The sun., 1902-03-11
BOERS CAPTURE GEN. METHUEN
BRITAIN SHOCKED ny ANOTHER
SEVERE DEFEAT.
Two Omccrs aud Thirty-elght Men Killed
and Many Prisoners Taken by Gen.
Deiarey- Beers Dressed in British
Uniforms - Methuen's Thigh Shattered
His Previous Disaster - British HUI
inflated, but Determined 10 Go On.

Dut w Wv W.T.
Special cable Despatch 10 THE SUN.
LONDON, March iO.-A feeling akin to
that created during the memorable week
OF disasters early in the South African
war has been aroused by the news Of the cap
ture of Gen. Lord Methuen and the rout
of his column There can be traced in
many quarters the same sense of indigna-
ton and humiliation that was so prominent
then, as well as setting OF teeth and an
increased determination not to be deferred
in the main aim.
Earl Roberts's appeal for a suspension
OF judgment on Gen. Methuen Is generally
accepted without hesitation; indeed. sym
pathy for Gen. Methuen personally seems
to out weigh In some quarters considera-
ton of the military effects of his reverse.
His popularity is unquestionable, and eX-
cuses are readily made in his case which
have not been extended TO some others
who are, perhaps, more deserving. Gratih-
cation il accordingly expressed that he
has fallen into the hands of Gen. Delarey,
who is regarded as being a humane man
and who, it is believed, is certain to treat
him well.
1t is hardly to be expected that the
British at home will be AT all impressed
with the idea that any military credit is
due to Gen. Delarey and the success OF his
tactics almost escapes notice in the chorus
of stern disgust over the disaster that has
befallen the British arms.
KITcHENEB's MESSAGE oF REoREr.
The War Office received the first news OF
Lord Methuen's defeat In the following
despatch from Lord Kitchener on Saturday:
Il greatly regret to have to send you
bad news about Lord Methuen. He WAS
moving with 900 mounted troops under
Major Paris and 800 infantry and four guns
and one pompom from Wynburg to IAcht-
enburg. He was to meet Col. Grenfell
with 800 mounted troops at Pooirantjes-
fontein on March 8.
Yesterday morning early he was attacked
by Delarey's commando between Twee-
bosch and Palmietkuil. The Beers charged
from three sides.
Five hundred and fifty British mounted
men have come into the line at Maribogo
and Kraaipan. They were pursued for four
miles from the scene Of the action and re-
port that Methuens guns and baggage
were captured and that Methuen when last
seen was a prisoner.
Il have no details Of tho casualties, but
will keep you informed. would suggest
your delaying publication till / can send
you defnite. news / had already arranged
TO send troops to this district and think
that this sudden revival OF activity on the
part OF Delarey Is In order to draw Of the
force pursuing DeWet'
BoER ATTACK AT pArLloHr.
second despatch from Kitchener.
dated Sunday. says: Major Paris, the
officer commanding Methuen's mounted
troops. has come into Kraaipan with
the remainder Of his men. He reports
that the column was moving with a convoy
OF OF wagons, which left Tweebosch at
8 o'clock In the morning. the mule wagons
starting an hour later. Just after dawn
the Beers attacked. Before reinforcements
could reach the British the rear guard broke.
Meantime a large number Of Beers were
galoping up on both fanks, These were
at first checked by flank parties, but a
panic and stampede OF the mules began.
All the mule wagons. mixed up with the
mounted men. rushed past the OK wagons.
The efforts TO check them were unavailing.
major Paris collected some forty men
and occupied a position a mile in front OF
the OK wagons, which were then halted.
After gallant but useless defence the
enemy rushed the OK wagons.
.Methuen was wounded in the thigh
Paris was surrounded and surrendered at
10 A. n. Methuen is still in the Boer camp
Later dispatches announced that the
four guns had been captured. that two
officers and thirty-eight men had been
killed and that eighteen officers anda large
number of men were missing. The officers
killed were Lieuts. G. r, Venning and
T. p. W. Nesham OF the Royal Artillery.
who fell while serving their guns.
As Kitchener announces that Major
Paris surrendered and then says he has
reached Kraaipan, it is probable that the
Beers released him and some of his men.
RoERs DRESSED IN BRITISH UNIFORMS.
In a despatch dated Pretoria to-day
Gen Kitchener sends the following sum-
mary OF the latest reports Of the disaster:
Gen Methuen's OK convoy, escorted
by half his force, started an hour in ad-
vance Of the mule convoy. The enemy
made n sudden Hanking and enveloping
attack from the rear. The first disorder
was occasioned by the native boys with
the led horses galloping through the mule
convoy as the latter was endeavoring to
comply with Gen Methuen's directions
TO close on the OK convoy. This disorder
in the mule convoy communicated itself
TO the mounted troops and Beers dressed
in khaki riding along the wagons frustrated
all attempts Of the officers to rally their
men.
Great confusion ensued among this
portion OF the mounted troops, n d they
and the mule wagons, galloping three miles
beyond the OF wagons, were cut in sectors.
The Fourth and Thirty-eighth batteries
fought with great gallantry, Three hun
dred Of the Northumberland FusIlers and
Loyal North Lancashire Regiment showed
conspicuous courage in protecting the
wagons, refusing 10 surrender until re-
sistance was useless
-Delareys force were almost all dressed
In our uniform, which made Il imp ssibie
for the infantry to distinguish between our
men and the enemy when the mounted
troops were driven in on them.
THE enemy numbered i,5oo men, with
iS-pounder and n pOmpom Delarey