy nre
ell day and fsarfal havoc WAS wrought on
the Bosr pasitions. the enemy being
forced TO tiy from their entrenehmentS
Night put an end to the terrible blood
she'd The Infantry brigade was dreadful
ly sut up.
The Beers retrsatsd at night, taking
their ours with them and we ere now
oe OF py ing theie POSITION. The enemy's
loss was tremendouA