Evening star., 1902-03-11
News Of Methuen's Disaster
Fell Like Thunderbolt.
BAD EFFECT On STOCKS
LATER DISPATCHES OF KITCHEN
Err GIVE MORE DETAILS.
Belief That the British Troops in the
Fight Were Raw
Recruits.


don early this morning referring to the, dis
aster to the British army in South Africa
adds:
The news came like thunderbolt to Lon
don. The extra editions of the evening
papers giving an account Of the disaster
were eagerly bought up and their readers
hurried through the streets with anxious
faces. and bitter remarks were passed on
the subject OF the governments declaration
that the war in South Africa was over. The
news came too late to affect business on
the stock exchange, but excited curb deal
ings quickly followed the closings in which
South Africans slumped heavily.
The news caused excitement in the mine
market. Throgmorten street was thronged
with South African operators eagerly in
quiring for details Of the British defeat.
and watching the effect Of the announce
but by o'clock the excitement had abated
and curb tone hardened.
The news was received in the house Of
reading of % hord Kiteheners neeh telegram by
the war secretary, Mr.. Brodrick. was lis
tened to in deep silence which was broken
by loud Irish cheers. Instantly there were
cries Of Shame! Shame" from the govern
ment benches. Then the Irish members
seemed to think better Of their outbreak,
and suddenly subsided. The subsequent
n.
received with cheers.
Methuen on Punitive Expedition.
1t Is supposed that Lord Methuen was
marching with intention to ayenge the cap
ture of the Won Donop convoy.
The newspaper correspondents In South
Africa have not yet been allowed to de-
scribe the affair. The only additional de-
tails available are contained in a further
dispatch from Lord Kitchener which Mr..
Brodrick, the secretary for war, read just
as parliament was adjourning.
This dispatch shows that the first con-
fusion was caused by the native boys,
with led horses, who galloped through the
mule convoy as the latter was endeavcr-
ing, by Lord Methuen's directions. to close
on the OK convoy. The disorder among
the mules communicated itself to the
mounted troops. and the Beers. dressed in
khaki and riding alongside the wagons,
frustrated all the attempts OF the British
officers to rally their forces. Great con-
fusion ensued among this portion Of the
mounted troops, they and the mule wagons
galloping three miles beyond the OK wag-
ons, where they were cut off,
Sections Of the 4th and 3Sth batteries Of
artillery fought with great gallantry and
three hundred men composed of the North
cumberland Fusilers and the Lancashires
showed conspicuous courage In protecting
the wagons and refusing to surrender un-
til resistance was useless.
The force under Gen. Delarey was al
most entirely dressed in British uniforms.
This made it impossible for the infantry
to distinguish between their own men and
the enemy when the mounted troops were
driven in on them. The enemy numbered
800 men. They had one tfteen-pounder
and pOmpOm.
Other Boer Leaders Present.
Delarey, Celliers, Kemp, verraso. Trcmp.
and other commandants were present.
General Methuen was seen by an agent
of the intelligence department. He was
being well cared for in his own wagon.
In a private telegram just received here
Lord Kitchener adds:
Il find Methuen has fractured thigh,
but he is reported to be doing we'll
In another message Lord Kitchener says
the wounded will be brought in to the rail-
road today, and adds: II hope the re-en-
forcements now arriving will rectify the
situation in this area without disturbing
operations elsewhere.
1t Is feared that Lord Kitcheners in
complete accounts have not told the
worst, but among the newspapers and the
public there is q tendency to accept Mr..
Brodrick's advice to suspend judgment
pending the receipt Of details.
Distinguishing features Of the editorials
in this mornings papers on this matter
are. first, the outburst of sympathy for
Gen. Methuen, which Is quite extraordinary
when it is remembered how he was assailed
with hostile and angry criticism during the
early stages Of the war. and second. the
fierce denunciation of the Irish members
of parliament, who induged in hilarity at
the reading by Mr.. Brodrick in the house
of commons Of the dispatch announcing
Lord Methuen's capture. In this connec-
tion it is worth noting that neither John
Redmond nor T. p. OConnor was present,
while T. NJ. Healy disclaimed any sym
pathy with the demonstration.
At the same time the papers fully admit
the extreme gravity, and even the humil-
l~&s Drt%l lr1 loo a1rn
in such reverse inflicted by a body OF
Beers of equal numerical strength. It Is
recognized that although the damage is
more moral than material. 1t viii certain
ly have the effect Of prolonging Boer re-
sistance for many months.
Comment Of the Newspapers.
The Daily News says the event has
scarcely a parallel since the dark, disas-
trous days when the North American colo
nies passed from British control.
The Standard says this defeat comes az
ter succession Of mishaps for which it
Is impossible to account by mere bad for
tune. "When every allowance is made"
says the Standard, 1--WE cannot but find
something not creditable to our vigilance
in these constant surprises"
The Morning Post points out that Gen.
Methuen did not surrender, but he was
wounded and included in the surrender by
the next unwounded ofticer In command"
It is commonly believed that a large
part Of the mounted men who fed must
have been raw yeomanry and that Gen.
Methuen's district had been used for
months past as a sort of training ground
for new men, while the seasoned troops
were withdrawn from his command for
operations against Botha and De Wet.
This incident, tho flight of 800 mounted
British from the Beers. is regarded as
the gravest part of the affair. The Daily
Chronicle says:
IAN uneasy feeling presents itself as to
whether the war Office may not be Grip
pling generals by. sending them raw and
unreliable levies."
The disaster in South Africa was pub
lished too late to receive comment abroad:
but the greatest satisfaction Is expressed
in Boer circles in Holland and Germany.
The Berliner Tageblatt says:
1T is the Beers answer to Ensiand's
gh-handed rejection OF the Dutch aoy-
ernment's offer Of mediation"
De Telegraph Of Aneterdam says: "It
will give the Beers q fresh lease Of life."
Methuen's Military Career.
Paul Sanford Methnen, third Baron Me-
thuen. became q lieutenant In the Scots
Guards in 1854, was on special service on
the Gold Coast in 1873. served In the
Ashanti war, 1874: was assistant military
secretary to the commander-in-chief in