Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-01-11

Chicago, Jan liza special cable
10 the Chicago Tribune from London
says:
Lieut.. General Lord Methuen. COM
manding the column advancing to the
relief OF Kimberley. is TO be relieved OF
his command within two weeks
Later he will be sent TO CapetoWn
and eventually ordered home. When he
reaches England he will be retired.
These facts have been confirmed by
an official OF the war office.
Lord Methuens case is a sad one, AL
WAYS a man Of rather frail physique,
although a clever boxer and an all
around sportsman, his constitution be-
gan TO show signs Of breaking down
almost Immediately after he took COM
mand OF his division,
Ten days after the battle OF Belmont,
Gen. Wolseley suggested to the OH
cials of the war office that Methuen
he relieved. His advice was not
Needed. The wisdom Of the aged but
keen commander-in-chiefo Of the British
army Is now realized to the fullest ex-
font by the war officials who scoffed
at his suggestion. ~
Friends OF Lord Methuen Insist he Is
onIv N broken health; that the strain
of many campaigns has shattered MS
naturally nervous system.
Those who know the circumstances
and the situation on Modder river
equally we'll and who are wiling 70
state facts plainly, say that Methuen
mind is unbalanced
Constant proof Of this has been com
ing 10 the notice OF the officials OF me
war office for two weeks past. The
commander Of the Modder river forces
has bombarded the government with
some of the most remarkable messages
over received from a general In action
one received a few days ago is a talr
sample Of the rest. II contained just
three words. Darkness after dawn.
II is stated by those acquainted with
the inner workings and plan OF cam
paign adopted by the war ONCE tha'
Lord Kitchener, the hero OF Omdur-
man. who with Lord Roberts arrived
AT Cepetown last night VIII proceed
Immediately TO Modder river. He may
not take active field command OF tne
troops but will put the column in work
ing order again and then assign some
one else. probably Gen. Colville, TO take
Methuen's place.
Lord Methuen, in addition to his other
eccentricities. has quarreled with q
number Of officers under him. Three OF
them, Col. Arthur Paget, Col. Cough
and Captain Campbell, he ordered
home. They arrived In London today
Col. Cough is seeking a vindication by
court martial When Cough attempted
to discuss the plan of the MagersIonteln
attack Methuen ordered MN uhder ar
rest.
The London press is CONSIDERABLY
suppresslng the true state OF aHalrs So
far as Methuen's ailment Is concerned
but the papers do not hesitate TO prlhl
the hard facts about the battle OF
Magersfonteln, which are Just reaching
London through the mails, all OF which
90 10 show, In the language OF an ON
Ger, that "the attack was that OF Q
mailman"
The death Of Lord Wauchope, COM
mander Of the Black Watch, was one
of the many sad results OF that engage
ment Lord Wauchope, il is now wei
known. realized the futility OF the as
saut as planned by Methuen. He ar
gued strongly and expostulated bitter
ly against n. Methuen, however, per-
sisted and the two quarreled over the
matter the night before the battle
which proved so disastrous to the Brit
ish forces.
A member OF the Black Watch, In Q
letter just received, gives the details
of the charge which led Wauchope &c
his death. He quotes the generals dy-
Ing words-words showing how fully he
realized the situation even In the hour
OF his death. The letter reads IN
was one of the darkest nights we eveI
had. The rain fell in torrents and We
went on and forward, falling, STUN
bling and slipping over rocks and ant
hills. II was impossible TO see where
we were goSg.
after we had been taken by sur
prise our right half battalion charged
but the men were mown down like
grain before q reaper. Gen. Wauchopt
was shot at the beginning OF the charge
When he saw the mistake that hac
happened he shouted Rally round me
Black Watch It's not my fault
"Then he fell, literally riddled with
bullets"
Letters from men serving In the Mod.
der river column tell OF the demorallza.
ton OF the troops since the command
er's characterization. A Highland bri-
gade man says: "There is not the
slightest doubt that Methuen has lost
the confidence Of every man in tbs