The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-11

British Soldiers Could Not Distinguish
Between Friend and Enemy.

LONDON, March u.-Delarey, who has
proved himself the most able Of all the
Boer generals, has within a fortnight
gained a second decisive victory. His first
victory was the capture of Won Donop's
convoy, when the British casualties in
killed. wounded and men made prisoners
totaled 632, and he has now added to his
laurels by the capture. for the first time
throughout the campaign, of a prominent
British general and by inficting what is
generally admitted to be one OF the worst
reverses the British have suffered through
out the whole war. 1t 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 des-
cribe the affair. The only additional de-
tails available are contained in a further
dispatch from Lord Kitchener, which Mr..
Brodrick, the secretary of war, read just
as Parliament was adjourning. This dis
patch shows that the first confusion was
caused by native boys with led horses who
galloped through the mule convoy as the
latter was endeavoring, by Lord Methuen's
directions, 70 close on the convoy. The dis
order among the mules communicated itself
W III iuOuulcu lEOODS, anu the bOeFS,
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
wagon galioping three miles beyond the
OK wagons, where they were cut off. Sec
tons Of the Fourth and the Thirty-eighth
batteries of artillery fought with great
gallantry and 800 men, composed of the
Northumberland Fusiliers and the Lanca-
shires showed conspicuous courage in pro-
4 fhn Onnz and nfnr-f 70 EaVr
render until resistance was useless.
The force under General Delarey was al
most entirely dressed in British uniforms.
This made it impossible for the infantry to
distinguish between their own men and
! the enemy when the mounted troops were
driven in on them. The enemy numbered
| 1.50 men. They had one hfteen-pounder and
a pompom. Delarey, Celliers, Kemp, Yer
raso, Tromp and other commandments were
present. General Methuen was seen by an
agent of the Intelenge Department. He
was being 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 we'll"
In another message Lord Kitchener says
the wounded were brought in TO the rail-
road to-day and adds: II hope the rein
forcementS now arriving will rectify the
situation in this area without disturbing
operations elsewhere"
1t is feared that Lord Kitchener's incom-
plete accounts have not told the worst, but
among the newspapers and the public there
is a tendency to accept Mr.. Brodrick's adj
vice 10 suspend judgment pending the re-
ceipt of details.
Distinguished features of the editorials in
this morning papers on this matter are,
first, the outburst of sympathy for General
Methuen, which is quite extraordinary
when it 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 INDUCED in hilarity at
the reading by Mr.. Brodrick of the dis
patch announcing Lord Methuen's capture.
In this connection ii is worth noting that
neither John Redmond nor T. Z. O'Connor
was present. while T. NJ. HeaIy disclaimed
any sympathy with the demonstration. At
the same time the papers fully admit the
extreme gravity, and even the humiliation
TO British prestige abroad. involved in such
a reverse inflicted by a body of Beers of
equal numerical strength. 1t is recognized
that although the damage is more moral
than material, it will certainly have the
effect of ~prolonging Boer resistance for
many months.
The Daily News says the event has
scarcely a parallel since the dark. disas-
trous lays when the North American col
onies broke from British control.
The Standard says this defeat comes after
a succession of mishaps for which il is
impossible to account by mere bad fortune.
when every allowance is made says the
Standard, I'VE cannot but find something
not creditable to our vigilance in these
constant surprises"
The Morning Post points out that General
1890 N' 49, 0aA A1 was
wounde and included in the surrender by
the next unwounded officer in command"
1t is commonly believed that a large part
of the mounted men who fed must have
been raw yeomanry, and that General
Methuen's district has been used for
months past as a sort of training ground
for new men, whilst the seasoned troops
were withdrawn from his command for
operations against Botha and De Wet. This
incident, the flight of 500 mounted British
from the Beers, is regarded as the gravest
part of the affair. The Daily Chronicle saws:
AN uneasy feeling presents itself as TO
whether the War Office may not be Grip
ping it's generals by sending them raw
recruits
The news of the disaster in South Africa
was issued too late to receive much COM
ment abroad, but the greatest satisfaction
is expressed in Boer circles in Holland and
Germany. The Berliner Tageblatt says:
1T is the Beers answer to England's high
handed rejection of the Dutch government
offer of mediation"
De TELEGRAPH of Amsterdam says: 'It