The Portland daily press., 1900-01-12
Methuen's Recall Has Been Par
TALLY Confirmed.
Every Day Now Makes Beers Position
More Nearly Impregnabie.

row realized TO the fullest extent by the
war Office who sooffed at his suggestion.
Friends OF Lord Methuen insist he Is only
broken In health; that the strain of many
campaigns has shattered his naturally
nervous system. Those who kno " the
circumstances and the situation on Mod
der river equally well and who are will
ing to state facts plainly say that
Methuen's mind is unbalanced. Cen
stapt proof Of this has heen coming to
the notice OF the officials OF the war ofllce
for two weeks past. The commander Of
the Modder river forces has bomba.ded
the government With some OF tae most
remarkable messages ever received from
q general In action. One received fow
days ago IL fair sample of ths rest. 1t
contained just three words: "Darkness
after dawn."
lt Is stated BY thoss acquainted With
the inner workings and plar OF campaign
adopted by the war Office that Lard
Kitchner, the hero OF Omdurman, who
with Lord Roberts arrived at Caps Town
today, will proceed Immediately to Mod
der river. He may not take active field
comma Of the troops, but will put the
column In working order again and the u
assign someone elsa probably General
ColVille TO take Methuen's place.
Lord Methuen in addition to his ether
ecoentricIties has quarrelled with q mum
ber OF officers under him.
Three of them are Colonel Arthur
Jaget, Colonel Cough and Captain Cam p
bell, whom he ordered home. They Gr-
rived In London today.
Colonel Cough Is sseking n vindication
by court martial when Cough at
tempted to discuss the plan OF the Mag
ersfontsin attack, Methuen ordered him
under arrest. The London press is con-
81 ieratsly suppressing the true stats of
affairs so far as Aetnuen's ailment Is
concerned, but the papers do not hesitate
to print the hard facts about the battle OF
Magsrsfontein, which are reaching Lon
don through the malls, all of which 60 to
show, In the language of an officer that
''the attack was that Of mndman."
The death of Lord Wauohope, oom-
maudsr of the Black Watch, was one of
the many sad results Of that engagement
Lord Wsuchops, 1t Is now well known,
realized the futility of the assault as
planned by Methuen. He argued stropg =
ly and expostulated bitterly against 1t.
Methusn, however, persisted ana the two
quarreled over the matter.
Corporal Bevan in describing the fate
ful battle, says: "When the enemy
opened fire Lord Wauobope, our travs
general who was killed, t3rned to us and
said: Don't blame me lads We hear
he demonstrated with Methuen, before we
left camp about the plans for the battle,
but Methueu only told him to obey Or
ders. Wauohope no doubt went out to
find death. He had previously shouted to
the Argyll Highlanders: Don't blame
me for this. received my orders and had
to obey them.' With proper handling wo
could have cleared the Bosrs out In two
hours. As 1t was, We were taken into the
butcher shop and left there
Dozens OF other letters are printed, all
of ths same tone.
So far as known there is no insanity In
Methuen's family back of the present
generation. but 1t is generally understood
all three OF his sisters have bssn back
ward from childhood.