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 GIvETHANKs
special Services Held In Memory of the
Recent victories-Joubert Returns
10 sthe Front-Neyspaper Men
leave Modder Rivers

i ,- #
London, Dec. 26.-(By Associated
Press The latest dispatches from
South Africa show the situation at the
front practically unchanged with the
exception Of desnltory artillery prac-
1tice, to which the Beers do not reply.
The Beers heavily bombarded Lady
smith 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 a tight corner
Dec. Is. They were nearly surround
ed by Beers, and retired under hail
of bullets fired 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 return>
ed to Cape Town from the Modder riv-
er, apparently confirming the belief
ish Is projected.
A dispatch from Cape Town, dated
Wednesday, Dec. 90, says: "Glanders
has broken out among the American
mules, Of which there are 1,100 at
Stellfburch Remount farm. Twenty
six mules have been destroyed and sew
enty-eight have been isolated. Sedi-
tion is spreading in Cape Colony. Three
members of the Cape parliament are al
legged to be implicated, and one of
them Is said TO have presented a Free
State flag to q Roer commander, ut the
same, tinae expressing the hope that he
would carry. it to glory and victory.
other member of the parliament said
Il he was recruiting for the Beers. In
addition, wealthy farmers are now aid
Ing the invaders.
Joubert to the Front.
Pretoria, Dec. 1s.-(By Associated
and returned to- the front today. There;
different laagers as. Thanksgiving for
the victories of 3Golenso, Stromberg and
Modder river.
Dordrecht Occupied
London, Dec. 26.--(By Associated
Press The war office has received
the following dispatch from Cape
Town: No change in he situation at
Modder river. Methuen is well en-
trenched and the Beers do not disturb
\ him. Gatacre reports that $50 police
have occupied Dordrecht, the Beers re-
treating with no loss"
Omcers wounded.
london. Dec, 26.-{By Associated
Press The war Office has received
dispatch from Pietermaritzburg,
dated Suday, the Gath, an,
nouncing that in an engage
ment at Ladysmith, Dec. 22, Major
Acking, Captains Wathen and Oakes,
and Lieutenant Hulze Wacott We're
wounded, and nine non-commissioned
officers and men killed and ten wound
ed. This engagement has not pre-,
yiously been reported.
FREQ staters Dissatisfie d.
Modder River, Cape Colony, Dec. 20.
guns command the whole of the Boer
OF every stone and bush. They fire.
4 quently plant shells in the midst OF
\ groups Of Beers. The burghers are re.
ported to be returning home for
4 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.
4 POSITIONS. The Transvaalers do not
conceal their suspicious of possible
defpctiOn from the Free Sfafers and
threaten to shoot them at the least
sign of favoring. The Free Staters
are said to regard subsection to the
Transvaal as more to be feared than
subjection to Great Britain.
kitchener at Gibraltar.
Gibraltar, Dec. 26. Associated
Press. General Lord Kitchener has
arrived from Europe.
GUILTY OF BRIBERY,