The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-12-05
THEIR. CASUA- TIES AT THE BATTLE
OF MODDER RIVER
NUMBERED BY THE HUNDREDS.
Ohicial Dispatches MeaZre. Merely
Giving Totals OF Killed and Wound
ed-Ail Press Dispatches stopped by
the Censor Desperate Effort of Beers
to Secure Recruits I'm Cape Colony.
Battles with the Two Relief Expedi-
tfons -AnxiousIy Awaited.

London, December 2.-As surmised,
the British dead and wounded at the
hard fought battle of Modder river
number hundreds. Up to O'Clock this
afternoon. only the bare total, 43s, OF
which number 73 We're killed had been
given out.
The meagre official dispatch giving a
list of the British casualties at Modter
river and Announcing the bare fact that
Lord Methuen is ltili there awaiting
reinforcements, is only supplemented
by a brief special message from Cape
Town tonight stating that the Beers
destroyed the bridge over the Modder
river before the battle, and are now
concentrating at Spytfontein, where
the final battle before Kimberley is re-
lTeVed is expected to take place
The censor has apparently stopped
all press messages from the front re-
rating to the battle. which is not re-
garded as a favorable indication. AS
to the material results of Lord Me-
tnuen's engagement, it is not yet clear
whether his force actually crossed the
Modder river or is still awaiting the
rebuilding of the bridge before the ar
tlIlery and cavalry can cross. In any
case the railway must be carried over
the bridge before the indispensable big
naval guns can pass, because Lord Me-
thuen's last message showed that they
were worked on trucks along the rail-
road.
1t is a significant fact that Lord Me-
thuen's cablegram makes no mention
of the Boer loss, which, therefore, is
assumed to be small.
A dispatch from Cape Town this
evening says Lord Methuen's advance
undoubtedly is beginning to affect the
Boer strategy and probably explains
the withdrawal from Mooi river. TIE
continued presence of commanders in
Cape Colony tends to confirm the opin-
ions that the Beers are making des-
perate efforts to recruit their forces
from the Dutch residents. While it is
impossible to obtain exact statistics.
1T is absolutely certain that the disaf-
fected Dutch have joined the Beers in
great numbers which are still increas-
ing. Most of the recruits, however,
are young men, General Buffers mes
sage clearly indicating the punishment
for disloyalty having deferred the
actual holders of farms from joining
the Beers through fear of conf1scation
of their property.
LADYSMITH RELIEF FORCE.
Ihe latest news from Natal indicates
that the bulk Of Ladysmith relief force
has arrived at Frere, though there is
considerable conjecture ls to the
whereabouts of General Clery, whose
movements have not been chronicled
recently. 1t is surmised in some quart
ers that he may reappear in totally
unexpected quarter, on the flank or rear
of General Joubert's force, which is
supposed to be centrated at Grobelaar's
kloof, north of the Tugela river.
AS General Hildyard's advance guard
was in touch with the Beers as long
ago as Tuesday last, developments
should not be long delayed.
Dundonald's mounted force, Novem-
ber 28th, accompanied by four guns,
went in pursuit Of body Of Beers re-
turning to CoQenso. They followed the
Beers to within two and half miles
Of Colenso, when the Beers replied to
the British shells with long range
guns. There were no casualties. Col
enso bridge, it is added, was afterwards
blown up.
Another detachment of 5000 British
troops sailed for South Africa today.
Owing to the phenomenal sale of the
newspapers consequent upon the war
a paper famine is threatened. 1t is re-
ported that the American supplies have
failed temporarily.