New-York tribune., 1902-03-17
THE BATTLE OF TWEBOSCH.
LORD KITCHENER SENDS MORE De
TAILS OF THE BRITISH DISASTER
THE BOERS ATTACKED WITH vIGOR AT
DAWN-MOUNTED TROOPS, PANIC
STRICKEN TOOK FLIGHT.

London. March 16.-The War Office has re
ceived the following communication from Lord
Kitchener at Pretoria:
Lord Methuen has sent me a staff officer, with
a detailed dispatch, from which ii appears that
certain particulars previously given mac
Curate. The rear screen of mounted troops was
rushed and overwhelmed at dawn. There was
Il gap of a mile between the 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 section of the 3Sth Battery maintained
themselves for an hour. during which the con-
Voys We're closing up without disorder.
In the meanwhile two hundred infantry were
being disposed by Lord Methuen to resist the
BOer attack, which outfanking the left Of
the rear guard. The Beers pressed that attack
hard. and the mounted troops, attempting to fall
back the infantry, got completely out Of hand,
carrying away with them IN the rout the bulk
OF the mounted troops. Two guns of the ;iSth
ued in action until every man, with the "Xcep-
tion Of Lieutenant Ncsham, was hit. Lieutenant
Nesham was called on to surrender, and. upon
refusing do So killed.
Lord MethuCn. with two hundred of the North
cumberland Fusiliers and two guns Of the 4th
Battery. then found himself isolated but held
naming infantry, namely. one hundred of the
Lancashires with some forty mounted men.
mostly Cape Police. who had occupied the kraal
near the wagons. also continued hold out
against the repeated attacks Of the Beers.
BY this time Lord Methuen wounded and
the casualties were exceedingly heavy among
his men. Their ammunition was mostly eX
pended. and the surrender was made at about
$50 in the morning.
The party in the llraaI still held out and did
not give in until two guns ana pompom were
brought to bear upon them, a about 10 o'clock.
making their position untenable.
It 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 men.
1t is clear the infantry fought we'll and the
artillery kept UP the traditions Of their regi-
ment. In addition TO the forty members Of the
Cape Police already mentioned. few parties
of Imperial Yeomanry and Cape Police con-
tinued to hold their ground after the panic had
swept the bulk of the mounted troops off the
field
London, March 11.-Lord KitChener's graphic
dispatch showing that the fighting lasted much
longer than was supposed. confirms the belief
that the disaster to General Methuen's forces
was due to leaving too large gap between the
front convoy and the rear, and TO placing
insufficient screen behind the guard, which
brought about a panic among the troops
result of the Boer onslaught
Much resentment IS felt here that the Beers
wore British uniforms and badges, but satsfac-
tion is expressed at the latest accounts of the
affair. as indicating that the British troops be
haved better than was supposed from the ear
lier reports.
From other dispatches ii appears that General
Methuen shot while riding To bring up the
mounted troops and that his horse killed.
After the surrender General De La Rey rode up
and treated General Methuen with the greatest
courtesy and consideration. He ordered his re-
turn to Klerksdorp under the care of his own
nephew and medical officer According to the
Klerksdorp correspondent Of The Daily Mall
the burghers were so angry at this that party
OF them went out and brought General Methuen
back. General De La Rey, however, overruled
the objections of the burghers.
The correspondent Of The Daily Mail" pays
tribute to General De La Rey's humanity, and
describes him a brilliant fighter and a born
leader VINO brings no bitterness racial feel
ing to his task, and who sternly represses any
excesses on the part Of the burghers."
Further evidence of the ability Of the Beers
10 penetrate the blOckhOusc lines is contained in
a dispatch from HeiIbron, Orange River Colony.
which describes how COmmandant Mentz, the
night Of March 10, crossed the HeilbrOn-WolVe-
h0ek Railroad line at Gottenberg. one Boer
advanced. firing his rife. Two pickets between
the blOckhOuseS returned his fire and killed the
Boer and his horse. The Beers then cut the
wire fence and drove in a mob of loose horses,
which knocked down two hundred yards Of the
fence. COmmandant Meutz then rushed through
with over three hundred Beers, and the pickets
poWerless to stop the overwhelming rush.