The age-herald., 1902-03-11
OeIareys Second Decisive Vic- tory Over British Within
 a Fortnight
WORST DISASTER SINCE
 REBELLION OF COLONIES
English Papers Discuss the Event In Gloomy Style, But Express Great Sympathy With the Cap
 turel British General

1SOnQOn, MdTCn l.-lINldlC9t "hN 'A''D proved himself the most able of all the Boer generals, has. within fortnight gained a second decisive victory.
 His first victory was the capture Of Von Donops convoy, when the British casualties in killed, wounded and men made prisoners totalled 632 and he has now added to his laurels by the capture, for the first time throughout the cam paign, of prominent British general. and by inf1icting what is generally admitted to be one of the worst reverses the Brit ish have suffered throughout the whole war.
 IL Is supposed that Lord Methuen was marching with the intention to avenge the capture of the Won Donop convoy.
 The newspaper correspondents in South Africa have not yet been allowed to de- scribe the affair. The only additional de- tails available are contained in further dispatch from Lord Kitchener, which MT. Brodricl1 the secretary of war, read just as Parliament was adjourning. This dis patch shows that the first confusion was caused by native boys with lead horses, who galloped through the mule convoy, as the latter were endeavoring, by Lord Methuens directions. to close in on the convoy. The disorder among the mules communicated itself to the mounted troops, and the Boers, dressed in khaki and riding alongside the wagons frus. trated all the attempts of the British of- ficers to rally their forces. Great copfu- sion 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.
 Fought With Gallantry.
 Sections of the Fourth and Thirty eighth Batteries of Artillery fought with great gallantry and 300 men, composed of the Northumberland Fusliers ans the Lancashires. showed conspicuous courage in protecting the wagons and refusing to surrender until resistance was useless.
 The force under General Delarey was almost entirely dressed in British uni- forms This made it impossible for the infantry to distinguish between their own men and the enemy when the mount ed troops were driven in on them. The enemy numbered 15OO men. They had one 15-pounder and pom-pom
 Delarey, Celliers Kemp, Verraso. Trome and other commandants were pres ent. General Methuen was seen by an agent of the intelligence department. He was being well cared for in his own wag- on.
 In a private telegram just received here Lord Kitchener ados:
 q find Methuen has a fractured thigh but he is reported to be doing well.' In another message Lord Kitchener says the wounded will be brought in on the railroad today, and adds ''the rein forcements now arriving will retify the situation in this area without disturbing operations elsewhere
 If is feared that Lord Kitchener's in complete accounts have not told the worst. but among the newspapers and the public there is tendency to accept MT. Brodrick's advice to suspend Judgment bending the receipts of details
 Outburst of Sympathy.
 Distinguishing features of the editori- als in this mornings papers on this mat fer are first, the outburst of sympathy for General Methuen, which is quite ex- traordinary when 1t is remembered how he was assailed with hostile and angry criticism during the early stages of the war. and. second, the fierce denunciation of the Irish members of parliament who indulged in hilarity at the reading by Mir Broderick of tht dispatch announce ing Lord Methuen's capture. At the same time the papers admit the extreme gravity and even the humilia- tion of the prestige abroad involved In such a reverse inflicted by a body or Boers of equal numerical strength. II is recognized that. although the damage is more moral than material, 1t will cer- tainly have the effect of prolongng Boer resistance for many months. The Daily News says the event has not a parallel since the dark, disastrous | days when the North American colonies broke from British control. "When every allowance Is made, says the Standard, we cannot but find some- thing not creditable to our vigilance In these constant surprises
 The news of the disaster in South Af- rica was published too late to receive much comment abroad. but the greatest satisfaction is expressed in Boer circles in Holland and Germany. The Berliner Tage Blatt says:
 "It is the Boers' answer to England S high-harded rejection of the Dutch gov ernment's offer of mediation
 De Telegraaf of Amsterdam says:
 Tt will give the Boers fresh lease of life."
 
 STOFFT WINS FIRST.