The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-12-15
TUESDAYS REPORT


treat from Stormberg. Until he has
given his explanation it is felt that
considerable allowance must be made
for the extreme difficulty of getting
intelligence in country whose inhab-.
itants are in strong sympathy with the
enemy. Stormberg is described as a
stronger position than Laing's Mex.
The only road wiuds through lofty
hills and thanking is Impossible. Coles
burg is also said to be an almost inn
pregnable position and, as no troops are
available to reinforce the columns act
ing in those directions, it becomes evil
dent that Gen. Gatacre's misfortune or
error will delay the invasion of the
Free State perhaps some weeks.
No news has yet been received con-
frming the Boer report of the capture
of 30 prisoners at Modder river from
Lord Methuen's column. 1t is just
two months since the Transvaal ulti-
matum was delivered. Nine engage
ments have been fought and the Brit
ish have lost 500 killed, 2,027 wounded
and LOFT missing or prisoners.
SOME NEWS BY WAY OF PRETORIA.
Pretoria, Dec. 12.-Six hundred and
seventy-two British prisoners were
taken at Stormberg. In the fighting
at Modder river Sunday evening,
Gen. Cronje maintained his position
and captured so British soldiers. The
Beers captured three British guns in
the engagement with Gen. Gatacre's
force at Stormberg. The sortie at
Kimberley last Saturday was an at
tempt TO take the Boer position at
Kamperdam and to secure the water
works. All the British shots fell short.
Details are expected from the Boer
outpost in the direction of Modder
river. There is report that the Brit
ish are advancing on the plain and
heavy fighting is anticipated. Gen. Loo
and Gen. Cronje command the Boer
force.
ON HALF RATIoNs AT LADYsMIrH.
Lourenzo Marques, Dec. 12.-The fol-
lowing dispatch has been received from
the Boer lager near Ladysmith:
Several Kaffir runners from Lady
smith to Estcourt have been captured.
They received from Els to $40 for the
trip. The intercepted messages show
that men and horses in Ladysmith are
now on half rations, that whisky is 81
bottle and that beer is exhausted"
WEDNESDAYS REPORT
London, Dec. 13-With the excep-
ton of Sundays sortie at Ladysmith,
which the morning papers are unani-
nous In regarding as brilliant piece
of work, there are no further advices
from the seat of war. A war Office
dispatch reports that Mafeking was
safe up to December 4, but that the
Beers had been Smelling the town since
November 81 with increased effect.
Rations had been considerably reduced,
meat by half pound and bread by a
quarter of pound, in view of proba-
BILE long siege. Water, however, was
still plentiful.
The Beers fear the British bayon cts
This is illustrated in the full accounts
now arriving of previous sorties. 1t
seems that in Sir Archibald Hunters
sally from Ladysmith to capture the
Boer guns the British did not carry
bayonets While they were storming
the hill the Beers, suddenly aroused
from sleep, rushed TO the edge and
them. But just before the British Sc
cured footing on the top of the hill
some one among them shouted, Fix
bayonets and give them cold steel. "
AT this the Beers turned and fed into
the darkness.
Little mention is made in the war of
flee dispatches of horses, but it is un-
understood that the losses in this re-
spect have been exceedingly heavy.
Among the officers alone from 30 to 80
per cent. of their mounts have been
shot under them, the Boer tactics be-
ing to shoot first at an officers horse
and then the rider when dismounted.
Gen. Gatacre's disaster at Stormberg
has been blamed for lack of knowledge
of the country, but, according to the
Daily Telegraph, when the war began
there were no official maps available
at Cape Town, and therefore it is prob
able that Gen. Gatacre is still without
them.
dispatch from Gen. White at Lady
smith, dated December II, says: Last
night Col. Metcalfe and 500 of the
Second Rifle brigade SORTED to capture
Boer howitzer on a hill. They
reached the crest without being dis
covered drove off the enemy and then
destroyed the howitzer with gun
cotton. When returning Metcalfe
found his retreat barred by the Beers,
but he forced his way through using
the bayonet freely. The Boer losses
were considerable. The British losses
were: Lieut. Ferguson and IL men
killed; Capt Paley, Second Lieut..
Davenport, Second Lieut.. Bond and Al
men wounded; six men captured
who had remained behind in charge oil
the wounded"
Yesterdays REPORT
LONDON, Dec. 14-Each important
battle seems to bring a worse reverse
for the British and the papers this
morning sorrowfully admit that Lord
Methuen's check at Magersfontein is
the most serious event the war has vet