The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, December 14, 1899, Page 1

VOLUME 1.‘\\\'1’1—;\'(). 14. PRICE FIVE CENT FRANCISCO, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 18 METHUENS ARMY DRIVEN BACK FROM MAGERSFONTEIN BY BOERS General Wauchope Among the British Officers Slain, and the Defeat Is Probably the Most Disastrous Since the War Began in South Africa. e — @ePeirsioieiesdeisideied & +oeoe@, OXNDON, Dec. 13.—The War Office has reccived the fol- | ! g ] om Genera! Methuen, dated Tuesday, KILLED. H “I : : ERRE R e e Major .General .A. G. Wauchope. H - e ¢ Marquis of Winchester, major Second Bat- ¢ v rh kopje, from usk Sund It rained talion, Coldstream Guards. WOUNDED. Colonel Downman, First Battalion, Gordon Highlanders (mortally). daybreak on Monday 1s properly timed, but protect the Highlanders’ and mounted infantry, with a how- T I S S > enemy on the left, and the Lieutenant Colonel A. E. Codrington and ( s on the right field lery and howitzer Captain Sterling, both of the First Battalion [ [he 1 from daybreak, and at 1:15 of Coldstream Guards. I sent the Gordons to support the Highland brigade. The Total British losses at Magersfontein esti- troons held their the enemy's entrenchments . including the kopje, for a iles to the Modder River. To-day 1 am hold- mated at over 450. 996000000 m ONDON, Dec. 13.—The War Office has received the fol- |_lm\‘ingr dispatch from General Forestier-Walker: “Cape Town, Tuesday—Methuen wires that General Wauchope was killed in action yesterday.” General Andrew G. Wauchope, of the Black Watch, com- manded the Highland Brigade with General Methuen's column. He served in Ashanti, Egypt and the Soudan. He was fre- enching myself. I had to face at least 2,00 ¢ ur loss was gre eneral Forestier-Walker, telegraphing from Cape Town at 30 p. m. to-day, sends the following dispatch from Lord Me- er, Tuesd v, December 12, 7:30 p. m.: “*As the Boers occupied their trenches strongly ¢ this morning, 1 retired in perfect order here, where 1 ] . quently mentioned in dispatches, and twice contested Midlo- I D AN ALY ! 3 ) thian, once against Mr. Gladstone. He was a great favorite in I have gathered from some of the prisoners ! #1 the army and from our men with the ambulances, who 1€ ¢+ S seed - k 3 talked with the Boers, that the enemy’s losses ! :9 General W\ auchope’s death was much 11(~1;I-»r<‘j.. He ren- were terrible, some corps being completely wiped . d dered notable service at the battle of Omdurman, for which he out. The Boers have been most kind to my 1 ¢ was thanked by both Houses of Parliament. wounded.””’ $ : A pathetic incident was that General Wauchope's wife was PRETORIA, Monday, Dec. 11.—An official report says: |} @ | among the inquirers at the War Office a few minutes before the e at Mod - began yesterday with cannon |e : telegram announcing his death was poste r g om 3:30 o'clock in the morn- . + 2000900000000 0OOOPOOOO D ):30 o'clock, with cannon, Maxims and rifles. A bom- |4 % « e 1+:30 o'clock, and the fighting still continues. ? : s jus sen above the British positions, where it | ¢ ¢ I ned ten minutes and descend T'here were heavy rains ‘ t ck this morning a dispatch rider bre ught word ' ‘, t the Boc aintained and that forty . ’ , ¢ s e o \\'l,,,:( IR | Boer Method of Fighting as the French Picture It. 1 tish are constantly using their balloon. The fighting was still | ¢ S Y BDerorerewedesiesisdosrstervenedodbodododsdodoiosiototecsdeoieire® Special Cable to the New York Herald. Copyright, 1899, by James Gordon Bennett. Republication of this dispatch is prohibited. All Rights reserved in the United States and Great Britain. is still quiet OF MODDER RIVER. Monday, Dec. 11.— E EYsmup the ibuay e ind Brigade ONDON, Dec. 14.—The Daily Telegraph publishes this dispatch from Kiver camp, marching n the IH;'IH. m its SDZCiO' COI’FZSpOthf)t: ! S s % MODDER RIVER, Tuesday, Dec. I12.—We attacked thz Boers of the Boer position, the Guards fol- 2 . - river, while the Yorkshire Light Infantry | YESterday. It is estimated that they were 12,000 strong. They are er side. Just before davbreak the High- A OCCUpying very strong positions six miles to the northeast in the Ma- ds and the Highl Modder a northeasterly direction. The objective ioint of the Highland- ers was the eastern s AT WAVCHOPE LB .SMS the troops 200 yards of the Boer entrenchments at | gersfontein kopjzs umber of Boers were in the vicinity, and The Highland brigade advanced before dawn to storm the line of landers were still marching quarter column, in close or- | the Boer trepches. It got to the base of the Kkopjes, but was re- rrt“i’;rtvlz st i the flanks and were |pylsed with heavy loss. | regret to state that General Wauchope, The troops re fumvwd under the shelter of some rising comn)f.mdlng tbe briQOde' puas kl”ed. Our ortll’lery, go.nS|stir)g of fOUI' ground and gallantly held their position. Later the Gordone | COtteries and a naval gun, shelled the enemy’s position. Methuen’s ASHE L adually worked their way until within | [O7C@ then tried to break through the Boer’s left flank between the 300 yards of the Boer position, displaving the greatest gal- KoOpjes and Modder River, but the Boers were too strong. v“"“\. E']|‘L‘ mear \\:!.‘l' a k Major General Andrew Gilbert Wauchope was born In 1848 His death terminates thirty-four years' service as a soldier, during ch he has taken active part in four wars and been four times wounded, and well earned every step of his promation. He an his military career at the age of 19 years, when he entered the Forty nd Foot, the famous “Black Watch,” as ensign, in 18%5. He took part in the Ashantee war of 1573-74 and was severely wound- ed at the battle of Ordashu, also In the Egyptian campalgn of 1552-84, and was again severely wounded El Teb. He was leuten: campalgn of 1884-85 and was wounded . His last active service befo South Africa was with the Nile expe- L ditlon of I8 in which he commanded the First Br of the British divi- sion. He w: made major general for distinguis rvices at the attle of Khartoum, was thanked by both houses of Parllament and rec the Egyptian medal with two clasps. General Wauchope came of an old Midlo- thian stock of soldiers, and his father, Major General R. A. Wauchope, died last year, after forty-four years' service. L ] o9 0000000000 r | wire entanglements, which offered great r | ot ] gun at the Modder River, The attack on the enemy’s front, where the Highland brigade had howitzer batteries and the horse artillery, opened a terrific fire, failed in the morning, was pressed all day. The Gordon Highlanders enfilading the trenches and searching every portion of the Boer ion. The Boer guns were entirely silent. In the mean- ‘n)ade Cl herplc ottemgt sk et -th? P, Colonal DOWI)' while fhe Beers, 00 the oven grovnd direcly . front moved | A0 with a fgw of his men got within 200 yards of the trenches, but ith the object of m;'.'hm_L;: flank attack. -’-ut this was frus- |could not get’any further. Tbe colonel was mortolly wounded. trated by the Guards and artillery. The Boers recommenced | The brigade having lost very heavily in officers and men retired elling in the evening, but no damage was done. The British |and returned this morning to the general camp here. The guns and o their positions. Tt is expected that there will be a re- |the Guards brigade covered the retirement. i | of the fighting to-morrow. The losses on both sides [ Our losses are very heavy. The Marquis of Winchester is among ' ( R ‘.\'uF RIVER, Cape Colony, Dec. 13.—Three hun- ‘the kl||ed. S i e er the damage.the ired twenty \\'r’unr‘uh'-l.‘ im‘hhlin.fi‘ (“.fl'm_- ;('\'r‘n uffic(‘r]a ; : Tbe fOl.'CG engqged a4 tbe t?attle Somistagof tbe Guqrds !)ngade.. . 'in the morning the Gordon Hisa- h-‘f;:ll: ::’::Ih 'lHT"‘I’»r‘;"mj e S here tromBlE M e Piver. g §H|ghlcmd brigade, Eighteenth, Sixty-second and Seventy-fifth field bat-| “Atim 2l Bocles 0 iesday) both sides oo- [ landers were sent forward. The Bocrs | cupled the positic held b e i i i allowed them to pass one line of tr s | the battle. The greatest YTy Wt St NDON Another serfous | crowds of anxious men and women con- teries, dd bOttery. of tt:)e Rqul HOFSG Artl"ery' Nll)th and Twelfth Ldl)- and then enfiladed m«miI We 'mk lhmu viayed by both officers and men. The k n the British arms | gregated before the doors or walked | C@rs and a howitzer battery. | Boer trenches with artillery throughcut | wounded include Lieutenant Colone! A s v Another long list | through the lobby, reading bulletins ail b y the day. The fighting only ceased with | E. Codrington and Captain Stesiine pos < through the day and evening. When it | —_———— = ———————————————————— | nightfall.” e g2s 7o 2 first battalion of the Coldstream I { rom e ounced after midnight, that no | killed. Their fine fighting quality was| The Highland Brigade, comprising pre- | magnitude of the task which is before | _‘“"f'i",',‘},,,{"}"hr:,‘,w,“m Mt of The r " _Lon yester- | more news would be given out until morn- | shown, howev vy the fact that despite | sumably the Royal Highlanders (Black | them, and will incline the War Office to | \Sh casualties A detachment of Boers posted among en forced | ing they slowly dispersed. Many women the bad tactic n the | were unable to control thelr emotions and | ter upon the com- | wept bitterly The Gordons Storm- | The result of Monday's battle at Mod- tropolis. | der River s regard e by army offi- clals as & check to Lord Methuen rather than as a reverse. The British troops which had brought d | Watch), the Highland Light Infantry, the | throw every avallable regiment of horse, | Winchestor, major of the xecond batidlion | some thick bushes to the cast n 1 they were able to re-form. | Seaforth Highlanders and the Argyle and | foot and artillery into South Africa with [ 0f Coldstream G ham of the first bLat. | €4 @ most destructive fire on t ame to their ald and they | Sutherland Highlanders, a brigade of | the utmost promptitude. [and Colonel Do O ders. oo [FIEht. With the remarkabie closed to within 30 yards of the enem: Guards and the Yorkshire Light Infantry, | eneral satisfactlon is expressed that | talion of the _"”"“”; ghianders, W00 | taking cover which position, which had in the meantime been | were the British foot soldlers cngaged. | General Buller's advance has finally be- | Was mortally wounded. plays, they were, shelled by three fleld batteries, howltzers, | The Ninth Brigade, having probably been | gun, with General Barton's brigade mov-| When ihe Highlanders met the murder- | virtually invisible, | - a 4.7-inch naval gun and the horse artil- | Jeft to guard the camp at Modder River, |ing within three miles of .Colenso. ous polnt-blank fire of the Boers about | enemy’s artillery was practicalls | e not hurled back in disorde > | vn. The Black. Watch ) qverd. it heried back 1aalsarver to mlv-I; iery. N 5 | Generel Methuen cannot have taken more | —_———— | 200 were mnweedm'l;;:‘:k i able o mien | his rifle fire was so persistent and cor . by rmained o scene of actio; At this point the Boers delivered a | than 7000 or 8000 men into action, against regiment, on r s Was 3§ - | centrated, as well as usually well aimed, v‘ !‘l:rf':"rll':;l;ll:!ll";l'\”l-:’;”‘_';“» "r""mv' :wl- | counter attack on the British flank and | the 12,000 which he estimated the Boers BRITONS MOWED ter only xwhmen- d"";" l"'"‘r’:‘ ""I‘ Beavily | that it was absolutely impossible for the j Srevs . oy still in the o mmander, | the Gordons lost their colonel and fell | gpposed to him. If General Methuen ad- in the treaches and also in the wire entan- | British infantry to take the iom < - finding ('hv .-n.-m‘\ still in their trenches, | hack, but the Boers were met by the | heres to the hammer and tongs tactics he DOWN BY BOERS' | glement when they came into the open in | gegault 3 | Bithdrew to the Modder River camp. The | Guards and artillery and were driven | has pursued hitherto he will hold on hard | an attempt to make a flank attack upon | o T e | B ses are ribed as terrible, | pack. The British held their ow: . amps having been wiped out Gtk mad thin itrenched themselves for | gyajlable man from De Aar and once more The terrific British artillery fire DIo- | 4\ iuriess was somsowhat Ligh. Otherming a fresh attack. Yesterday, however, Gen- | gt night probably, try a frontal attack. | voked no response except from the Boers’ . v 7 g eral Methuen decided to fall back to his | He may, however, try what constant an-| LONDON, Dec. 14 the British losses would have been still until | to his entrenchments, draw up every TERRIBLE FIRE | the British. l,:‘l,f:‘:r’;:f_“‘:;,“‘:")‘;;““' very unsatisfaciory reports re- pears that Lord Methuen on R e e B Jullan Ralph, de- | rifles until nearly 4 o'clock in the after- | }1¢ B ay shelled the Boer lines at Spyt- | glg camp at Modder River. He retired i oyance, cutting off of supplies and |scribing the battle at Magersfontein In a | noon, when the Gordon Highlanders | e PR . | v urther bombardment will do to the force | special dispatch to the Dally Mafl, says: | formed to renew the attack on the in.| LONDON, Dec. M.—A special dispateh | B ';“lnv' ';rnlh; T"n'f,'".3:“c.§:§d."x'.'f.hx"‘.'§," S b iearions woout Methuen's 108 | which te: before; hira; *The Boers were Intrenched at Magers- | trenched kopje. They advanced with the | {fom Pretoria by way of Lourenzo rigade, followed by uards and the of communications, and emboldened by | "y " eemg likely that nothing more can | fontein, four miles north of Modder River, | utmost gallantry to attack the Boers, | Marques says: | be done on the west and center (Cape Col- | At dawn Monday the Highlanders, ad- |close to ‘he place where lay their dead | “While the battle of Magersfontein was | Yorkshire Light Infantry, marched their success may at any momnt show | toward the eastern extremity of the Boer n and Magersfontein. During the | excellent order in daylight. The Boer: !thems«‘l\‘e! in his rear. v v v o d wounded comrades of the Highland | proceeding the Free State artillery en- position. - ethue: ony) but to walt for the tardy Fifth Di- | vancing across the veldt, were suddenly | an: title ! "Xt daybreak the Highlanders advanced | . Geners! Methien states that the fighting | S0, 5ire of which has only Just safl. | subjected o & murderous fire from the | brigade. | kaged an armored trai & the ra to the attack, but seemingly before they | himself faced by 12,000 Boers, "4 | ea. It is difficult to see from what other | trenches about 200 yards in front. The| The enemy opened with a heavy shran- | w line toward Belm -ne t ed in the |in close formation they were recelved | that there was fighting south of the Mod- | after the defeat at Stormberg, the line | day was thus suffered in a single minute, | was found physically impossible ' to take | ot e Gerdon® tghlanders. have fos Br numbers | with a terrible fire by the Boers, who had | der River with an armored train may in- | of communication, even in Cape Colony, | *“Startled and overwhelmed, the brigade | the Boer trenches. The British got with- | traversed Jaco In the last attack to the Boers, has found its way to the | drawn them into ambush. They were | fIC8LC that an attempt was again made | yi) nave to be most carefully watched, | retired quickly, but soon railied and re. | in 200 yards, but could not get nearer. 1t | on Surprise Hill three leading Pretorfa : v etk o COMZ | ncidents of the last week have given | tained their position. This was on the | was here that Colonel Downham fell. townsmen were killed and several othecs ® urface. This feeling was expressed in | forced back with heavy loss, General | munication, which Is the weak poi: t of - trong terms at the War Office, where ' Wauchope, the brigade commander, being | the Boer position. e the Government & truer perception of the [ left. On the right the Guards brigade| The Boers had free recourse to hurbed-lwounded. causing great sorrow here. ore hos- | had deployed and while they were still | The announcement from Boer snurceliqllnner reinforcements can be drawn, for | greater part of the fearful loss of the | nel fire as the British advanced, and it prisoners, belonging to the first battalion