Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-12-28
HORSE SICKNESS ON
a NEW DIFFICULTY FACES BRIT
ISL AT FRONT.
CHAMBERS AMONG ANIMALS
Little Other News From Seat of Hos
tilities-Ladysmith Reported Not
Embarrassed Over Buffers Reverse
at Colenso-Questions Regarding
Delagoa Bay.

London, Dec. 26.-Up TO o clock this
morning nothing arrived from south
Africa that would indicate any change
in the military situation there. The
war office is issuing lists of further
dead and wounded, as we'll as &C
counts OF sickness. The most serious
report Of the last class is that a horse
sickness has broken out in both the
British and boer camps in Natal. Four
hundred British cavalry horses, is is
said, have already been shot, owing to
the occurrence of CHAMBERS. The
disease is likely to spread with much
greater rapidity among British
horses than among the hardy
boer ponies and this may
mean a considerable prolongation OF
the campaign. A dispatch from Chieve-
ley, dated Dec. 10, says: British nav
al guns have destroyed the Colenso
foot bridge, preventing the beers from
holding any position south of the Tu-
CELIA river They are taking up fresh
positions on the eastern side, nearer
the British camp" The British posi-
ton at Ffere is being strengthened by
the Tugela river rising and the pros
pect of heavy rains. Ladysmith is
still bombarded. According to relia-
BILE reports, the beers had zoe killed
in the fight at Colenso."
News that the COlenso fOotbridge
has been destroyed seems to show that
Gen. Butler is more anxious to keep at
bay than to attempt further advance.
Despite the severity of the censorship,
hints are being continually received of
the spread of Dutch disaffection in
both Cape Colony and Natal. A CORE
spondent of the Daily Mail, at PETER
maritZburg says: The extent of
Dutch disaffection should make the i'm
perial authorities realize the magni-
tude of the task before them" There
are unconfirmed reports from Cape
town that Gen. Sir Charles Warren has
returned there. Commandant Demel-
lon, who was taken prisoner at Glands
laagte and brought to SimOnstown,
where he was confined on the British
Cruiser Penelope, has succeeded in
making his escape. The Times says:
eve are informed that the government
has decided that it is not desirable to
make further demands upon the Euro
pean Harrison in India unless unfore
seen difficulties arise" An undated
heliograph message from Lady
smith represents the garrison as
in no danger by Gen. Buffers reverse
Of a h q
to hold out Indefinitely. The holidays
have brought surcease of the recruit
ing activity Lord AlWyn Frederick
Compton, unionist member Of parlia-
ment for Bedfordshire, will raise a
corps of mounted men. The action Of
the United States government causes
considerable discussion regarding the
contraband question as affecting Della
goa bay and Portugal. Widely diver
gent opinions are expressed. The
Graphic says: I'VE believe every pro-
vision has been made in British treat
les with the United States for dealing
with the matter. In special circum-
stances the government is bound to re-
gard food as contraband. The question
of neutrality, however, is more
serious. Great Britain's duty is to
have the Lourenzo-Marques-T
vaal railway watched by capable agents
and to warn Portugal that she will be
held liable in damages for assistance
to the beers by means Of the railway"
The Standard says that as the cam
paign develops it may become neces-
sary to seize the railway at Komati
Port. The first batch of boer prisoners
has arrived in England. 1t is an
nounced the government has accepted
another offer of a squadron of Canadian
rough riders.