Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-11

sequently released the major ana ms
companions.
Cen. Methuen was the British COM
mander who led the army sent to the
relief of the besieged town of kimber-
lev. in November 1899. He fought the
hattie of Belmont, where the Scots
guards. grenadier guards, Northum-
berlands and Northamptons We're or
dered to capture the first Boer posi-
ton at the point of the bayonet.
London March 10.-Lord Kitchens
DISPATCHES announcing the disaster e.
Gen. Methuen's forces were read IN botn
the House of Lords and House of Com
mons today, by Lord Roberts, the COM
mander-in-chief, and Mr.. Broderick, the
war secretary. respectively. They both
paid tributes to Gen. Methuen, the for
mer expressing his appreciation of Meth
lIeu's success throughout the war. declar
ing that his task of forcing the Boer po-
sftion at MagerSfonteln was an almost
impossible one.
The commander-in-chief was sure the
House was deeply grieved at what had
occurred. He would ask their lordships
to concur with him in his sympathy fol
the gallant officer in his present unfortu
nate position and defer adverse criticism
till that had definite information as to
who was directly responsible. From De
Iarey's conduct throughout the war, they
could all be assured that Gen. Methucn
could be taken to great care of.
Lord Spencer Liberal. the former pres
believed in Gen. Methuen's zealousnes5.
He did not want to offer a hint of cr.ti-
cism at the present moment.
The premier, Lord Salisbury. also eX-
pressed deep sympathy with Gen. Meth
uen under the present unfortunate CIR
cumstances. He said il was not the time
to discuss his action. He has always act
ed with the greatest gallantry ana the
premier therefore, thought they shoGlu
defer criticism or examination OF the yer
sad intelligence until the detalis arflEeh'
His lordship was convinced that 80 i,,i,
Methuen had done his best in connection
with this melancholy affair.
The feeling of depression IN the iopnl'S
of the House of Commons over the news
az the disaster i'm South Africa was Vel
marked. The service members % lil,
House expressed the opinion that it WI!
necessitate sending fresh troops to INC
front while the belief was widely eX-
pressed that the Beers Will not fail to
lake advantage of Gen. Methuen's promi-
nence to hold him as hostage Tor the
safety of Commandment kritzlnger ana
other Boer leaders now in the hands Of
the British.
London, March 11.-Delarey, who has
moved himself to be the most able of
all the Boer generals, has gained sec
ond decisive victory within a fortnight.
His first victory was the capture of
Won Donop's convoy. when the British
casualties in killed, wounded and pris-
oners totalled 632, and he has now ad-
ded to his laurels by the capture for
the first time throughout the campaign
of a prominent British general and by
inhicting what is generally admitted
to have been one of the worst reverses
the British have suffered throughout
the whole war.
1t is supposed that, Lord Methuen
was marching with intention to avenge
the capture of the Won Donop convoy.
The newspaper correspondents In
South Africa have not been allowed to
describe the affair. The only addition
al details available are contained in a
further dispatch from Lord Kitchener
which Mr.. Broderick the secretary for
war, read Just as Parliament was adj
journing.
This dispatch shows that the first
confusion was caused by native boys
with led horses whof galloped through
the mule convoy as the mule convoy
was endeavoring, by Lord Methuen
directions, to close on the OK convoy
The disorder among the mules com
municated itself to the mounted troops
and the Beers dressed in Khaki and
riding alongside the wagons, frustrated
all the attempts Of the British officers
to rally their forces. Great confusion
ensued among this portion of the
mounted troops, they and the mule
wagons galloping three miles beyond
the OK wagons where they were cut off
Sections of the 4th and 3Sth Batter
les of Artillery fought with great gal
lantry and 800 men composed OF the
Northumberland Fusliers and the
Lancashires, showed conspicuous cour-
age in protecting the wagons and re-
fusing to surrender until resistance
was useless. The force under Gen
Delarey was almost entirely dressed il
British uniforms. This made it i'm
possible for the infantry to distinguish
between their own men and the enemy
when the mounted troops were driver
in on them. The enemy numbered
1900 men. They had one 15-poundei
and pom-pom.
Delarey, Celliers. Kemp, Vermason
Tromp and other commandments were
present.
Gen. Methuen was seen by an agent Of
the intelligence department. He was be
ing well cared for in his own wagon.
In a private telegram just received here
Lord Kitchener adds:
Il find Methuen has a fractured thigh
but he is reported to be doing well.
In another message Lord kitchens,
says that the wounded will be brought
into the railroad today, and adds: II
hope the reinforcements now arriving
will rectify the situation in this area
without distcrbing operations elsewhere
II Is feared that Lord kitcheners in
complete accounts have not told the
worst. but among the newspapers and
the public there is a tendency to accent
Mr. Brodercks advice to suspend judg-
ment pending the receipt of details.
Distinguishing features of the editorials
In the morning papers on this matter arr
of the first thought, burst of sympathy
for Gen. Methuen. which is quite extra.
ordinary when il is remembered how NJ
was assailed with hostile and angry criti
cism during the early stages of the war
and second the fierce denunc.at.on OF tht
Irish members of Parliament. who in
duleed in hilarity when Mr.. Frederick II
the House of Commons read the dispatcn
Announcing Lord Methuens capture. In
this connection II is worthy OF noting that
neither John Redmond nor T. +. O Como.
were present whilst Il. NJ liealy dis
claimed any sympathy with the demon
stration.
Al the same time the papers fully adj
nit the extreme gravity and even tIt
humiliation to British Prestige abroad in
volyals n such a reverse inflicted by i
body or Beers OF equal numerical