THE TRANSVAAL WAR.

Southern Cross, Volume 7, Issue 38, 16 December 1899, Page 9

THE TRANSVAAL WAR.

BRITISH REVERSES.

General Gatacre, with a force of 3000, including the 2nd Eorthumberlands, the 2nd Irish Rifles, 800 mounted infantry, and the 74th and 77th Batteries of Artillery, marched on Saturday night from Molteno with a view of surprising 2500 Boers at Stormburg, the junction of the branch railway connecting the East London and Port Elizabeth railways. When within two miles of Stormburg he encountered the enemy, who opened a sudden fire on the front and right flank.

The infantry behaved as coolly as on parade. After three hours’ desperate fighting against 6000, they succeeded in carrying an almost impiegnable position to find it untenable, the location being commanded by tort and rifle fire from three directions.

During the retirement incessant shelling caused some disorder. The British artillery worked splendidly, and averted a great disaster. Molteno was regained after 30 hours’ hard work. The Horthumberlands and Irish Rifles behaved splendidly, but it is feared the losses are heavy. Two hundred and ninety of the Irish Rifles and 306 of are missing. Later advice states that many of the missing men have returned. General Methuen wires that he shelled a strong position held by Boers on a long high kopje from four o’clock to dusk on Sunday. The Highland Brigade attacked the south end of the kopje at daybreak on Monday. The attack was properly' timed but failed, The Guards protected the Highland right and rear, and cavalry and mounted infantry attacked on the left of the Guards’ right and centre, artillery and howitzers protecting. The artillery shelled the position from daybreak. At one o’clock he sent the Gordons to support the Highland Brigade and the troops held their ground facing the enemy’s entrenchments until dark. The position extended six miles towards Modder River.

‘ To- day ’ (Tuesday) concludes Lord Metheun “5 a. m., holding my position and entrenching. Our troops faced at least 12,000, and our loss was great. General Wauchope was killed on Monday ’ Lord Methuen retired to Modder River on Tuesday evening, the Boers occupying the British trenches. General Methuen wires : ‘I retired in perfect order here, where our forces are in security. I gather from prisoners captured and from information imparted by Boers to members of the ambulance that their losses were terrible ; some corps being annihilated.’

t The Marquis of Winchester, major in the Ooldstreatn Guards, was killed. The New South Wales and New Zealanders in the centre, with the Dragoons on the flanks, occupied Arundel. They were under fire for five hours, but came through scathless. The New 'South Wales men reinforced the first line after two hours. They only had a horse killed. The Australians, while scouting, captured a troop of horses. The New Zealanders prevented the Boers seizing a kopje, killing three of the enemy. The Times says Methuen’s repulse is most the serious event of the war. Wauchope’s Highlanders went into a trap and were exposed, in close formation, toa magazine rifle fire from a force not subjected to artillery fire. Methuen will possibly retire on Orange River. The news has caused a grave sensation, and the paper demands that 30,000 reinforcements should be sent, and the calling out of the whole available reserves, utilisation of the militia and volunteers, and says that further troops from Canada and the other colonies must be sought for and accepted.