The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-18
And When Ordered Back to England
Refused to Go, Appealed to Butler
and Stayed with His Regiment.
R0BERTS'S GREAT CAMPAIGN
SOME OF HIS WORK REVIEWED BY
A WAR CORRESPONDENT.
British Soil Cleared of Invaders In
Seven Days-Boers Afraid of
Gen. Frencb's Cavalry.

Correspondence of the Associated Press.
LONDON, March 10.-The Outlook pub
fishes, under the heading Lord Methuen
and His Colonels; a Case for Inquiry"
what appears to be the first authoritative
statement of the internal friction which
occurred at Modder river in the early part
the frequently circulated rumor that Me-
thuen was to be recalled. The account is
furnished to the Outlook by an unnamed
correspondent, who writes: Now that the
military stress and anxiety of two months
ago have been in measure removed, it
may be as we'll to give a precise account Of
what passed between Lord Methuen and
Col. Bloomfield Cough after the first en-
gagement in which they both took part.
and also to refer to the subsequent disa-
greement between Lord Methuen and Col.
Arthur Paget.
when the horses Of the Ninth Lancers
were jaded and the men completely ex-
hausted after many hours fighting, Lord
Methuen expected them to charge an abso-
lutely impregnable position. Col. Cough
sent a respectful refusal. Lord Methuen
then returned to the head of his regiment
and severely rebuked him. Col. Cough
again pointed out the impossbility of exc
cutting the order and Lord Metheuen left
the regiment after uttering remarks which
made the ears of every man sting. Early
next morning, it is said, Lord Methuen
sent a note to Col. Cough to the effect:
My dear colonel. please come over to my
quarters as quickly as you can. wish you
to spend the day with me- +"
Colonel Cough was able to perceive the
sun at noon to-day. He answered:
"'My Dear General-I quite see your
meaning, and, as 1 must decline to leave
my regiment please let me know whether
you wish TO put me under arrest or wheth-
er you would prefer that / should return
to England
Lord Methuen replied, thanking my
dear colonel for his perspicacity and indi-
eating that Colonel Cough had better re-
turn home. Colonel Cough returned to
England, nominally on sick leave. He at
once sought the authorities at the War Of
fee, laid the facts before them and de-
manded a court-martial. This had to be
refused because of the impossibility of re-
calling Lord Methuen for the purpose of
giving evidence.
Three days after his dispute with Col.
Cough Lord Methuen gave an order to the
Scots Guard. which their commanding Of
ficer, Colonel Arthur Paget, declared it was
impossible to execute. He absolutely re-
fused needlessly to sacrifice his men in a
vain effort to take an impregnable kopje.
However, he told Lord Methuen that he
would himself walk up to the position and
be shot. Lord Methuen declined to allow
this, but told him he might go back to
England. Colonel Arthur Paget declined
point blank to leave his men except upon
the instructions of Sir Redvers Butler, and
he wrote to the latter to the same effect.
Sir Redvers Butler is reported to have
written in reply that he hoped that by the
time his answer was received the two old
brother officers would have forgotten their
differences. There the matter ended, and
Colonel Arthur Paget is still at the head
of his men,