Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-03-14
CAPTURE METHUEN
BOERS UNDER pELAREY HOLD
THE BRITON PRISONER.
British Force Badly Defeated. Forty one Be.
ing Killed and Seventy.seven Wounded,
While Two Hundred More Are Reported
as Missins-News of the Disaster Came
Like q Thunderbolt to London,

London, March l2.-It was an
nounced today that General Lord
Methuen and four guns had been cap
tured by the Beers commanded by Gem
eral Delarey. The news came like
| thunderbolt to London. The extra edi-
tions of the evening papers giving an
account of the disaster were eagerly
bought up. 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 was received in the house
of commons amid great excitement.
The reading of Lord Kitchener's tele-
gram by Mr.. Brodrick, the war secre-
tary, 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 suddenly subsided. The subse-
quent 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 38 men were killed,
and that five officers and ~ men we're
wounded. In addition one officer and
200 men were reported missing.
The text of Lord Kitchener's dispatch
announcing the capture of General
Methuen is as follows:
Pretoria, March 12.-I greatly re-
gret to have to send you bad news of
Methuen. He was moving with 900
mounted men under Major Paris, and
300 infantry, four guns and a pom pom
from Wynburg to Litchenburg, and was
to meet Grenfel, with 800 mounted
men, at Rovirainesfontein today. Yes
terday morning early he was attacked
by Delarey's force between Palmietenill
and Twebosch. 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 action. They
report that Methuen and Paris, with
the guns, baggage, etc., were captured
| by the Beers. Methuen, when last
seen, was prisoner. I have no de-
tails of the casualties, and suggest de-
laying publication until I can send
definite news. I think this sudden re-
vival of activity on the part of Delarey
is to draw off the troops pressing De-
wet"
In second dispatch Lord Kitchener
says:
"Paris has come in at Kraaip:n with
the remainder of the men. He reports
that the column was moving in two
parties. One with the OK wagons left
Twebosh at 3 A. M. The other with
the mule wagons, started an hour later.
Just before dawn the Beers attacked.
Before reinforcements could reach them
the rear guard broke. In the mean
time, large number of Beers galloped
on both tanks. These we're checked by
the flank parties, but the stampede of
the mules had begun and all the mule
wagons, with a terrible mixture of
mounted men, rushed past the OK wag-
ons. All efforts to check them were
unavailing. Major Paris collected 40
men and occupied position mile in
front of the OK wagons, which we're
then halted. After gallant but USE
less defense the enemy rushed into the
OK wagons and Methuen was wounded
in the thigh. Paris, being surrounded,
surrendered at 10 A. M. Methuen is
still in the Boer camp"
Surveying an Oklahoma Road,