The evening times., 1900-01-11

LONDON. Jan. 11.-Gen. Lord Methuen,
In command Of the First Division Of tho
British army, now stationed at Moo Ter
River Il is claimed has been recalled.
II is said here that he is mentally un-
sound aHd JAat there is insanity in his
family. His famous despatch calling the
battle Of Modder River the bloOdiest OF
the century is recalled now as showing his
mental unsoundness.
General Buffers health is declared 70
be IN a precarious condition. and there is
talk of his recall and Of putting General
Warren in his place.
General Gatacre is on the verge Of col
lapse physically and mentally.
Altogether. the condition Of the British
generals at the front is such as to cause
the greatest apprehension in England.
General Wauchopes last words to his men
at the battle Of Magarsfontein after the
disaster that followed Methuen's orders
Boys don't blame me for this l had
orders and was carrying them Out'-have
created painful impression and had much
to do in causing Methuen's recall
Colonel Cough. who commanded the cav
airy detachment in that battle. IS in Lon
don pressing for a court-martiaI upon
Lord Methuen's report that he declined
TO carry Oat orders given him by the gen
eral in charge
When Cough attempted to discuss the
plan OF the Magarsfontein attack Methueu
ordered him under arrest. The London
press is considerably suppressing the true
state of affairs, so far as Methuen's all
ment is concerned. but the papers do not
hesitate to print the hard facts about the
battle Of Magarsfontein. which are Just
reaching London through the mails. all of
which 90 to show. in the language Of an
officer, that the attack was that OF a
mailman"
General Yule, who conducted the retreat
from Dundee after General Symons' death.
Is also in London but i'm the strictost So
clusion. He is suffering. IL is said. from
physical and mental collapse caused by his
attempt to follow orders ana save trooDs
which we're in deadly peril from trying
to holi the advanced posts in Natal with
out sufficient strength Of cavalry and ar
unery
The London newspapers, without max
ing any direct charge. make veiled an
nOuneements that General Butler is not
in good health.
Methuen, in addition to his other ecceu-
tricities, has quarrelcd with a number of
officers under him. Three Of them-CoI
Arthur Paget, Colonel Cough, and Captain
Campbell-he ordered home. They arrived
in London today.
The death Of Major General Waucbone
commander OF the Black Watch. was one
OF the many sad results Of the Magarsfon-
TEN engagement. WauchOpe. IL is now well
known, res lized the futility OF the assault
as planned by Methuen.
He argued strongly and expostulafed hit
teTly agains, H. Methuen. however. per-
sisted. and the two quarreled over the mat
ter the night before the battle which proved
so disastrous TO the British forces.
member OF the Black Watch. in a letter
Just received. gives The details of The
charge which led 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:
II was one Of the darkest nights We ever
saw. The rain fell in torrents. and we
went on and forward falling stumbling
and slipping over rocks and ant biUs II
was impossible TO see where we were go
ing After we had been taken BY surprise
our right half battalion charged bur the
men we're moved down like grain before
a reaper.
General Wauchope was shot at the he
ginning OF he charge. When he saw the
mistake that had happened he shouted.
Rally round me. Black Watch It's rot
my iault Then he FELL literally riddled
with bullets
Letters from men serving in the NIodder
River column tell OF the decentralization of
the troops since the commanders inca
pacitation- 4 Highland Brigade man savs-
ihere is not the slightest doubt that
Metnuen has lost the confidence of a,-erv
map IN the Highland Brigade l am moi
going too FAR In saying that tbev are
afraid 10 trust their lives with him
Corporal Beven, in describing the fate-
ful battle, says; When the enemy opened
fire General Wauchope. orr brave com
mander. who was killed turned 10 rs and
said: Don't blame me. lads We hear
he demonstrated with Nethuen before We
left camp about the plans for the battle.
but Methuen only told him to obey or
ders."
'WauchOpe, no douEt. went out 10 find
death writes Sergeant Grey. when such
a disastrous fire opened. He had previ-
ously shouted to the Argyll HighIanders.
Don't blame me for his I received my
orders and had to obey them. With prOn-
er handling We could have cleared the
BOcrs out IN two hours As il was We
were taken into butcher shop and left
there"
Dozens o. other letters are printed. all
or the same tone.
mot CoNTRABANU OF WAR.