Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-12-26
SITUATION
UNCHANGED
No Fighting in South Africa
Except Desultory Artil-
lery Firing.
THE BOERs GIVE THANKS
special Services Held in Memory of the
Recent yictories-Joubert Returns
tosthe Front-Newspaper Men
leave Nodder lIivers

london, Dec. 2s.-(By Associated
Press The latest dispatches from
South Africa show the situation at the
front practically unchanged with the
exception of desultory artillery prac-
tice, TO which the Beers do not reply.
The Beers heavily bombarded Lady
smith a couple of hours Dec. 16, the
day after the battle of the Tugela riv-
er, but little damage was done. They
killed one man and wounded two. Adj
vices from Cape Town say the New
Zealanders with General French at
Naumpoort were in tight corner
Dec, is. They were nearly surround
ed by Beers, and retired under hail
of bullets fred at short range, but
sustained only little loss. Among the
Beers killed at Stromberg were many
of that locality who had joined the
Orange Free State forces. Several
newspaper correspondents have returns
ed to Cape Town from the Modder riv-
er. apparently confirming the belief
that no immediate advance of the Brit
ish is projected.
"A dispatch from Cape Town, dated
Wednesday, Dec. 20, says: Islanders
has broken out among the American
mules, OF which there are LOO at
sStellfburch Remount farm. Twenty
six mules have been destroyed and sew
enty-eight have been isolated. Sedi-
ton is spreading in Cape Colony. Three
members of the Cape parliament are al
legged I'd be implicated, and one of
them Is said to have presented a Free
State flag to a Boer commander, ut the
! pa me time expressing the hops that he
4 would carry it to glory and victory.
Another member of the parliament said
/ he was recruiting for the Beers. In
addition, wealthy farmers are now aid
Ing the invaders.
Joubert to the Front.
Pretoria, Dec. 1S-(Bys Associated
Press. General Joubert has recovered
and returned to- the front today. There
were special services yesterday in the
different laagers as Thanksgiving for
the victories of Colenso, Stromberg and
Modder river.
Dordrecht Occupied
st 1oAuou, OuSS. So.-NDS ASSOclateu
& Press 1.-THE war Office has received
the following dispatch from Cape
Town: No change in the situation at
trenched and the Beers do not disturb
have occupied Dordrecht, the Beers re-
treating with no loss.''
Oficers wounded.
London, Dec. 26.-(By Associated
Press 1.-The war office has received a
j dispatch from Pietermaritzburg
dated Suday, the Gath, an
nouncing that in an engage
ment at Ladysmith, Dec. go, Major
Acking, Captains Wathen and Cakes,
and Lieutenant Hulze Wacott We're
wounded, and nine non-commissioned
officers and men killed and ten wound
ed. This engagement has not pre-
viously been reported.
Free Skaters Dissatisfied.
Modder River, Cape Colony, Dec. 90.
(By Associated Press. )-British naval
! guns command the whole of the Boer
position and possess the exact range
of every stone and bush. They fire.
auently plant shells in the midst OF
groups of BoArs. The burghers are re.
ported to be returning home for
Christmas. Recent arrivals from Ja-
cobsdal report that Notwithstanding
the Boer successes the Free Staters do
not expect ultimate victory. They
complain of the oyerbearing conduct
of Cronje's men who are alleged to be
better fed and posted in the safest
positions. The Transvaalers do not
conceal their suspicious of possible
detection from the Free Staters and
threaten to shoot them at the least
sign Of fayoring. The Free Skaters
are said to regard subsection to the
y 4Transvaal as more to be feared than
subjection TO Great Britain.
kitchener MT Gibraltar.
Gibraltar, Dec. 26.-(By Associated
Press. General Lord Kitchener has
arrived from Europe.
Guilty. OF BRIBERY.