"SLIGHTLY WOUNDED:" PHOTOGRAPHED AT MODDER RIVER.
An examination of the Boer trenches revealed the terrible effectiveness of the British artillery fire. The walls and roofs of the houses in the village were wrecked; iron outbuildings were so perforated with rifle and shrapnel bullets that they resembled gigantic colanders; the enemy's trenches were ploughed up by the shells and bullets. About fifty dead Boers were found on the field, either lying where they had fallen or hastily buried. Their trenches were full of all kinds of débris; amidst thousands and thousands of expended cartridges were rifles, bandoliers, bottles of Bass, mackintoshes, and odds and ends of equipment. Hundreds of riderless horses galloped over the field. They were captured by privates and sold for a few shillings or a handful of cigarettes.
The Boers fire on the Red Cross.
There were many abuses of the customs of war. The Boers fired upon stretcher bearers and trained their "Pom-Pom" upon the ambulances. They employed expanding bullets, and are said, though the story wants corroboration, to have placed one of their guns in a place where it was sheltered by the red cross flag, flying over a neighbouring hospital, and to have removed a Maxim in an ambulance.
Conduct of the Free Staters impugned.
The conduct of the Free Staters in the battle roused the fierce resentment of Cronje and the Transvaalers. But for these recreants, they said, the British Army must have been driven back. They communicated to President Kruger the news of their allies' cowardice, and he in turn complained to Mr. Steyn in these terms:—
[Photo by Gregory.
Kruger's remonstrances.
Dec. 2, 1899.] Exhortations of the Presidents.