THE BOER WAR.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 8684, 1 December 1899, Page 2

THE BOER WAR.

BATTLE OF MODDER RIVER.

FURTHER PARTICULARS.

TEN HOURS' FIGHTING IN BURNING SUN.

UNDAUNTED VALOR OF BRITISH TROOPS.

BOERS' BITING FIRE.

BATTLE WON BY GUNS AND

RIFLES ALONE.

Eleotrio Telegraph— Copyright— United Press Association. Capetown, Nov. 30. Tl.e Modeler river wag swollen, and the bridges had been destroyed. Major-General Lord Methuen, with 7000 men, at 5 o'clock on Tuesday .morning, discovered the enemy entrenched and concealed on the northern bank of the river, with two large guns and four Krupps in position. After cannonading for an hour, battalions of Grenadiers and Scottish T?U3iliers and two battalions of CoMstreams, on the right; the Yorkshires, Light Infantry, nnd Northamptons, with the Lancashires, forming the left, attacked in widelyextended formation, supported by the Artillery and Naval Brigade, the railway staff also rendering great assistance. All the troops fought without food and water for ten hours under a burning sun, exposed to a biting fire from the Boer sharpshooters. The British displayed undaunted valor, finally compelling the enemy to quit their position. Apparently the victory was due to guns and riflep alone. Three hundred sappers assisted Colonel Palk Carew, Colonel Featherston Haugh's successor, in getting a small party across the river. Lord Methuen eulogises all the forces, particularly the two batteries. The enemy is likely to be caught between the two British forces — Lord Methuen's and Colonel Kekewich's Kimberley foree — at Spytfonteiii. [Moddcr River railway station is 21 miles south of Kimberley. Spytfontein is 11 miles south.] THE BRITISH FORGES. London, Nov. 30. The Government are increasing the British forces in South Africa to 90,000 men. THE RELIEF OF_LADYSMITH. SIR REDVERS BULLER TAKES COMMAND. Durban, Nov. 30. Sir Redvers Buller himself will conduct the relief of Ladysmith. THE WILLOW GRANGE ENCAGEMENT. THE BRITISH LOSSES. Capetown, Nov. 30. Twelve British were killed in the Willow Grange sortie on the 23rd ult. Sixty-five were wounded, and seven taken prisoners. [Willow Grange, it will be remembered, is eight miles south of Estcourfc, where the British surprised the Boers and drove them away with the bayonet, after a sharp engagement.]