Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 March 1902 — BOERS HIT METHUEN [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BOERS HIT METHUEN

Distinguished British CommandDefeated by a Distinguished Burgher. PLAYS A VERY AGED GAME ON HIM 'l Stampedes His Mules and Oxen and Breaks Him All Up—Methuen Wounded in the Thigh—and a Prisoner. London, March 11.-—-It was announced yesterday that General Lord Methuen and four guns had been captured by the Boors commanded 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 througli the streets with anxious faces, and bitter remarks were passed on the subject of the government’s declaration that the war in South Africa was over. Tlie news came too late to as-

sect business on the stock exchange, but excited curb dealings 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 announcement. Shares were offered freely at first; but by 6 p. m. the excitement had abated and the curb tone hardened. Irish Cheer in the Commons. The news was received in the house of commons amid great excitement. The reading of Lord Kitchener’s telegram by the war secretary, Brodrick, 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 cut-

break, nnd suddenly Biibsided. The subsequent eulogistic references to General Methuen were received with cheers. In brief I.ord Kitchener announced that when General Methuen was captured, wounded, with four guns, three British officers and thirtyeight men were killed and five officers and seventy-two men were wounded. In addition one officers and 2<>o men were reported missing. Boer Scheme That Always Works. It seems the Boers have since freed all the prisoners except Methuen. The British had 1,200 men in two parties, one convoying ox wagons, the other with mule wagons. The l oers attacked at dawn, between Twe-Busch and Palmieteknit, and pursued the tactics that have so often been fatal to the British—-stampeded the mulesand oxen. How many Boers there were, or what casualties they suffered, are not stated, though the official report says the British put up a gallant resistance. Delarey. who commanded the Boers, was one of the first Boer leaders to meet Methuen nnd was defeated by him at Gras I’arr, before the Magersfontefn fight in which Methuen was repulsed. RKITIMH ARE MUCH HUMILIATED Idea of a Defeat Under the Clrcnmetance* 1» Vary Galling. Tlie morning papers fully admit the extreme gravity—and even the humiliation—to British prestige abroad Involved In such a reverse, inflicted by a body of Boers of equal numerical strength. It Is recognized that although the damage is more moral than material it will certainly have the effect of prolonging Boer resistance for many months. The only additional details available are contained in • further dispatch from I .ord Kitchener which Brodrick read just as parliament was adjourning. This dispatch shows that the first confusion was caused by native boys with led borsea, who galloped through the mule convoy •■ the latter was endca-

voting by Lord Ik. linen’s directions to close on tlie ox convoy. The disorder among the mules communicated itself to the mounted troops, and the 1 oers, dressed in khaki and riding alongside the wagons, frustrated all the attempts of the British officers to rally their forces. Great confusion ensued among this portion of the mounted troops, they and the mule wagons galloping three miles beyond the ox wagons, where they were cut off. Sections of the Fourth and Thirty-eighth batteries of artillery fought with great gallantry, and 300 men composed of the Northumberland Fusiliers and the Lancashires showed conspicuous courage in protecting the wagon and refusing to surrender until resistance was useless. The force under General Delarey was almost entirely dressed in British uniforms. This made it impossible to distinguish between their own men and tlie enemy when the mounted troops were driven in on them. Tlie enemy numbered 1,500 men. They had one 15-pounder and a pompom. Delarey, Celliers, Kemp, Verraso, Tromp and other commandants were present. General Methuen was seen by an agent of tlie intelligence department. He was being well cared for in his own wagon. In a private telegram just received here Lord Kitchener adds: “I find Methuen has a fractured thigh, but he is reported to be doing well.” In another message Lord Kitchener says the wounded will be brought in to the railroad today, and adds: “I hope the reinforcements now arriving will rectify the situation in this area without disturbing operations elsewhere.”

COMMANDANT DELAREY.

GENERAL LORD METHUEN.