The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1902-03-14
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
British Troops Helpless In the
Hands Of the Willy Boers.

London, March li.-DclartN' WIN
has proved himself the most able OF
all the Boer generals, has. within
fortnight, gained n second decisive
victory.
His first victory was the capture or
Won Donop's convoy. when the Brit
ish casualties in killed, wounded and
men made prisoners totalled o32, ana
he has now added TO his laurels by
the capture, for the first time
throughout the campaign of prem
incnt British general and by inlet
ing what is generally admitted TO be
one of the worst rcvcrscs The Brit
ish have suffered throughout the
whole war.
1t is supposed that Lord Methuen
was marching with the intention to
avenge the capture of the Won Donop
convoy.
The newspaper correspondents IN
South Africa have not yet been al
lowed to describe the affair. The
ONLY additional details available are
contained in further dispatch from
Lord Kitchener. which Mr.. Brodrick.
the secretary for war, read just as
parliament was adiournng. This dis
patch shows that the first confusion
was caused by native boys with led
horses. who galloped through the
the mule convoy as the latter was en-
deavoring, by Lord Methucn's direc-
tions, to close on the OK convoy. The
disorder among the mules commune
Gated itself to the mounted troops,
and the Beers. dressed in khaki and
riding alongside the wagons, frus-
trated all the attempts of the Brit
ish officers To rally their forces.
Great confusion ensued among this
portion of the mounted troops, they
and the mule wagons galloping three
miles beyond the OK wagons, where
they were cut off.
Sections of the Fourth and Thirty
eighth batteries of artillery fought
with great galantry, and 500 men,
composed of the Northumberland
fusiliers and the Iancashires, showed
conspicuous courage in protecting
the wagons and refusing To surrender
until resistance was useless.
The force under Gen. Delarey was
almost entirely dressed in British
uniforms. This made il impossible
for the infantry to distinguish be-
tween their own men and the enemy
when the mounted troops were driv-
Ell on them. The enemy numbered
$500 men. They had one lj-pould der
and pompom.
Delarey. Celliers. Kemp, Nerrazo,
Tromp and other commandments were
present.
Gen. Mcthuen was seen by an agent
If the intelligence department. lie
was being well cared for in his own
wagon.
In private telegram just received
here Lord Kitchener adds:
Il find Methuen has fractured
ing well"
In another message Lord Kitchen
er says the wounded will be brought
in To the railroad to-day, and adds:
II hope the reinforcements now ar
irving will rectify the situation in
this area without disturbing opera
tions elsewhere
The feeling Of depression in the
lobbies of the house of commons
over the news of the disaster in
South Africa was very marked. The
service members Of the house cx-
pressed the opinion that il will ne
cessiate sending fresh troops TO the
front, while the belief was widely eN-
pressed that the Beers will not fail
TO take advantage of Gen Methucn'
prominence to hold him as hostage
for the safety Of Commandant Krit
Finger and other Boer leaders now IN
the hands of the British.