The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1900-05-02
NF7HTyE's ODD WAYS.
,ow THE BRITISH GENERAL
~ norATED HIS OFFICERS.
s.orv Of How He Gave Co.'s, Cough
~, paget Impossible Tasks
ard Punished Them for
Djsobey ing Orders.

Djsobey ing Orders.
or,iook Of London published re
4D' nr.Iar the heading Lord. Me
cal"s anJ His Colonels; a Case For
fDu,r I.r " what appears to be the hrs'
Inl""I ,,,.;va statement Of the Internal
ao'D .,nn which occurred at Modder
'I - the early part Of the campaign
f'.' .os responsible for the frequently
Il anu ',o, %, rumor that Methuen was to
GU w." ,oupd The account is furnished
DC ..(' outlook by. an unnamed CORE
=. Soondent. who writes; ... nd
,ristr of two months ago have Deen
IA anA"" ,,ooslre removed it may be as
u " a - give precis4 Of what passed
s Stu Lord Methuen and Colonei
p1g g," Cough after the first en-
D'OV ,n,nrt in which they both took part
s"7 also 70 refer to the subsequent dis
aHu " n,or+ between Lord Methuen and
n co0Del Arthur "5V''
",vben the horses Of the Ninth IAN
oorY were faded and the men compete
~ ,vhous cd after many hours fight
;no Lord Methuen ordered them 10
'.n9,sp an absolutely impregnable po-
,,,,r roJUnpl Cough sent respect
II rI ,ofrSol Lord Methuen then rode
& ,,,,, rbp mead of lis regiment ana Sc
,,rolr rbu!,pd him. Colonel Cough
,Yp pointed o,:t the impossibility OF
n .v.,.nrrog tie order. and Lord Methu-
4 -, hi, tDe regiment after uttering re-
d ,,~;> which made the ears OF every
Il man >t.n5
",&rly next morning, it is said. LORD
Nr,ueD seat note to Colonel Cough
u to this effect
q .or, DEAR Colouel--Peasc come over to my quar-
n ,.r. =. nu.,A aa you can. | wish you to spend
a tue Jay with the
colonel Cough was able TO perceive
e. the sun at noons!Iy. He answered:
"A ovv Dear G.n,ral-I quite see your meaning,
anil IS mu, decline 10 leave my regiment
81 pra,. .pt M know whether you wish to put me
81 ua,l.r arrest OF whether you would prefer that !
81 should return to i.nsland.
"lori Methurn replied thanking My
81 Dear Colonel for his pprsp!cacity ana
indicating that Colonel Cough had best
# return home.
Before Colonel Cough left-for he
u had to kick his heels about camp for
over q hours ere he could get away
81 Lord Methuen sent for him and with a
CLEAN of the old Paul Methuen, whom
so many loved, admired and liked,
81 said: 'Goodby, Cough. Remember
there's no stain on your military repu-
tation'
Colonel Cough returned to England,
nominaly On sick leave. He at once
sought the authorities at the war Of
flee, laid the facts before them and de-
e manded a court martial. This had 10
be refused because of the impossibility
NJ of recalling Lord Methuen for the pur'
1 pose of giving evidence. When Lord
Roberts was appointed commander In
q chief Of the forces in South Africa
Colonel Cough had a long interview
= with him before his departure and gave
n him a written statement Of his case
s. Lord Roberts promised to inquire into
d the matter on the first opportunity
and several Of the most experienced
English officers have expressed the be
lief that Colonel Cough will shortly
leave for the Cape and resume his post
at the head Of his regiment.
Il "Three days after his dispute with
Colonel Cough Lord Methuen gave an
order to the Scots guards which their
commanding officer, Colonel Arthur
Paget, declared 1t was impossible to
q execute. He absolutely refused need
essly to sacrifice his mon in a vain
mort to take an impregnable kopje.
however, he told Lord Methuen that
lie would himself walk up to the posi-
Ion and be shot. Lord Methuen de-
lined to allow this, but told him he
luSt go back to England. Colonel Ar
aur Paget declined point blank to
cave his men except upon the instruc-
q IONS OF Sir Redvers Butler, and he
1rote to the latter to the same effect.
T KedVers Butler Is reported to have
B rltten in reply that he hoped that by
'e Time his answer was received the
70 old brother officers would have
Hgotten their differences. There the
atter ended, and Colonel Arthur
age' Is still at the head OF his men.
II Is no ones object to endeavor to
PuSt 50 fine fellow as Lord Methu-
:, OUT merely to clear those whom his
LIONS I,Ons nave placed under q shadow.
A." superduous. therefore, to defend
~ highland brigade against the as
S,' ou alleged to have been made
pN tnem By Lord Methuen. No one
w." ever likely to take Lord Methuen
Ns'@ IN such a charge and Lord