The Bemidji pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Beltrami County, Minn.) 1896-1917, 1900-07-12
BRITISH REFUSED.
Moat Serious Event OF the South
African War.

Gen. Metnuen, dated TUESDAY, Dec. L..
Our artillery shelled a very strong
position held by the enemy in a long,
high kopie, from O'Clock until dusk
Sunday. 1t rained har last night. The
Highland brigade attacked at day
break on Monday the south end of the
kopje, but failed. The Guards Were
ordered to protect the Highlanders'
right and rear. The cavalry and
mounted infantry, with a howitZer ar
tillery battery, attacked the enemy on
the left and the Guars on the right,
supported by field artillery and hoWit-
ger artillery. They shelled the position
from daybreak and at 1:15 / sent the
Gordons to support the Highland brig
ade. The troops held their own in
front of the enemy's intrenchments I'M
til dusk, the position extending, includ-
ing the kopje. for a distance Of six
miles toward Modder river. To-day
am holding my position and intrench-
ing myself. / had to face at least T.
900 men. Our loss was great"
British Forces Retire.
London. Dee. Is. Gen. Forester
Walker, telegraphing from Cape Town
at $3.50 p. m. yesterday, sends the fol
lowing dispatch from Lord Methuen,
dated Modder River, Tuesday, Dec. II,
7:30 p. M: #
"As the Beers occupied their trenches
strongly this morning retired in per-
feet order here, where am in secur-
ity.
II have gathered from some Of the
prisoners and from our men with the
ambulances who talked with the Beers
that the encmy's losses were terrible,
some companies being completely
wiped out. The Beers have been most
kind to my wounded.
HighIanders Moved Down.
MoGder River. Dec. 15.-The British
casualties include the marquis of VIM
chester, major of the Second battalion
Coldstream Guards, who was killed,
an dCol. Downham, Of the First bat
talon Gordon Highlanders, who was
mortally wounded.
When the Highlanders met the muir
derous point blank fire of the Beers
about two hundred were moved down.
The Black Watch regiment, on re-
forming, was able to muster only 16O
men. The Beers lost heavily in the
trenches and also in the wire entan-
clements when they came into the open
in an attempt to. make a flank attack
on the British.
The terrific British artillery fire pro-
voked no response except from the
Beers rifles until near 4 o'clock in the
afternoon, when the Gordon High
landers formed to renew the attack on
the intrenched kopje. They advanced
with the utmost gallantry to attack
the Beers, close to the place where lay
their dead and wounded comrades Of
the Highland brigade.
The enemy opened with heavy
shrapnel fire as the British advanced
and it was found physically impossible
to take the Boer trenches. The British
got within 800 yards but could get no
nearer. Col. DoWnham fell. The Beers
had free recourse to barbed wire en-
tanglements, which offered great OBJ
stacles even after the damage inflicted
by the British artillery fire.
This (Tuesday) morning both sides
occupied the positions they held be-
fore the battle. The greatest bravery
was displayed by both officers and
Most Serious Event of the War.
men. London, Dec. 14.-Each impor-
tant battle seems to bring a worse re-
verse for the British, and the papers
this morning sorrowfully admit that
Lord Methucn's check at Magersfon-
tein is the most serious event the war
has yet produced. The Morning Post
says:
"NVe have had our day Of humiliation
appropriated for us. Let us accept
humbly, soberly and steadily and be
the stronger for the lesson it has
taught us. This last reverse will make
us fresh butt Of Europe. There was
a more appropriate occasion to prove to
Europe what we are worth"
1t is reported that Lord Methuen's
force amounted to II 900 men, and per-
haps more No reliable estimate Of
his losses has yet been received. They
are believed to have been at least 400.
All the papers comment upon the
extreme gravity Of the situation and
upon the momentous decision Lord Me-
thuen has to take, whether to remain
at Modder River or retire on Grange
river. The Times says: r.
cat least 5000 additional troops
must be sent out. The entire available
reserve must be called out and the
militia and volunteers turned to ac-
count. Efforts must be made to in
crease the local colonial forces and
offers Of further troops from Canada
and other colonies must be sought and
accepted" Ill.,
A dispatch from Boer sources says
that Kimberley remained quiet during
the battle at Magersfontein.
Mobilize Another Division.
London. Dec. 15.-The press under
stands that the war office yesterday
decided, in consequence of Gen. Me-
thuen's reverses at Modder River, to
mobilize an Eighth division in reserve
and send the Seventh division to the
front. Several foreign stations will
probably be garrisoned by militia and
if necessary volunteers will be called
to take the place of militia at home.
1t is likely the militia reserve will be
sent out to join their respective bat
talions. 49,. .....
SheIling Lldysmitl.