The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-17
TOLD BY MFTHUEN
STORY OF THE RECENT BRITISH DIS
AsTER IN SOUTH AFRICA.
Panic Was Started by the Mounted
Troops, who Fled when Rushed
Desperately by the Beers.
HERO KILLED AT HIS POST
LIEUTENANT NEsHAM SLAIN FOR RE-
FUsING TO SURRENDER.
Methuen's Horse Shot from Under Him
and the General Wounded While
Rallying His Men.
BOERS WORE KHAKI UNIFORMS
AND ALSO DECEIVED THE BRITISH
BY WEARING BADGES.
General DeIarey Praised by His Enc
mics for the Courtesy shown
the British Commander.
Methuen's Horse Shot from Under Him
and the General Wounded While
Rallying His Men.
Beers WORE KHAKI UNIFORMS
AND ALSO DECEIVED THE BRITISH
BY WEARING BADGES.
General DeIarey Praised by His Enc
mics for the Courtesy shown
the British Commander.

LONDON, March 16-The War Office has
received the following communication from
Lord Kitchener at Pretoria:
Lord Methuen has sent me staff officer
with a dictated dispatch, from which it
appears that certain particulars previously
given are inaccurate. The rear screen of
mounted troops was rushed and over
whelmed at dawn. There was a gap of a
mile between the OK and the mule conveys.
The mounted supports to the rear of the
screen, with General Methuen, Immediately
reinforced by all the available mounted
troops and a section OF the Thirty-eighth
Battery. maintained themselves for an
hour, during which the conveys were clos
ing up without disorder
"In the meanwhile 200 infantry were be-
ing disposed by Lord Methuen to resist the
Boer attack, which was out1anking the
left of the rear guard. The Beers pressed
that attack hard, and the mounted troops,
attempting to fall back on the infantry.
got completely out of hand, carrying away
with them in the rout the bulk of the
infantry. Two guns of the Thirty eighth
Battery were left unprotected, but con-
tinued in action until every man, with
the exception of Lieutenant Nesham, was
hit. Lieutenant Nesham was called on to
surrender and on refusing to do so was
killed
Lord Methuen. with 200 of the Northum-
berland Fusiliers and two guns of the
Fourth Battery, then found himself iso-
lated, but held on for three hours. During
this period the remaining infantry-namely,
100 of the Lancashires, with some forty
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 exceedingly heavy
among his men. Their ammunition was
mostly expended, and the surrender was
made at about 9:9O o'clock in the morning.
THE party in the kraal still held out and
did not give in until two guns and POM
pom were brought to bear upon them at
about 10 O'Clock, making their position un-
tenable.
1T is confirmed that most of the Beers
wore our khaki uniforms. Many also wore
our badges. Even at close quarters they
could not be distinguished from our own
men.
THE infantry fought we'll and the artil-
lerx kept up the traditions of their regi-
ment. In addition to the forty members
of the Cape police already mentioned, a
few parties of imperial yeomanry and Cape
police continued to hold their ground after
the panic had swept the bulk of the
mounted troops off the field