Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-03-15
BOERS DEFEAT METHUEN
British General Captured by De-
larey After Being Wounded.
sLooDY BATTLE AT wYNsuRe

British Suffered a Terrible Reverse,
Three OFFICERS and 80 Men Being
Killed, 200 Missing, and Guns and
Baggage Captured.
London, March lit was an
nounced yesterday that General Lord
Methuen and four guns had been cap
tured by the Beers, commanded by
General Delarey. The news came like
thunderbolt to London.
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
"Shamo!" "Shamel" from the govern
ment benches. Then the Irish mem
bers seemed to think better OF their
outbreak and suddenly subsided. The
subsequent eulogistic references to
General Methuen were received with
cheers.
In brief, Lord Kitchener announced
that when General Methuen was cap
tured, wounded with four guns, three
British officers and 3S men were killed
and five officers and 72 men were
wounded. In addition one officer and
zoo men were reported missing. Lord
Kitchener's dispatch is as follows: f,
Pretoria, Saturday, March Sd
greatly regret to have to send YOU
bad news of Methuen. He was mov-
Ing with 900 mounted men, under
MAJOR Paris, and 800 infantry. four
guns and a pompomT from Wynburg
to Lichtenburg, and was to meet
Grenfell, with 1900 mounted men, at
Roviraines Fontein, but Friday morn
ing early he was attacked by De-
larey's force between Twe-Bosch and
Palmieteknill. The Beers charged on
three Sides
Five hundred and fifty men have
come in at Maribogs and Kraaipan.
They were pursued by the Beers four
miles from the scene Of the action.
They report that Methuen and Paris.
with the guns baggage, etc, were
captured by the Beers. Methuen.
when last seen, was a prisoner.
have no details Of the casualties, and
suggest delaying publication till can
send definite news. l think this sud-
den revival of activity on the part Of
Delarey ia to draw OF the troops who
are pressing De Wet"
In second dispatch, dated Sunday,
March 8, Lord Methuen says:
Paris has come in at Kraaipan,
with the remainder Of the men. He re-
ports that the column was moving in
two parties. One, with the OK wagons,
left Twe-Bosch at 3 a. m. The other,
with the mule wagons, started an hour
later. Just before dawn the Beers at
tackled. Before reinforcements could
reach them the rear guard broke In
the meantime large number Of Beers
galloped up on both fanks. These, at
first, were checked by the flank par
ties, but the panic and stampede Of
the mules had begun, and all the mule
wagons, with q terrible mixture of
mounted men, rushed past the OK
wagons. All efforts to check them were
unavailing. Major Paris collected 40
men and occupied a position a mile
in front Of the OK wagons, which were
then halted. After a gallant but use
less defense the enemy rushed into
the OK wagons, and Methuen was
wounded in the thigh. Paris, being
surrounded, surrendered. Methuen Is
still IN the Boer camp"
Then follows the number OF casual
ties. The killed include Lieutenants
G. r. Venning and T. p. w. Nesham,
Of the Royal Artillery, who were both
killed while serving their guns with
case-shot.
A dispatch received last evening
from Lord Kitchener says: "The
force under Delarey was almost en-
tirely dressed in British uniforms.
This made it impossible for the in
fantry to distinguish between their
own men and the enemy when the
mounted troops were driven in on
them. The enemy numbered 1900
men. They had one 15-pounder and a
pompom." 1t is feared that Lord
Kitchener's Incomplete accounts have
not told the worst, and the public is
anXfouSIy awaiting detaiJs