The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1902-03-11
METHUEN CAPTURED
British Routed by Delarey
With Heavy Loss.
GREAT EXCITEMENT IN LONDON.
Fight Occurred In Orange River C0I-
Ony - General Mcthuen and n
Others WouMdets-Thrce ON.
GERS and 3S MEN Killed,


/ LONDON, March 11.-General Me
/ thuen was wounded and captured by
the Beers under General Delarcy in q
battle that occurred just before dawn
on March !. His force of 1900 men
was utterly routed. Three British Off.
GERS and 3S men We're killed. 5 officers
and q men were wounded, and Off.
Ger and 200 men are missing.
The Beers also captured four guns.
The fight occurred between Wyn.
burg and Lichtenburg, in the Orange
River Colony.
The news came like thunderbolt to
Lcndon. The extra editions Of the
evening papers giving an account of
the disaster were eagerly bought up.
and their readers hurried through the
streets with anxious faces. and bitter
remarks were passed on the subject of
the governments declaration that the
war in South Africa was over.
Ihe news caused excitement in the
mine market. Throgmorton street was
throneed with South African operators
eagerly inquring for details of the
British defeat and watching the effect
of the announcement.
The news was received in the house
of commons amid great excitement.
The reading Of Lord Kitchener's tele-
gram by the war secretary, Mr.. Brod-
rick. was listened to in deep silence,
which was broken by loud Irish cheers.
Instantly there were cries Of Shame,
shame" from the government benches.
Then the Irish members seemed to
think better of their outbreak and sud
denly subsidized. The subsequent eulo-
CYSTIC references to General Methuen
We're received with cheers.
KITCHENER TELLS OF BATTLE.
The text of Lord kitchener's dis
patch announcing the capture of Gen
eral Methucn dated Pretoria, March 8.
is as follows: II greatly regret to have
to send you bad news of Methuen. He
was moving with 800 mounted men I'M
der Major Paris and 800 infantry, four
guns and a pompom from Wynburg to
and was to meet Grenfeli ,
with 1900 mounted men, at Roviraines
FOntein today. Yesterday morning ear
" he was attacked by Delarey's force
between Twebosch and Palmietknll.
The Beers charged on three sides.
give hundred and fifty men have
come in ut Maribogs and kraaipan.
They were pursued by the Beers four
miles from the scene of action. They
report that Mcthu"n and Paris, with
The guns. baggage. etc. were captured
by the Beers. Methuen when last seen
was prisoner.
II have no details of the casualties
and suggest the delaying of publica-
lion till | can send definite news. l
think this sudden revival of activity on
The part of Delarcy is to draft off the
roops pressing De Wet
In Il second Dispatch dated March 8,
Lord Kitchener says:
paris has come in at Kranipan with
he remainder of the men. He reports
hat the column was moving in two
PARTIES.
"One, with the OK wagons, left I've
BOSCH at 3 a. III. The other, with the
mule wagons, started an hour later.
lust before dawn the Beers attacked.
Before rc-cnforcements could reach
hem the rear guard broke.
I'm the meantime large number of
Beers gallopcd up on both TANKS.
These at first were checked by flank
,artieS. but the panic and stampede of
he mules had begun, and all the mule
wagons, with terrible mixture Of
mounted men, rushed past the OK wug-
ms.
"All efforts to check them were I'M
vaiing. Major Paris collected forty
nen and occupied a position Il mile in
ron' of the OK wagons. which We're
hen halted. After a gallant but use
PISS defense the enemy rushed into the !
X wagons. and Methuen was wounded
n the thigh. Paris, being surrounded,
till in the BOer camp
Then follows the number of the cas-
altics, as already cabled. The killed
nciudr 1ieutenants &. r. Venning and
:. J.. W. NeSlam of the Royal artil-
cry, who We're both killed while serv.
)G their gus with case shot
Sections of tn" Fourth and Thirty
ighth batteries Of artillery fought
'ith great aalluntry, and 300 men CON.
osed Of the Northumberland fusileers
nd the Lanrashires showed ropspicu
us courage in projecting The wagons
nd refusing to surrender until resist
nee WAS useless
The force under General Dcarey was
lmoSt 'i''rrly dressed in British uni
)rns, III made it impossible for the
lfnEtry 20 distinguish between their
Wn men and the enemy when the
counted troops were driven in on
len. The enemy numbered 1,jOO men.
hey had one 10 FOUNDER and pom
ON.
Delarry. Ccllcrs. Kemp. Verusso,
romp and other commandments were
resent.
General Methuen was seen by an
gent Of the Intelligence department,
e was being well cared for in his own
agon. ,
In a private telegram just received
ere Lord Kitchener adds:
II find Methuen has a fractured
Ugh, but he Is reported to be doing
ell"
Five Children Cremated,