The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-03-11
One British Officer, Two Hun.
dred Men Missing.
METHUEN is WOUNDED IN THE THIGH
The Beers Attacked the Forces of / 200
British in Rear and Flank, Taking
All Their Baggage and Putting Them
to Rout. The News Strikes London
Like Thunderbolt,
CBy the Associated Press.)


London. March 1O.-It was announced
today that General Lord Methuen and
four guns had been captured by the
Beers commanded by General Delarey.
The news came like thund erbolt to
London. The extra editions of the even
ing papers giving an account of the dis
aster were eagerly bought up and their
readers hurried through the streets with
anxious faces and bitter remarks were
passed on the subject of the Govern
ment's declaration that he war in South
Africa was over. The news came too
late to effect business on the Stock Ex-
change but excited curb dealings quick
1y followed the closing in which South
Africans slumped heavily.
The news caused excitement in the
mine market Throgmorton street was
thronged with South African operators
eagerly inquiring for details of the Brit
ish defeat and watching the effect of the
announcement. Shares were offered free
ly at first, but by 6 o'clock the excite
ment had abated and the curb tone
hardened.
The news was received in the House of
Commons amid great excitement The
reading of Lord Kitchener's telegram by
the War Secretary, Mr.. Brodrick, was
listened to in deep silence, which was
broken by loud Irish cheers. Instantly
there were cries of SHANE! shame.'
from the Government bench. Then the
Srish members seemd to think better of
their outbreak and suddenly subsided.
The subsequent eulogistic references to
General Methuen were rceivd with
chers.
In brief, Lord Kitchener announced
that when General Methuen was cap
tured, wounded, with four guns, three
British officers and thirty-eight men were
killed and five officers and seventy-two
men wounded. In addition one officer
and 2G0 men were reported missing.
The text of Lord Kitchener's dispatch,
announcin gthe capture of General Me-
thuen, is as follows:
Pretoria. Saturday, March 81 great
ly regret to have to send you bad news
of Methuen. He was moving with nine
hundred mounted men. under Major
Paris, and three hundred infantry four
guns and pompon, from Wynburg to
Lichtenburg, and was to meet Grenfell,
with 1900 mounted men at Roviraines-
Fontein today. Yesterday morning early
he was attacked by Delarey's force be-
tween Two Bosch and Palmieteknill. The
Beers charged on three sides.
Five hundred and fifty men have come
in at Maribogs and Kraaipan They were
pursued by the Beers four miles from the
scene of the action. They report that
MeJhuen and Paris. with the guns. bag
gage. etc, were captured by the Beers
Ne -huen, when last seen, was a prison
er. / have no details Of the casualties.
ana suggest delaying publication till I
caI send definite news. 1 think this
sudden revival of activity on the part of
De.arey is TO draw off the troops press
ms DeWet."
In a second dispatch, dated Sunday.
Ma ch 3, Lord Kitchener says:
Paris has come in at Kraaipan, with
the remainder of the men. He reports
that the column was moving in two par
ties. One with the OK wagons left TIVE
Bos h at a. m. The other, with the
mule wagons. started an hour later. Just
before dawn the Beers attacked Before
ieii forcements could reach them. the
rear guard broke. In the meantime a
large number of Beers galloped up on
10th tanks. These at first. were
checked b ythe flank parties, but the
panic and stampede of the mules had
begun and all the mule wagons, with
terri de mixture of mounted men, rushed
past the OK wagons. All efforts to check
then were unavailing. Major Paris cal
lectt a forty men and occupied position
a mile in front of the OK wagons, which
were then halted. After a gallant but
usee IS defense the enemy rushed into
the wagons and Methuen was wounded
in the thigh. Paris being surrounded,
surrendered at 10 a. m. Methuen is still
In the Boer camp
Then follows the number of the casu-
altie5, as already cabled. The killed in
GUIDED Lieutenants G. r. Venning and T.
T. W. Nesham, of the Royal Artillery
who were both killed while serving their
guns with case shot