The Washington times., 1902-03-11
ENGLAND STIRRED TO
DEPTHS BY METHUEN'S
CRUSHING DEFEAT
(Continucd from First ragc.)

|
rived at Krasipan. He reports that the
column was moving in two columns, those
with the OK wagons moving an hour ahead
of those with the mules.
THE Beers attacked after dawn. The
| mules stampeded and all the mules and
wagons. with a terrible mixture of mount
ed men. rushed past the OK wagons. Eff
forts to check them were unavailing
Paris Intellectual Stand.
Paris collected 4eO men. but after a
gallant but useless defence, the enemy
rushed them.
"Methuen was wounded in the thigh
and Paris, being surrounded, surrendered
at 10 o'clock in the morning.
Three officers and thirty eight men
were killed and five officers and Y men
wounded. Two hundred men are missing
Apologized for Methuen
After reading the bad news Secretary
Brodrick added a word OF apology for
the defeated British general.
'Methuen.' he said, has been con-
ducting operations for two years in a
difficult country. His failure TO relieve
Kimberley did not reflect to his dis
credit
1t is an open secret that social inilu-
ence has kept Methuen in Africa, while
Butler and Gatacre have been disgraced
for smaller blunders.
The Lords Given the News.
In the House of Lords, Lord Raglan.
IF I-ou ra1I Iy
read the kilograms with the details of
the disaster to British arms.
Earl Roberts. commander chief of
the army, who had many important
successes while in command in South
Africa, made n speech eulogizing Methu-
ems success throughout the war.
Where the Fight Occurred.
The scene of the battle between Methu-
en- and Delarey is in the southwestern
part of the TransvaaI, in the vicinity of
Mafeking.
Methuen's starting point, Wynburg, is
in the Orange Free State, and his desti-
nation. Lichtenburg. is in the Transvaal,
not many miles from Mafeking. Methuen
had nearly completed his march of more
than 100 miles when the Beers stopped
him.
Methuen's Reputation.
At the outbreak of the South African
war General Methuen had the reputation
of being one of the best tacticians in the
British army. He was given command of
the division which started to the relief
of Kimberley and Mafeking He met with
fair success until he struck the Modder
River. where the famous Boer general,
Cronie. was waiting for him.
Crushed Once Before.
The battle OF Magersfontein followed
and resulted in virtual defeat for the
British, for their advance was checked
The British loss in this battle was one of
the heaviest of the war. and the famou6
General Wauchope was among the killed.
Earl Roberts relieved Methuen. and his
defeat OF Cronje and the latter's surren-
der made possible Roberts famous march
to Bloemfontein and Pretoria.
General Methuen returned to England,
but after rest he returned to the field
and has since commanded a small divi-
sion under Kitchener.
Delarey Great Fighter.
Commandant Delarey, next to De Wet,
is one OF the best of Boer fighters. He
is against surrender to the last. His
operations have extended over a wide
field and have been uniformly daring and
important.
Delarey issued proclamation last fall.
following close on the heels of one issued
by Lord Kitchener. iii which the latter
called en- all Beers to surrender by Sep
tember IS. Delarey's pronouncement was
brief. II called on the Beers TO disre-
gard Kitchener threats and fight TO the
nr,I