THE MODDER RIVER FIGHT.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10540, 29 December 1899, Page 6

THE MODDER RIVER FIGHT.

THE BOER LOSSES. THE DASH ACROSS THE RIVER. , . ' SYDNEY, December 28. The Boer losses at the Modder River were ; . much feeavier than were first supposed. It is now beyond doubt that the bodies of at least 100 Boers were thrown into the river by' the Boers themselves, and the bodies of thirty others were buried in the sand. It $$ further beyond question that the Boer amWancee were busy carrying off injured men ; during the progress of the battle. In add:* . tion there ore now thirty wounded Boers under treatment in our 'hospitals, and there era known to be 300 others in the two Boer hospitals four miles north of the river. It transpires that when Major Pole Carew's force went through tibe river, they completely surprised the Boers, who never anticipated any such daring enterprise. Our men went* through with fixed bayonets, and when the Boers caught sight of the moving mass they broke and fled. This movement was executed precipitately. Our men naturally dashed in pursuit, and a second lot of the British force followed. When the second lot got acoss the river they wire in danger of mistaking Major Pole Csrew's men for the enemy, so great was the progress they had made. Major Carew, seeIng the state of affairs, called upon his men to give a British cheer to acquaint the men following with tire fact that they were British. The men gave a rouser, and the Boers in the neighbourhood, thinking thi# • was the signal of British victory, lied in M directions. "