Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-11-28
FARMERS JOIN THE BOERS.
Grave News from the Northern
Part of the Cape Colony
Received In London.
FEARS EXPRESSED OF GENERAL UPRISING.
Dispatches from Belmont Confirm
Trencherous Use of White Flag by
the Boers-May Result in British
Refusing to Give Quarter to Their
Enemies.

London, Nov. 27.-The news of the
death of the khalifa and the final de
feat of the dervishes has been received
here with great joy, as welcome set
off to the serious situation in South
Africa.
The gravest news from Cape Towr
Saturday comes from the northern
part of the colony, where, it is now
evident, numbers of Dutch farmers
have risen and joined the invading
Free State forces in the Herschell and
Barkley-east districts.
A dispatch from Queenstown, Cape
Colony, Gen. Gatae res headquarters
announces that "400 colonial rebels
including an eX-magistrate of Bark
ley-East, have joined the enemy" at
the latter place, and that the whole
force is reported to be marching on
Dordrocht, whence it can operate and
possibly intercept Gen. Gatacre's ad-
vance to reoccupy stormberg juno.
ton, strategic point from which
Gen. Gatacre can get in direct touch
through the railroad with Gen.
French at Aaauwpoort, and thus with
the British base at De Aar.
Another dispatch says that refugees
arriving from Queenstown assert that
Ladygrey has been occupied by the
colonial farmers and that it is feared
there that there is general move
ment in favor of the Beers.
Treacherous Use of White Flag.
Further dispatches from Belmont,
confirming the treacherous use of the
white flag by the Beers, are arousing in
dignation. The troops engaged are bit
terly complaining and it is feared the
result will be refusal to give the Beers
quarter.
An incident similar to the one which
occurred at the battle of Glencoe, when
an officer was shot by wounded Boer,
Is reported by the London Times cor
respondent at Belmont, who says that
Lieut.. Blundell, of the Grenadier
guards, was shot by wounded Boer
whom he was tending. Such state
ments appear incredible, but they are
now confirmed, officially, by the pro-
lest of Gen. Methuen, who has sent a
message to the Boer commander, say
ing:
i must ask you to warn your wounded
not to shoot our officers. must warn you
not to use dum-dum bullets, or use the flag
of truce treacherously. Such action is
cowardly In the extreme, and I cannot
countenance it."
Splendid ChrnSe of British.
All accounts confirm the splendid
charging of the British infantry. the
Scots guards entering the fight with
drums beating and flies playing.
T. The second ridge was the strongest
position. The Beers there were shell
tered behind ramparts of powders.
Nevertheless, the guards advanced
steadily, many of them coolly smoking.
L. Z. Knight, a well-known war CORE
spondent who went to Havana during
the spanish-American war, was wound
ed in the arm by dum-dum bullet
The hospital train arrived at Orange
river in the nick of time, from Cape
Town, and was sent to Belmont, The
train is constructed on the corridor
system, with beds ranged in tires on
either side. On its return to Orange
that number of them were able to
walk, but there were many stretcher
cases.
Movements of Mcthuen Uncertain.
There is much discussion now as to
whether Gen. Methuen intends to
march direct to Kimberley or double
round and cut off the Free Staters who
have invaded the Colesburg and Burgh-
ersdorp districts and, driving them on
Gems. Gatacre and French. inflict
crushing defeat on them. The general
opinion. however, is that he will pro-
coed north and attack the Beers at
Modder river. thus relieving Kimberley.
There is much anxiety now as to the
fate of Mafelsing, in view of the latest
and somewhat respondent advices. 1t
was rumofed in the Glasgow stock ex-
change that Mafeking has surrendered,
but the war office officials declare they
have nothing confrmatory or other
wise.
In the meanwhile, the news from
Natal is not encouraging Estcourt
and the Moot river camp are both hard
pressed and it seems almost Joke to
regard the garrisons as forming part of |
the relief force for Ladysmith.
A dispatch from Pretoria, dated
Thursday, gives advices from south of
Ladysmith, to the effect that Gen. Jou-
bert, the same morning, shelled Est
court camp. but without response.
The inhabitants of the town were re-
ported to be leaving.
The dispatch from Pretoria also indi-
Gates that news of the battle of Bel |
mont had reached Pretoria, as it saws
heavy fighting is reported south of |
Kimberley between the Free Staters
and supposed British relief force from
the Orange river"
The foregoing dispatch does not re-
fer to the British attack on the Boer
position ut Willow Grange, outside of
Estcourt. the previous day, which was
reported by the English newsoaper
correspondents.
The attack is said to have been sur
prise, and although the British retired
on Estcour, they did not do so until
they had bayoneted so Beers and cap
turcd all their equipment and num-
Der of horses. A big gun posted in po~
;ition, the capture of which appears to
have been the British objective, was
found TO have been removed. The story
s thus circumstantial, though no Off
,lal confirmation is yet Forthcoming.
Causes Satisfaction In England.
The reported determination of the
United States to compel President