Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-12-15
eeply stirred by Saturdays disaster

deeply stirred by Saturdays disaster.
Such scanty messages as have drib-
bled through seem to indicate that
preparations are about completed for
Simultaneous attacks at Tagela river
and Modder river-the dispatches
showing that the British and Beers
were in touch in both directions Mon
day.
There is no confirmation of the re-
port of another day-long battle along
the Modder river Monday, but pos
sibly there has been resumption of
fighting, as reported by Gen. Cronje
Monday evening, as the searching
lyddite shell fire of Sunday was prob
ably preliminary to an advance.
Great Indignation.
There is great indignation in Great
Britain at the ignorance the British in
telligence department is displaying in
estimating the Boer strength in Cape
Colony. Experts aver that $4,000 Beers
before the passage of the Orange river
can be commenced.
The latest news from Mafeking
shows that Col. Baden-Powell has been
forced to reduce the rations of the gar
rison and Inhabitants; but water is
plentiful there.
Steyn's Report of Battle.
Pretoria. Dec. 10.-President Steyn
has sent the following details of the
fight at Stormberg junction:
1.-THE British, with six cannon, attacked
the Beers, under Swanepoel and Olivier,
and stormed the Beers entrenched posi-
tons on the kopjes. After a severe fight
they were compelled to surrender The
prisoners are Maj. Sturges, six officers and
230 noncommissioned officers and men OF
the Northumberland and two officers and
about 25O noncommissoned officers and
men of the Irish fusieers. 1t is impossible
to state the number of dead or wounded
British. The Beers captured three cannon
and two ammunition V ons."
Gatacre ExDluins siis Defent.
London, Dec. 10. = The war office has
received the following from Gen. For
estfer-Walker;
"Cape Town. Monday, Dec 11.-Gatacre
reports as follows: The idea to attack
Stormberg seemed to promise certain sue
cess; but the distance was underestimated
by myself and the local guides A police
man took US round some miles and con-
u,
IN. till q. ~, and were landed in an i'm.
possible position. ] do not consider the
error Intentional. The Beers commenced
firing from the top of an unskalable hin
and wounded good many IF our men
while in the open plain. The Second North.
umberlands tried to turn out the enemy
but failed. The Second Irish fusiieers
seized kop5e near and held on, supported
by the mounted infantry and Cape police
The guns. under Jeffreys, could not have
been better handled. But regret to saw
that one gun was overturned in a deem
nullah and another sank in quicksand.
Neither could be eXtricated in the time
available.
Seeing the situation, sent dispatch
rider to Molteno with the news. collected
and withdrew our forces from ridge to
ridge for about nine miles. The Boer guns
were remarkably well served They car
ried accurately 5000 yards. / am holding
Busbamn's Hook and cyphergat Am
sending the Irish rifles and Northumber-
lands to Sterksstrom to recuperate The
proceed to Queenstown The.
missing Northumberland number 366, not
S06 as previously reported.'"
Must Quit Cigarettes.
Atlanta, Ca, Dec. 13-A general or
Ter has been issued by the Southern