The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1902-03-21
THE RECENT BOER VICTORY
BRITISH WERE SURROUNDED
The Had to Fight Against Big Odds
Delarey's Men Routed the Rear Guar d
British Surrendered After Their Ann
munition Was Exhausted.

London, March 1.-THE war office |
has received the following communi-
cation from Lord Kitchener at Pre-
toria concering the recent disaster |
to British arms in South Africa, the
Beers under General Delarey admins
tering the defeat:
Lord Methuen has sent me a staff
officer with a dictated report, from |
which it appears that certain partic-
ulars previously given are inaccurate.
The rear zone of mounted troops was
rushed and overwhelmed at dawn.
There was a gap of a mile between
the OK and the mule conveys. The
mounted supports to the rear of the
screen, with General Methuen, imme-
diately reinforced by all the available
mounted troops and a section of the
Thirty-eighth battery, maintained
themselves for an hour, during which
the conveys were closing up without
disorder.
I'm the meantime 200 infantry were
being disposed by Lord Methuen to
]
outfanking the left of the rear guard.
The Beers pressed that attack hard
and the mounted troops, attempting
to fall back upon the infantry, got
completely out of hand. Two guns
of the Thirty-eighth battery were
thus left unprotected, but continued
in action until every man, with the
exception OF Lieutenant Nesham, was
hit Lieutenant Nesham was called
on to surrender, 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 remaining infantry, namely, 100
of the Lancashires, with some 40
mounted men, mostly Cape police,
who had occupied the kraal near the
, wagons. also continued to hold out
against the repeated attacks of the
Beers.
by this time Lord Methuen was
, wounded and the casualties were ex-
{ ceedingly heavy amongst his men
The ammunition was mostly expended
and the surrender was made at about
t half past in the morning.
t 'The party in the kraal still hello
out and did not give in until two guns
: and a pompom were brought to beal
e upon them at about 10 o'clock, max
4 ing their position untenable.
r ct is confirmed that most of the
+ Beers wore our khaki uniforms. Many
t also wore our badges. Even at close
e quarters they could not be distin
guished from our men.
s at is clear the infantry fought wei
+ and the artillery kept up the tradi
. lions of their regiment. In addition
y to the 40 members of the Cape police
3 already mentioned, a few imperia
= yeomanry and Cape police continued
6 to hold their ground after the pani
!, had swept the bulk of the mounte'
4 troops off the field"
=. Lord Kitchener has Geographic dis
v patches showing that the fightin
IS lasted much longer than was SUI
q posed, which confirms the belief tina
= the disaster to General Methuen'
II force was due to leaving too large
If gap between the front convoy and tn
s, rear and to placing an insufficient
If screen behind the rear guard, whic
a. brought about panic among tn
lie troops as a result of the Boer or
slaught.
u Much resentment is felt that tn
- Beers wore British uniforms an
~ badges, but there is satisfaction wit
J, the later accounts of the affair tina
=. the British troops behaved bette
than was supposed from the earle
N reports.
or From the dispatch it is inferred tha
10 General Methuen was shot while riC
g, ing to bring up the mounted troops
t. and that his horse was killed. Afte
Of the surrender, General Delarey rod
n, up and treated General Methuen wit
W the greatest courtesy and consider;
ton. He ordered his return to Klerk
~ dorp under the care of his ow
ri nephew and medical officer.
~ According to the Klerksdorp co
. respondent of the Daily Mail. ii
Of burghers were so angry at this Thu
ri party of them went out and brougl
m General Methuen back. General d
TO larey, however, overruled the obje
ut tions of the burghers.
he The correspondent of the Daily Ma
as pays a tribute to General Delarey
ha l.o...1. -. -