Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-03-27
GEN. METHyEN'S Story
TELLS HOW THE Beers
ROUTED HIS COMMAND
British Fought Bravely but Could
Not Withstand Bosr Onslaught
- Careless About
Convoy,

London. March 16.-The War Office
has received the following communi.
cation from Lord Kitchener at Preto.
ria:
Lord Methuen has sent me stan
officer with a dictated dispatch from
which it appears that certain particu.
lars previously given are inaccurate.
The rear screen OF mounted troops
was rushed and overwhelmed at dawn.
There was a gap of mile between the
OK and the mule conveys. The mount.
ed supprts to the rear of the screen,
which General Methuen Immediately
reinforced by all the available mount.
ed troops and section OF inc Thirty.
eighth battery, maintained themselves
for an hour, during which the conveys
we're closing up without disorder
"In he meanwhile 200 infantry were
beng disposed by Lord Methuen to re-
sist the Boer attack. which was out
banking the left of the rear guard. The
Beers pressed the attack hard, and
TIE mounted troops were attempting
to fall back, when the infantry got
completely out of hand. carrying away
with them in the rout the bulk Of the
mounted troops. Two guns of the
Thirty.elghth battery were thus left
unprotected, but continued in action
until every man. with the exception OF
Lieutenant Nesham was hit. Lieuten.
ant Nesham was called on to surren,
der. and upon refusing to do so, was
killed.
Lord Methuen, with 200 OF the
Northumberland Fusileers and two
guns of the Fourth Battery then found
himself isolated, but held on for three
hours. During this period the remain
ing infantry, namely, 100 of the Ian
cashires, with some forty mounted
men, mostly Cape police, who had oc
cupied the kraal near the wagons, also
continued to hold out against the re
peated attacks of the Beers.
by this time, Lord Methueu was
wounded and the casualties were ex
ceedingly heavy among his men. The
ammunition was mostly expended, anC
the surrender was made at about
$3.50 o'clock in the morning. The party
in the kraal still held out and did moi
give in until two guns and a pompou
were brought to bear upon them al
about 10 o'clock, making their position
untenable.
ut is confirmed that most of the
Beers wore our khaki uniforms. Many
also wore our badges. Even at close
quarters they could not be distinguish
ed from our men.
! 1T is clear the infantry fought vel
and the artillery kept up the tradition:
Of their regiment. In addition to the
forty members OF the Cape police al
ready mentioned, few parties OF i'm
perial yeomanry and Cape police con
tinued to hold their ground after the
panic had swept the bulk OF tn,
mounted troops off the field"
Lord kitchener's telegraphic dis
patch showing that the fighting LASTED
much longer than was supposed con
firms the belief that the disaster t,
General Methuen's forces was due t,
leaving too large a gap between tn
front convoy and the rear, and t
placing an insufficient screen behinr
, the rear guard, which brought about
panic among the troops as a result o
the Boer onslaught.
Much resentment is felt here tina
the Beers wore British uniforms an
badges but satisfaction Is expresses
at the latest accounts of the affair a
, indicating that the British troops be
haved better than was supposed froi
the earlier report.
\ 4
to redeem any silver certificates is
sued by the Government of Hawaii. o
any silver coin issued by such Govern
ment, except in the manner and upol
the conditions stated in this Act TO
the recoinage OF Hawaiian silver.
Passed the Senate March ~. 1902
Attest: CHARLES G. BENNETT,
Secretary