Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-12-14
LONDON is WAITING
DETAILS OF GEN. GArACRE'S DIS
ASTER SLOW IN COMING.
MORE PRISONERS TAKEN
Report That Methuen Loses Fity-Ac.
tivity Great in the Vicinity of Lady
smith-Troops on Half Rations-
Task of Conquest Promises to Drag
Out Long.

DtC. lZ.-1<O news
has been received to remove the mys-
terry overhanging Gen. Gatacre's re-
treat from Stormberg. He has not yet
forwarded the promised additional
message and the censorship has pre-
vented the correspondents from eX-
planning the matter. Until Gen. Cat
acre has given his explanation it is felt
considerable allowance must be made
for the extreme difficulty of getting in
telligence in country whose inhabi-
tants are in strong sympathy with the
enemy. Stormberg is described as a
stronger position than Laing's Mex
The only road winds through lofty
hills where fanking is impossible.
ColeSburg is also said to be almost an
Iimpregnable position, and as no troops
are available to reinforce the columns
acting in those directions it becomes
evident that Gen. Gatacre's misfortune
or error will delay the invasion of the
Free State, perhaps some weeks. 1t
is exceedingly probable he will be
| compelled to retire on Queens
town and wait for reinforcements
which can hardly reach him until Sir
Charles Warren's division arrives at
the cape. The first detachments will
sail Saturday Even if Gen. French is
not compelled to retreat he will be OBJ
liged to pause in advance 1t now
seems certain the seventh division,
which is being modified at Aldershot,
will also be sent to south Africa. No
news has been received CONFIRMING the
boer report of the capture of so pris.
oners at Modder river from Lord Me-
thuen's column. 1t is just two months
since the Transvaal uItimatum was
delivered. Nine engagements have
been fought and the British have lost
566 killed, 2,027 wounded 1877 missing
or prisoners. The war Office has is
sued notice that after January 1 de-
duction be made from the pay
of soldiers serving in south
Africa-in the case of privates four
pence per day for their wives, penny
for each child; in the case of sergeants
8 pence for wives and two pence for
each child. These sums have thus far
been paid by the government The
order indicates that the campaign will
be long one. 1t is announced from
ICapetown that the beers have succeed
ed in repairing Leeuwfontein bridge,
between Stormberg and Burgher which
the British destroyed on retiring.
Beers Took Three Guns.
Pretoria, Dec. 1.-THE beers cap
tured three British guns in the en-
gagement with Gen. Gatacre's force at
Stormberg. Six hundred and seventy
two British prisoners were also taken.
and captured so soldiers in the Modder
river fight yesterday.
Beers Are Numerous
Frere Camp, Natal, Dec 12.-British
cavalry reconnoitered yesterday
abreast of Colenso and EXCHANGED shots
with, parties of beers who fell back
across the river. Kopjes were OBJ
served thickly occupied by the enemy.
The railway bridge at Colenso has
been completely destroyed Two stone
piers were blown up. The highway
bridge is intact
F1ghtng Away at Mafeking.
Mafeking, Dec. 12.-(Nov 80, via
Lourenzo Marques)-Sorties by Brit
ish armOred trains and boer Smelling of
the town continue. The British have
had but few casualties
Half Rations at Ladysmith
Lourenzo, Marques, Dec. 1.-THE
following dispatch is received from the
boer lager near Ladysmith Sew
eral Kaffir runners from Ladysmith to
Estcourt have been captured They
received from Is to 40 pounds for the
trip. Intercepted messages show the
men and horses in Ladysmith are now
on half rations. Whiskey is a pound
bottle and beer is exhausted"