New-York tribune., 1900-01-12
CONFIDENCE IN THE MODDER RIVER COM
MANDER SEEMS TO BE BADLY SHAKEN.

CONFIDENCE IN THE MODDER RIVER COM
MANDER SEEMS TO BE BADLY SHAKEN.
Chicago. Jan IA special cable dispatch TO
The Chicago Tribune" from London says:
Lieutenant General Lord Methuen, command
ing the column advancing 10 rhe relief of kim
beTley Is 10 be relieved Of his command within
TWO weeks Later he will be sent 10 Cape
Town and eventually ordered home When he
reaches England ne viii be retired. These facts
Office
Lord MethUens case is a sad one. Always a
man cf rather frail physique. although clever
boxer and ali all around sportsman his constf-
tuition began 10 show signs Of breaking down
almost Immediately after he took command of
his division. Three days after the battle of Bel
mont General WOlseley suggested 10 the War
Office that Methuen be relieved His ADVICE
was not needed The wisdom of the aged but
keen Commander in Chief Of the British army
is now realized 10 the fullest extent by the War
Office. VINO scoffed AT his suggestion. Friends
OF LORD Methuen insist ne is only in broken
health; the strain Of many campaigns has shat
tered his naturally nervous system.
Those who know TIE circumstances and the
situation on the AIodder River equally well and
who are willing 70 state facts plainly say that
Methuens mind is unbalanced. Constant proof
Of this has been coming 10 the notice Of the Of
ficials Of tie War Office for two weeks past
The commander of the Modder River forces has
bombarded the Government with some OF the
most remarka bic messages ever received from A
general in action one, received few days ago.
is a fair sample Of the rest II contained JUST
three words Darkness after dawn"
II IL stated 10y those acquainted with the inner
workings ara plan or campaign adopted by
War Office that Lord Kitchener. the hero OF ON
durnan who, with Lord Roberts arrived al
Cape Town to-day, viii proceed Immediately 20
Modder River. he may not take active field
command OF the troops, but viii put the column
in working order again. and then assign some
one else, probably General Colville, 10 take
Methuen's place
Lord Methuen. in addition TO his other eccen-
triciCies has quarreled with number Of Of
fcers under him Three Of them. Colonel Arthur
Paget Colonel Cough and Captain Campbell he
ordered home They arrived in London to-day.
Colonel Cough Is seeking q vindication bv court
martial When Cough attempted 10 discuss the
plan OF the Magersfontein attack Methuen or
dered him under arrest The London press is
CONSIDERABLY suppressing the true state Of affairs
50 far as Methuen's ailTnent is concerned but
the papers do not hesitate 10 print the hard
facts about the battle Of MagersfOnreiu which
are Just reaching London through the mails all
OF which goes TO show. in the language Of an Of
ficer, that the attack was that Of a maduan.''
The death Of General Wauchope commander
OF the Black Watch was one Of the many sad
results Of that engagement General Wauchope
IL is now well known, realized the futity Of the
assault as planned by Methuen- He argued
strongly and expostUlated bitterly against it,
MeIhuen, however persisted, and the two guar
relied over the matter the night before the
battle. which proved so disastrous TO the British
forces. A member OF the Black Watch in
letter Just received gives the details OF the
charge which Wauchope Ieo 70 MS death. he
quotes the Generals dying words-words show