The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1900-01-18
LAUGHS AT BRITISH "NEWS."
American Fighting With the Beers
Ridicules Statements Sent Out
About the War.

n1O1cuIeA Statements Sent Out
About the War.
LOWELL. Mass, Jan. 8.-James F. Dunn,
OF Lowell, who is fighting with the Beers
mas written an interesting letter from the
Transvaal to a friend in this city, under
date OF Nov. 90. He says that his letter
will go to orenzo Marques by the German
mail, and adds:
NO letter can go out of the Boer repub-
lies through British sources, as the letters
are opened, read and destroyed. When the
war broke out, most of the mine owners
spectators, managers and even the paid
Omcials OF the Rhodes clique, ran off to the
Cape just as quickly as trains could carry
them. The foreigners were German, French
Irish, Scotch and even English, who are
called Outlanders,' have joined the Boer
army"
Dunn says he has lived two years in the
Transvaal and ridicules the British claims
OF oppression. He says the only oppressor
was Rhodes and his employees. He says the
bOer army consists of about 100 900 effective
hghting men, and that they have provisions
and munitions enough to last them two
years There is one German brigade of
1000 men and an Irish brigade of $500.
commanded by Col. Blake, a West Point
graduate. He concludes thus
Inc accounts sent out by the British
come back to us, and the fellow that runs
their intelligence department and sends
out the news is a star-the noblest liar of
them all. You want to take no stock what
ever in him; we are all right The only
thing we are short of is doctors and medi-
cines.''
We had the most tremendous report
of the superhuman gallantry of the
Highlanders at Magersfontein, and now
comes the truth:
Dispatch Special Cable Service.
NEW YORK, Jan. "a special to the
World from London says: The most ap-
palling battle picture from a British point
of view yet painted by a correspondent in
the field, comes by mail from ]. B. Wigham,
with Lord Metheun's column. 1t shows the
collapse of the Highlander brigade at Mag
ersfontein. Describing the unexpected Boer
ire when the brigade was about deploying
from quarter column, Mr.. Vaughan says:
Some shouted retire, and the day was
lost. The Highlanders broke and ran
There is no other word for it. In few
minutes the brigade had been decimated
ana the issue was ended. They did not
run far. but when they rallied they were
shaken and confused for hours. They lay
fat between the British guns and the Boer
trenches. About noon the Boer rifle fire
greatly increased and soon the British were
in full retreat. Back they came in a wave
tnat no omcer could stop. 1t was, perhaps
the most unpleasant sight the British SOL
uier mas ever seen, certainly sight not to
be forgotten.
1T was difficult to say what would hap
pen next. until Maj. Ewart rode I'D with an
order from Lord Methuen which was almost
an entreaty that all he asked the brigade
was to hold the position until dark So de-
moralized was the brigade that Ewart had
almost nobody to help give the order. It
was great thing to ask of the Highlanders
that they should stand the fire for five
mortal hours. They rallied, however, the
pipers played somewhat doiefully and the
men got into their old position and under
cover The Boer guns. until then, almost
absolutely silent, came into play 1t needed
this last straw to break the nerve of the
rallying Highlanders. When the first shrap-
mel burst the entire brigade with one accord
came running back as far as the field hos
pital. hopeless beaten for the day. They
were not hit even to guard the baggage
They had lost 81 officers ard men killed or
wounded. Could human nature stand more?
The Highlanders are brave and war
like race. but there is no sense in per-
verting the truth of history. Id.