The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-12-22
TUESDAYS REPORT

tie at the Tugela river. The latest
accounts regarding the battle at Ma
gersfontein show that the retirement
of the British troops was executed
with the greatest GOODNESS and order
under n heavy Boer artillery fire on
Tuesday. Mafeking was safe ON De-
cember 10 and Col Baden-Powell, the
British commander there, is still ac-
lively pushing out his defenses. At
that time the Beers had offered to
exchange Lady Sarah Wilson, who
was captured while acting as a cores
pondent for the London Daily Mail,
for Gen. Ben Nilioen, who was cap
tured at Elandslaagte, but the offer
was declined. The other beleaguered
garrisons and positions are still hold
ing out. 1t is said that if the Nicto-
ria Cross were to be granted for
every act of conspcuously gallantry
on the part OF the British troops it
would be necessary to distribute the
decoration by hundreds.
WHAT THE LONDON TIMES SAYS.
London, Dec. 1S.-The Times, com
menting on the s,,uation, says:
. Neither the Crimean war nor the
Indian mutiny gave rise to greater
dangers To the empire than that with
which we are now menaced, nor at
either of those critical periods was
Great Britain so isolated politically
or regarded with such dislike and
suspicion as are now almost every
where apparent. Unless the calmness
which impresses the foreign observer
proceeds only from apathy or want
of sufficient Imagination to realize
the imminent danger to the whole
fabric of our empire, the great efforts
now urgently required will surely be
made before il is too late to retrieve
the situation. We are fighting not
merely for supremacy in South Az
RIGA. but our position as a great pow
err We know we have miscalculated
the strength of our foe and we are re-
solved to make that miscalculation
good"
CASUALTIES AT TUGELA RIVER
London, Dec. 1S.-The war Office
gave out Buffers list of casualties
late Saturday night and the casuai-
ties at Tugela river prove to have
been the largest in any previous en-
gagement of the war. The total Of
British killed, wounded and dead is
1907. OF these SO were killed. COZ
wounded and 34s missing.
4 NEW COMMANDER IN CHEF.
London, Dec. 1S.-Baron Roberts of
Kandahar and Waterford, commander
of the forces in Ireland, has been APP
pointed to the chief command in
Souai Africa, with Cen. Lord Kitch-
ener, of Khartoum, as his chief of
staff
COUNTRY IN REBELLION.
Sterkstroom, Dec. 1S.-As result
of the British reverses the whole
country nortlIward is i'm rebellion.
The natives there. as well as those in
Basutoland, are said to he much dis
turbed and losing heart respecting
the strength of the british.
WEDNESDAYS REPORT
London, Dec 2O.-Thc government
has at last consented to mobilize a
force which Gen. Butler is credited
with having demanded all along as cs'
sential of success in South Africa
namely 10000 mounted infantry, This
morning the war Office ISSUED an or
der to the effect that the government
had decided to raise for South Africa
mounted force, TO be called i'm
perial yeomanry,' and to he re-
cruited from yeomanry, volunteers
and civilians possessing the requisite
qualifications. Enlistment will be for
. h,. linn IN
of the war. The men must be be-
tween 20 and 35 years of age and OF
equal physique to the ordinary cav
airy soldier. Officers and men are to
provide their own horses and to wear
neutral tint cloth shooting jackets
not necessarily uniform, felt hats
breeches and CATERS. All must be
good riders and marksmen.
The same order invites every volun-
teer regiment that is linked with a
regular battalion serving at the front
to supply full company, which will
take the place of the mounted in
fantly of the regiment. These ar
engagements are expected to result in
considerable force. The enrolled
strength OF the yeomanry forces
which originated in the troublesome
period of the French revolution, is
now 1O,433. Their services have never
before been called for in war. The
lord mayor Of London, Alfred New
ton, is raising and equipping force
of 900 volunteers among the city
corps The large city firms are con
tributing the necessary expenses.
The enthusiasm Of volunteer enlist
ments continues, and promises to
give the government ample material
The queen has announced her in
tention Of entertaining at Windsor
castle December &c the wives and
children of soldiers serving in South
Africa who reside in the neighbour
hood. Tea win be served, her ma
iesty probably presiding in person
aud Christmas tree rs feet high viii