The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-05-24
BOER'S
| GREAT
SKILL
Delarey Changed Face
of Affairs
His Magnanimity Toward
Lord Methuen
Review of the Struggle in
South Africa.

NoANuNo tidJ nave uoHt Hlutn W DIlnk
to a close the long struggle of the
Beers for their freedom and on the
part of the British for subjugation all
South Africa to the interests of the
British empire.
The first battle took place 1876 miles
southwest of Pretoria, and the Boer
attack was planned with great skill
and thorough preparation. The Eng
lish forces under General Anderson,
numbered $50, and the six detachments
of Beers are reported at 1900 TO 200,
the Beers opening a heavy fire. but
driven on at first, returned to the at.
atck.
This attack also was driven off. A
little later the rear guard was attacked
by a large number of Beers, while an
other force, charging the convoy at it's
center, stampeded the hundreds of
mules in all directions. The rush Of
the mules threw the British escort In.
to confusion, during which the Beers
charged again and again, riding down
the separated British soldiers through
two,hours' fight. The Boer casual
ties were 30 killed and 2S wounded
The British loss in killed and wounded
is not definitely reported, but their
total loss including prisoners latter.
ward releasedl is officially stated at
G32. Five British guns were reported
captured
Soon afterward London was startled
more than by any South African It'd
ings for a twelve.month by the an.
nouncement in the House of Commons
March 10th, of a second decisive vic
tory by General Delarey.
General Lord Methuen, with 900
mounted troops. 800 infantry, four
guns, and a pom-pom. was marching
to effect a junction with General Gren-
fell and his command Of 1900 mounted
men near the western boundary of the
Transvaal Methuen's column was
moving in two parties, one with the OK
wagons starting from Twe-Bosch.
March 7th, at a. m, the other, with
the mule wagons. starting an hour lat.
or.
Just before dawn the rear guard was
attacked by the Beers from behind and
on both ianks. For a time the flank
attacks were resisted. but the rear
guard had given way before reinforce
ments could reach them. all the mule
wagons unmanageably mingled with
mounted yeOmanry and with native
boys wildly galloping with led horses,
rushed among and through the lines
OF OK wagons and their guards. throw.
ing the British force into inextricable
confusion. When the mounted yeo-
manry. mostly raw South African adj
ditions 10 the British force, were thus
driven In with Delareys men gallop-
ing alongside the wagons. the British
regulars could not distinguish their
own men from the enemy, as nearly
all the Beers were In British kahk
uniforms. Delarey's force Is stated at
1900.
Lord Methuen and Major Paris, with
all the British guns and baggage, were
captured Lord Methuon was seriously
wounded in lne thigh, but at last nc
counts was recovering. The British
casualties were Al killed. wounded n.
The 200 prisoners captured by the
Beers We're, as usual, speedily re.
leased
General Delarey has added 10 his
fame for singularly brilliant and dash
ing exploits a renOwn for magnRnimi
". courtesy and prompt diplomacy. Ia
his kindly care and prompt release Of
General Methuen. The release Is said
10 have been bitterly opposed by many
burghers The full significance Of this
act may not yet be evident To the
British Il was great surprise. The
anti English utterances Of pro Beers
on the Continent and in America, loud.
ly echoed by a considerable party In
the British isles, with almost fierce
demands that the government with
draw from a war denounced as hope
less as II was disgraceful-the 30
gether. with the BOer defiance. which |
had grown more sullen as their
strength had waned-nad prepared
England 10 expect from a victor Boer
anything rather than magpanlmous
kindness.
Meanwhile there was fun evidence
Ia London o, a very English trait. |
Delarey's success was not minimized
II was even admired while bewailed |
iie had shown a plan we'll laid and
executed with brilliant dash The
fright Of several hundred mules and
their drivers seems az first 90 have
been urged but little as excuslng Brit
ish defeat and not Al all as derogat |
ing from Delarey's victory Accord. |
ingly the tidlngs of bis release Of his |
eminent captive we're received with |
as well as with welcome.
What tho Irish Ileaguers thought OF
the release IL not fully known; but the
deep silence which Ia the House of
Commons attended the first news OF
the capture vas broken By loud cheers
from the Irish members.
ny he operation Of some subtle Law
Methuen's misfortune with some aid