The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-11
Five Officers and Seventy-TwO Men
wounded and Two Hundred
others Reported Missing.
FOUR GUNS ALSO WERE LOST
ALONG WITH ALL BAGGAGE, THE
WAGON TRAIN AND SUPPLIES.
Gallant stand Made by Major Paris
and Forty zen. Who Finally
Were Forced to Surrender.

LONDON, March 1O.-It was announced
to-day that General Lord Methuen and
four guns had been captured by the Beers
commanded by General Delarey. The news
came like a thunderbolt to London. 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 dealings
quickly 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 British defeat and watch
ing the effect of the announcement. Shares
were offered freely at first. but by o'clock
the excitement 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 lis
tened 10 10 deep silence. which was broken
by loud Irish cheers. Instantly there were
cries OF "Shame." 'shame.' from the
government benches. Then the Irish MEM
bers seemed to think better of their out
break and suddenly subsided. The subse-
quent eulogistic references to General
Methuen were received with cheers.
In brief. Lord Kitchener announced that
when General Methuen was captured,
wounded. with four guns. three British Of
fcers and thirty-eight men were killed and
five officers and seventy-two men were
wounded. In addition one officer and 200
men were reported missing. All the mule
and OK wagons, with baggage and supplies.
fell into the enemy's hands. Lord Kitche-
ners dispatch follows:
Pretoria. March Sd greatly regret 10
have 10 send you bad news of the capture
of General Methuen. He was moving, with
go men, under Major Paris. and 300 infan-
try. four guns and a pompom from wyn-
burg to Lichtenburg. and was TO meet
Greenfen. with 1900 mounted men. at
Rovirtinesfontein to-day. Yesterday morn
ing early he was attacked by Delareys
force. between Twebosch and Palmietknill.
The Beers charged on three sides
in at Mariboga and Kraaipan. They were
pursued by the Beers four miles from the
scene of action They report that Methuen
and Paris. with the guns, baggage. etc,
were captured by the Beers. Methuen,
when last seen, was a prisoner. L have no
details of the casualties, and suggest de-
laying publication till L can send definite
news I think this sudden revival of activ-
ity on the part of Delsrey is to draw off
the troops pressing De Wet"
In a second dispatch. dated Sunday,
March 9. Lord Kitchener says:
Paris has come in at Kraaipan. with the
remainder of the men. He reports that the
column was moving in two parties One,
with the OK wagons. left Twebosch at a.
IN. The others. with the mule wagons
started an hour later. Just before dawn.
the Beers attacked Before reinforcements
could reach them the rear guard broke. In
the meantime large number of Beers gal
loped up both hanks. These, at first.
were checked by the flank parties. but the
stampede had begun and the mule wagons,
with a terrible mixture of mounted men.
rushed past the OK wagons. All efforts to
check them were unavailing. Major Paris
collected forty men and occupied a position
IL IN. Of
we're then halted. After a gallant but use
less defense the enemy rushed into the OK
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 casual
ties. as already cabled The killed include
IAeuts. G. r. venning and T. p w. Mesh
am. Of the Royal Artillery. who were both
killed while serving their guns with case
shot
Lord Kitchener announced that Major
Paris had surrendered and also teIegraphed
that he had reached Kraaipan with the re-
mai lder of the men. 1t may be Inferred
that the Beers subsequently released the
major and his companions
p Lord Kitchener's dispatches announcing
! the disaster 20 General Methuen's forces
were reac in both the House OF Lords and
the House OF Commons to-day by Lord
Roberts, the eomr1ander-in-chief. and Mr.
Brodrlck. the war secretary. respectively
They both paid tributes 10 General Methu-
ea. tae former expressing his appreciation
OF Methuen's success throughout the war,