Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-03-11
three English Officers and Thirty Eight
Men Killed in Battle.
LARGE NUMBER WOUNDED AND MISSING
Desperate Effort Made in Vain to Drive
Back BOer Troops,
DELARErs MEN PROVE TO Be INvINcIBLE
News Shocks London and Stirs Emo
tiOns I'm Parliament, Where Gene
erRI Methuen is sympR-
theticaIIy EuIogfsed.

Copyright, 1902, by Press Publishing Coz
LONDON, March 1o.--(New York World
Cablegram-special Telegram.)-The dis
aster to the British under Lord Methuen
| is regarded In England as one of the grav-
est in the whole Boer war, morally. II not
materially. The news, which came like
thunderbolt from a clear sky has caused
widespread CONSERVATION and alarm, as the
public had been deluged by recent opti-
mistic reports.
1t is rumored tonight that Lord Kitchener
has urgently called for heavy reinforce
ments. There was a feeling In the House
of Commons lobby tonight that the govern
ment must call for from 10000 to 5O00O
more men, to demonstrate its determina-
| tion to continue the war
War Secretary Brodericks reading Of
| Lord Kitcheners confused and unsatisfac-
tory dispatch in the House of Commons
caused profound depression, except for the
Irish party, the members of which de-
| risively cheered the statements that the
British force was pursued four miles and
that the British panic was caused by their
mules being stampeded. the invariable
reason given for these catastrophes.
| Details of the Capture.
| LONDON, March 10.-It was announced
today that General Lord Methuen and four
guns had been captured by the Beers. COM
manded by General Delarey. The news
came like a thunderbolt to London. 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.
The news came too late to effect business
| on the stock exchange, but excited curb
dealing quickly followed the closing, In
which South Africans slumped heavily.
| The news caused excitement In the
| mine market Throgmorton street was
thronged with South African operators,
eagerly inquiring for details OF the British
defeat and watching the effect of the an
nouncement. Shares were offered freely at
first, but by o'clock the excitement had
abated and the curb tone hardened.
| Excites House of Commons,
Commons amid great excitement. The read
ing OF Lord Kitchener's telegram by the
war secretary, Mr.. Broderick, was listened
to in deep silence. which was broken by
loud Irish cheers. Instantly there were
cries of shame" SHAME" from the gov
ernment benches. Then the Irish members
seemed to think better of their outbreak
and suddenly subsidized. The subsequent
eulogistic references to General Methuen
were received with cheers.
In brief Lord Kitchener announced that
when General Methuen was captured,
wounded, with four guns, three British ON
GERS and thirty y-eight men were killed and
FIVE officers and seventy-two men were
wounded. In addition one oficer and 200
men were reported missing
| ha nf KiSnhanarfa dianatck
announcing the capture of General Methuen
is as follows:
Lord kitchener's Message.
PRETORIA, Saturday. March 81 greatly
regret to have to send you pad news of
Methuen. He was moving, with 900
mounted men, under Major Paris. and 800
infantry four guns and pompom, from
wynburg to Lichtenburg and was to meet
Grenfell with 1900 mounted men at Row.
rainfontein today. Yesterday morning he
was attacked by Delarey between Twe-
bosch and Palmieteknill, The Beers
charged on three sides.
Five hundred and fifty men have come In
at Marobogs and Kreepen. They were pur-
sued by the Beers four miles from the
scene of the action. They report that
Methuen and Paris. with the guns, bag
gage. ETC.. were captured by the Beers
"Methuen when last seen was prisoner.
have no details Of the casualties and sug-
gest delaying publication until can send
definite news. l think this sudden revival
of activity on the part of Delarey IL "a
draw OF the troops pressing Dewet"
In a second dispatch, dated Sunday
March 9, Lord Kitchener says:
Beers Are InvincibIs.
Paris has come in at Kraaihan, with the
! remainder OF the men. He reports that q,
column was moving in two parties. One
with the OK wagons. left Twe-bosch at
p. m. The other. with mule wagons. started
an hour later. Just before dawn the BoerI
attacked. Before reinforcements could
reach them the rear guard broke. In the
. meantime a. large number OF Beers gal
|. loped up on both tanks. These, at first
: were checked by the flank parties, but tn,
panic and stampede Of the mules had begur
and all the mule wagons. with terrible
mixture of mounted men, rushed past tn
OK wagons. All efforts TO check them wer'
! unavailing. Major Paris collected fortl
men and occupied position a mile in from
of the OK wagons. which were then halted
After q gallant but useless defense tn.
enemy rushed into the OK wagons ant
: Methuen was wounded in the thigh. Paris
being surrounded, surrendered at 10 q. m
Methuen is still In the Boer camp"
Then follows the number OF the casual
ties, as already cabled.
The killed include Lleutenants q. r
Venning and T. Nesham Of the Royal AFtil
a lery. who were both killed while servinI
their guns with case-shot.
AS Lord Kitchener announced that Maio
J. Paris had surrendered and also telegraphe,
n that he hGd reached Kraaipan with tn
!; remainder OF the men. It may be inferre,
that the Beers subsequently released tn
' major and his companions
r Lord Roberts Praises Methuen.
" Lord Roberts, the commander I'm chief
who announced the British disaster In tn
House Of Lords, said General Methuen 70
o over two years had carried on his worl
with zeal. intelligence and great persever
lance. and indicated that the general wa
n beloved by his men and no work was 20
:. dangerous for the command.
Tba commAnder-in-ehief was sura IL