Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-03-15
DELAREY AND METHUEN
WE'RE OLD ENEMIES

During the last two years of the war
I'm South Africa, says the New York
Herald, General Lord Methuen has only
been occasionally heard of, though at
the outset he was most prominent as
the commander of the Kimberley relief
column. When he was put at the head
of this force, which consisted chiefly of
regiments of the guards and the High
land brigade, he was known as an en-
ergetic, Woodworking officer, popular
both in and out of the army. Social
standing gave him considerable infiu-
ence at the war office. He has shown
himself TO be devoted to his profession,
which he has never relinquished for
other duties connected with his peer
age. His personal bravery is undoubt-
ed, and he wears n decoration bestowed
on him by the Emperor William for
saving a drowning man in Berlin when
he was military attache there. He had
been one of Lord WOlseley's officers in
the Ashanti war and had commanded
the Mounted rifles in the Bechuanaland
campaign in 1SS4-Sj. When it came
however, to meeting the Beers in ac-
ton, Methuen showed no signs that he
was aware of any other kind Of war
fare than the traditional pipeclay field
day of Aldershot, relying upon the Brit
ish soldiers bulldog courage with the
bayOnet to carry him through all OBJ
stacles. Belmont, Gras Pan and Mod
der River battles, all fought within n
week, brought him a certain amount
of success. though at a terrible loss. 1t
was at AIodder River that Methuen
first met Delarey as an opponent and
was himself wounded
General Delarey has shared with
Generals Louis Botha and De Wet the
Boer hOnors OF the war. In some re-
spects he has more than equaled the
exploits Of De Wet, though he has con-
fined himself to his own district, the
western Transvaal, which he knows
thoroughly, his farm being in that quar-
ter. The district near Lichtenberg, in
which lie has maintained himself, Is
one of the spheres still marked as
showing the greatest Boer activity. 1t
is computed that he can, at n few
hours notice, concentrate 1000 well
mounted men. He has been able to
draw supplies from the country across
the railway line running from Kimber-
=
his recent capture of Il convoy near
Klerksdorp, swoops down upon detach-
ed parties of British troops passing
from one to another of the towns held
by permanent garrisons.
After the fight at AIOdder river Lord
AIethuen was compelled TO call n halt,
but in ten days time pressed forward
again, OILY to meet in the disastrous
SUOmberg and Colenso in
other fields Of the campaign, his Wa
terlOO at MagersfOntein. Here the IA
nous Black Watch was mOwn down,
with Colonel Wauchope among them.
1t was currently reported that many Of
Methuen's chief officers endeavored TO
dissuade him from the course he was
following. Colonel WauchOpe on the
eve of the battle wrote that he must
obey or surrender his sword. The re-
mOnstrances of Colonel NOW GeneraD
Arthur Paget eliminated in that Off
Ger being obliged to return home to APP
peal against his commanding officers
headstrong instructions. The bloody re-
pulse of MagersfOntein seemed to have
stunned Lord Methuen.
His dispatches gave signs of n feeling
of complete helplessness, and there
were stories that he was mentally I'M
though these were discred-
tied and denied in England.
There was much comment, however, !
on his being retained in command by
Lord Roberts when the commander in !
chief arrived on the scene. He was
left in charge of the troops on the |
MISUNDERSTANDING line and along the /
Vaal river border, while Roberts and /
moved Obliquely to Bloem- !
fontein, and since then he has been 4
actively engaged in sweeping the coun-
try. but without being called upon TO |
undertake any very important move /
nent.
General Delarey is well known for /
his honesty and humanity. Lord Rob |
erts has borne testimony to his kindly 1
treatment of his prisoners. He was I
never one of President Kruger's par !
tisans, and in the volksraad, where he .
sat for eleven years, was known as the /
silent man. He opposed the ultimatum,
but, the war having been begun, has
continued the struggle for the indie
Dendence of his country with unhinch-
ng determination. He lost his eldest
son at the battle Of Modder River.