NEWS BY MAIL

Evening Post, Volume LVIII, Issue 152, 27 December 1899, Page 5

NEWS BY MAIL

SYDNEY, 25th December. Cape files have been received up to 22nd November. They state that nothing of great importance has occurred at Mafeking since Captain Walford's famous defence of the "Cannon Kopje," 1 when, an assault by the onemy was re--1 pulsed. The Boers, had, however, gradu- ; ally worked their artillery closer to the town. "If," says one despatch, "they should got to one spot they may heai something drop or experience another i mauling at the hands of the garrison." • Lieut. -General Gatacre, o before march- • ing northwards from Queenstown, addressed the troops under his command. > When once a forward movement was • made, he said, would be no stopping anywhere. He quoted the Ladysmith trenches as an instances of how to i deal with the Boers. "Never wait for them," remarked tho General, "but be boforo theou"

THE GREAT BATTLE AT THE MODDER. WHERE GENERAL~METHUEN WAS. WOUNDED. AND A QUEENSLANDER DISTIN* GUISHED HIMSELF. A DRAWN BATTLE, BUT THE ENEMY RETIRED. MELBOURNE, 26th December The Cape liner Moravian has arrived here, bringing news of the Battle of Modder River, fought on the 28th November, in which tha British Army, under Lieut,--General Lord Methuen and the Boer General Crqnje's forces took part. The battle, it appears, was unprecedented, for stubbornness. The enemy had constructed sand-bag trenches and all kinds of breastworks, cannon being posted at every advantageous point. The eneniy's lines extended for five miles, perfectly « concealed, so that the measure' of success achieved by the British i* to be marvejlqd at. The British forces moved from Witkops Laagte at -5 a.m., preceded by artillery and cavalry, and found both sides of the river alive with Boers. The Guards were on the right, with the Ninth Brigade on the left, while the artillery occupied positions on either side. The Scots Guards, on the extreme right, marched through an old reseryoir, and immediately they emerged from cover a desperate volley was poured into them, while a Hotchkjss was aimed at the Maxim with wonderful accuracy. Its lire killed the sergeant in charge, wounded an officer, and (rendered 'the gun useless. The infantry were thug forced to lie down. - ' The • Boer cannon then opened fire in all directions, and on the extreme right of the crescent the cavalry and mounted infantry got into action. The Boers were, then forced from bouse to • house, and a , cannon was posted on raised ground by i the 75th Battery. Meanwhije tlie British , maintained a heavy musketry fire, our ■ men being sheltered by a rise in the ground leading to the rivet bank. The roar of " the battW was fearful. There was no flinching on -either «ide, nor pause in the engagement for five hours. Our batteries poured shrapnel by tons into the enemy, and their cannonade was pilenced only to be resumed from a different vantage point. • The Boers had no cannon on the' extreme left, and the 18th Battery com- ( pelled them to, evacuate their position. Lieut. -General Lord Methuen was r struck by a bullet in the left thigh, and ; was taken from the field, Major-General Colville assuming command. A lull occurred at noon, but the hail : of lead was quickly resumed, and fifteen [ minutes later the enemy's bullets -were sweeping the plain in front of their posi- ' I tion. t The ambulance waggons were unable to advance, and time after time were driven back by the enemy's fire. The Boers disregarded every recognised law of mod- , em warfare. The British artillery continued to do . excellent work. As, however, the battle ■ continued throughout the afternoon with ' unabated rigour, it was felt that only desperate measures wouid dislodge the enemy from their trenches. Colonel Codrington and Captain Fielding, of the Ist Coldstreams, with Captain Selheim, of the Queensland Permanent JPorce, with two dozen men, forded the river on the right, during the wheie of the time being made targets of. Wfaen " they reached the otfher bank a Botchkws 5 was turned on them, and as they were.aot 1 supported, they had to (retire. On the > refcurn passage two men. were nearly 1 drowned, but the party joined hands, tied/ r their putties together, and the bank was reached in safety. * On the other side tho Northumbedands and Argylls made a similar and more successful effort. Three hundred and r ninety men reached the bank and turned the enemy's flank, but could not dislodge them- from their trenches. In the ; afternoon the 62nd Battery, under Major-General Granet, arrived (having journeyed from the Orange River in I 28 hours), and got into action withoto&de- , lay. The whole of the batteries cent death-dealing shells in all directions, aad ( the Boers could be seen carrying tfeeir I dead and wounded from the trenches. Twenty-two pieces of cannon were engaged, and fired an average of 260 rounds , eack. * > -As the sun was setting the fire<alacken- ; ed, but when -darkness set in the r musket- . ry fire was still proceed Sag, The British troops eventually retired,, and camp was near tab battlefield. The enemy had had enough of it, and during the night they were busy clearing out towards Magersfpntein. TBe cavalry crossed the river, and the ATgyils also marched over. When the -first, company passed a farm house they were fired » on. The second company, aowever, snr- ■ rounded the place, and found a party of ; Boers, who got their deserts for treai chery. t The scene on the Boers' side of the river was fearful? The trees und houses i which the Boers used for cover were riddled with shrapnel, and in a few houses i dead Boers were found. No efforts had been made to dress the wounds. A few of the places were turned intc hospitals, and these were filed with wounded. The enemy's trenches were impregnable to rifle fire, and it was the super?or English artillery fire which Won the day. The Boers retreated in tho direction of ; Jacobsdaal, while some went towards Langberj*. Their loss was heavy, and . , they buried a lot of their dead where they ; fell, ! {Received December 127, 10 a.m. MELBOURNE, This Day. The Cape Argus considers the Australians a fine body of men. They were immediately . on landing supplied with Lee-Metford rifles in place of their own.