Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-11

house was deeply grieved at what had oc-
CURED. He would ask their lordships to
concur with him in his sympathy for the
gallant ofncer In his present unfortunate
position and defer adverse criticism till
they had definite information as to who was
directly responsible. From Delarey's con-
duct throughout the war they could all be
assured that General Methuen would De
taken great care Of.
Lord spencer Qiberal), the former presi-
dent of the council, said he thoroughly be-
Iieyed In General Methuen's zeal. He did
not want TO offer a hint Of criticism at the
present time. The premier, Lord Salisbury,
also expressed deep sympathy with Gen.
eral Methuen under the present unfortu-
nate circumstances. He said 1t was not the
time,to discuss his action. He had always
acted with the greatest gallantry and the
premier therefore thought they should defer
criticism or examination Of the very sad
intelligence until the details arrived. His
lordship was convinced General Methuen
had done his best in connection with the
affair.
The feeling OF depression in the Hobbies OF
the House Of Commons over the news OF
the disaster in South Africa was very
marked. The service members OF the house
eXDfe8SeQ the opinion tndl ~ WOulu hOSNooA
tate sending fresh troops to the front while
the belief was widely expressed that the
Beers will not fail to take advantage Of
General Methuen's prominence to hold him
as a hostage for the safety Of Commandant
KritEinger and other Boer leaders now in
the hands OF the British.
Paul Sanford Methuen, Third Baron
Methuen, became lieutenant In the Scots
Guards In 1864. was on special service on
the Gold coast In 1873, served In the
Ashanti war In 1874. was assistant mill
tary secretary to the commander-in-chief
In Ireland In 1877, military attache at Ber-
lin in iIS77.S1,r assistant adjutant general
and assistant quartermaster general Tor
the Home district" In fSs1-s4, served in the
Egyptian war. taking part in the hghtins
at Kassassin and Tel-El-Kebir; commanded
Methuen's Horse and a field force In
Bechuanaland in 1ss4-1sS5, was promoted
major general in 1890, was in command OF
the Home district in 1ss2-97 and has COM
manded the First division OF the First army
corps as lieutenant general since 1893. HI
has been frequently decorated and men
toned in dispatches for bravery.
Commands KimberIey's Relief.
General Methuen commanded the column
sent to relieve Kimberley In the latter par
OF 1899 and while on that service tough
the Beers at Belmont, Gras Pan, the Mod
der river and Magersfonteln. At the bat
tie Of Gras Pan the Beers were under com
mand OF General Delarey, who Is Genera
Methuen's eaptor now. After these en-
gagements General Lord Roberts was sen
to South Africa, where he took persona
command of the British advance on Kim
berley and relieved Kimberley Februar,
1s. 1900.
After General Methuen's defeat a
Magersfontsin II was reported that he ha'
shown signs Of breaking down almost i'm
mediately after he took command OF hi
division, and General Wolsely, who wa
then commander-in-eh chief OF the BIRTHS
forces, is said to have suggested to tn
War once. after the battle OF Belmont
that Methuen should be relieved, but hi
advice was not needed.
General Methuen sent a number OF re
markable messages TO the War once. on
Of which contained Just three word
Darkness after dawn" His handling {