The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-12
Is METHUEN INsANEs
His Attack on Magersfontein De
scribed as that of a Madman

Y
commanding the column advancing to the
| relief OF Kimberley, is to be relieved of
| his command within two weeks. Later he
will be sent to Cape Town and eventually
| ordered home. When he reaches England
| he will be retired. This news is not pub
| lisheG in London, although it is known to
the editors of the leading papers. The facts
have been confirmed by an official of the
| War Office.
Lord Methuen's case is sad one. AL
ways man of rather frail physique-al-
| though clever boxer and an all-round
| sportsman-his constitution began to show
| signs of breaking down almost immediate
| ly after he took command of his division.
Three days after the battle OF Belmont
| General Wolseley suggested to the officials
| of the War Office that Methuen be re-
| lieved. His advice was not needed. The
wisdom of the aged, but keen commander
| in-chief of the British army is now re-
allied to the fullest extent by the war Of
| ficials who scoffed at his suggestion.
Friends of Lord Methuen insist he is only
in broken health; that the strain of many
campaigns has shattered his naturally
nervous system.
Those who know the circumstances and
| the situation on Modder river equally well,
and who are willing to state facts plainly,
| say that Methuen's mind is unbalanced.
| Constant proof of this has been coming to
| the notice of the officials of the War Office
| for two weeks past. The commander Of the
| Modder river forces has bombarded the
| government with some of the most re-
| markable messages ever received from
general in action. One. received few
| days ago, is a fair sample of the rest. It
| contained just three words: Darkness
| after dawn
| 1t is stated by those acquainted with the
| inner workings and plan of campaign
adopted by the War Office that Lord Kitch-
ener the hero of Omdurman, who, with
| Lord Roberts, has arrived at Cape Town.
will proceed Immediately to Modder river.
He may not take active field command of
| the troops, but will put the column in
working order again and then assign some
one else. probably General Colville. to take
Methuen's place.
Lord Methuen, in addition to his other &C.
| centricities. has quarreled with number
of officers under him. Three of them,
| Col. Arthur Paget. Colonel Cough and
| Captain Campbell, he ordered home. They
L ".
| is seeking a vindication by court-martial.
When Cough attempted to discuss the plan
| of the Magersfontein attack, Methuen or
dered him under arrest.
The London press is considerably sup
pressing the true state of affairs, so far as
| Methuen's aiment is concerned. but the
! papers do not hesitate to print the hard
| facts about the battle of Magersfontein.
which are just reaching London through
| the mails, all of which go to show, in the
| language of an officer, that the attack
| was that of a mailman"
The death of Lord Wauchope, commander
| of the Black Watch, was one of the many
| sad results of that engagement. Lord Wau-
| chope, 1t is now we'll known, realized the
| futility of the assault as planned by Me-
thuen. He argued strongly and expostu-
| lated bitterly against it. Methuen, how
ever. persisted. and the two quarreled over
the matter the night before the battle
| which proved so disastrous to the British
| forces.
| A member of the Black Watch, in let
| ter just received, gives the details of the
charge which les Wauchope to his death.
| He quotes the generals dying words
| words showing how fully he realized the
| situation, even in the hour of his DEATH
| The letter reads: at was one of the dark
| est nights We ever saw. The rain fell in
| torrents and we went on. and forward, fall
| ing, stumbling, and slipping over rocks and
ant hills. 1t was impossible to see where
| we were going. After we had been taken
| by surprise. our right half battalion
| charged. but the men were mown down
| like grain before reaper. General Wau-
| chope was shot at the beginning of the
| charge. When he saw the mistake that
| had 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 Modder
| river column tell of the decentralization
Of the troops since the commanders inca
pactation. A Highland Brigade man saws:
| There is not the slightest doubt that
Methuen has lost the confidence of every
man in the Highland Brigade. I am not
going too far in saying that they are afraid
| to trust thir lives with him."
Corporal Bevan. in describing the fateful
battle says: when the enemy opened fire
Lord Wauchope, our brave general. who
was killed. turned to us and said: Don't
blame me. lads We hear he demonstrated
| with Methuen before we left camp about
the plans of the battle. but Methuen only
told him to obey orders"
"Wauchope. no doubt, went out to find
DEATH" writes Sergeant Gray, when such
disastrous fire opened. He had previous
| ly shouted to the Argyll Highlanders:
Don't blame me for this. I received nv
, orders ana had to obey them With proper
handling we could have cleared the Beers
out In two hours. AS IL was, we were
| taken into butchers shop and left there"
Dozens OF other letters are printed, all of
| the same tone.
So far as known there is no insanity I'm
Methuens family back of the present gem
| Grafton. but 1t is generally understood all
three of his sisters have been backward
| from childhood.
Other dispatches. from London saw the
health of General Butler. who commands
| the Second division. now on the Tugela
| river, Is declared 10 be In precarious con-
dition, and there is talk of his recall and of
| putting General Warren In his place. Gen.
eral Gatacre. commander of the Third d.
vision. now near Strekstroom, Is said TO be
on the verge OF collapse, physically and