Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1902-03-21
THE RECENT BOER VICTORY
BRITISH WERE SURROUNDED.
They Had to Fight Against Big Odds
-DeIarey's Men Routed the Rear
Guard and n Desperate Battle Fol
IOWeG-Rritish Surrendered After
Their Ammunition Was Exhausted

has received the following cOmmuni-
cation from Lord Kitchener at Pre-
toria concering the recent disaster
to British arms in South Africa. the
Beers under General Delarey admins
tering the defeat:
Lord Methuen has sent me staff
officer with dictated report, from
which it appears that certain partic-
ulars previously given are inaccurate
The rear zone of mounted troops was
rushed and overwhelmed at dawn.
There was gap of a mile between
the OK and the mule conveys. The
mounted supports to the rear Of the
screen, with General Methuen, imme-
diately reinforced by all the available
mounted troops and section of the
Thirty-eighth battery, maintained
themselves for an hour during which
the conveys were closing up without
disorder.
I'm the meantime 200 infantry were
being disposed by Lord Methuen to
resist the BOer attack. which was
outflanking the left of the rear guard.
The Beers pressed that attack hard
and the mounted troops, attempting
to fall back upon the infantry, got
completely out Of hand. Two guns
Of the Thirty-eighth battery were
thus left unprotected, but continued
in action until every man, with the
exception of Lieutenant Nesham, was
hit. Lieutenant Nesham was called
on to surrender, and upon refusing
to do SO was killed
Lord Methuen, with 200 of the
Northumberland fusileers and two
guns of the Fourth battery then
found himself isolated but held on
for three hours. During this period
the remaining infantry, namely, 100
of the Lancashires, with some 40
mounted men. mostly Cape police,
who had occupied the kraal near the
wagons. also continued to hold out
against the repeated attacks of the
Beers.
"By this time Lord Methuen was
wounded and the casualties were ex-
ceedingly heavy amongst his men,
The ammunition was mostly expended
and the surrender was made at about
half past in the morning.
"The party in the kraal still held
out and did not give in until two guns
and pompom were brought to bear
upon them at about 10 o'clock, max
ing their position untenable.
1T Is confirmed that most of the
Boers wore our khaki uniforms. Many
also wore our badges. Even at close
quarters they could not be distin-
guished from our men.
1T is clear the infantry fought well
and the artillery kept up the tradi-
lions Of their regiment. In addition
to the 40 members of the Cape police
mentioned, few imperial
yeomanry and Cape police continued
to hold their ground after the panic
had swept the bulk of the mounted
troops off the field"
Lord Kitchener has telegraphic dis
patches showing that the fighting
lasted much longer than was sup
posed, which confirms the belief that
the disaster to General Methuen's
force was due to leaving too large q
gap between the front convoy and the
rear. and to placing an insufficient
screen behind the rear guard. which
brought about panic among the
troops as result of the Boer on
slaught.
Much resentment is felt that the
Beers wore British uniforms and
badges but there is satisfaction with
the later accounts of the affair that
the British troops behaved better
than was supposed from the earlier
reports.
From the dispatch it is inferred that
General Methuen was shot while rid
ing to bring up the mounted troops.
and that his horse was killed. After
the surrender, General Delarey rode
up and treated General Methuen with
the greatest courtesy and considera.
ton. He ordered his return to Klerks.
dorp under the care of his own
nephew and medical officer.
According to the Klerksdorp cor.
respondent of the Daily Mail. the
burghers were SO angry at this that
a party Of them went out and brought
General Methuen back. General De-
larey, however. overruled the obiec-
tiOns Of the burghers.
The correspondent Of the Daily Nail
pays q tribute to General Delarey's
and describes him as a
brilliant fighter and a born leader.