Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-10
Strong Bands of Detached
Troops Trouble British
in Free State.
MAKE MOVES RAPIDLY.
Brabant's Colonials Arc Depended Up
on to Counteract Boer rRaids-Bur.
ghers May Attack Wepener
and Enter Basutoland.

Maseru, Saturday, April 7.-By As
sociated Press. )-The Beers who were
Inassed last week near Ladybrand to
the number of ten thousand, after
seizing Thaba 'Nchu and the Modder
river water works, broke into strong
divisions and they are now raiding in
the south OF the Free State, reoccupy-
ing the small towns which have been
evacuated by the British. The Boer
policy seems to be to make rapid move
ments, with little transport, looting
English farmers, and store keepers
freely for provisions, and cutting the
communications of the British forces
Brabant's colonials are now mostly ut
Wepener. They are splendid force,
capable of great striking power and
used to cross-country riding and able
to deal roughly with the Boer COM
mandos now roaming about the coun-
try. A squadron of Brabant's horse
captured 400 rifles near, Wepener. His
outposts are reported to be in touch
with the Beers and a fight is regarded
as imminent. Persistent reports are
circulated that the Beers are preparing
to flank the British position at Wep-
ener and thus secure an entrance to
Basutoland. Such an attempt will be
resisted by the Basutoland government,
which, it is believed, has made quiet
preparations. Meanwhile the approach
of armies to Basutoland produces
much excitement among the natives,
necessitating the utmost vigilance Oh
the part of local officials.
Fourteen Streams SheIled.
Warrenton, Saturday, April 7.-(By
Associated Press. )-Y Yesrerday evening
the British shelled Fourteen Streams,
which has been occupied by a force of
Beers. This morning the Beers placed
in position a big gun, which they fred
inefectively. A fusilade of Mausers
followed at intervals thruout the day.
The British dropped lyddite and
shrapnel shells into the Boer position,
finally silencing the enemy's fire and
driving off the snipers.
General Rundel to Kimberley.
Cape Town, April o. -(By Associated
Press. Lieutenant General Sir Hen
ry Rumble, commander of the eighth
division, has been ordered to Kimber-
ley on special duty.
Reports of British Capture.
London, April 6.-(By Associated
Press 1.-THE following is the text of
Roberts dispatch to the war Office an
nouncing the capture of five companies
of his troops: "Bloemfontein, Thurs
day, April 5.-Another unfortunate oc-
currence has occurred, resulting, L
fear. in the capture of a party of in
fantry consisting of three companies of
the Royal Irish fusiliers and two COM
panies of the Ninth regiment of noun
ted Infantry, near Reddersburg, a
little eastward of Bethany railway sta
ton. Within a few miles of this
place, they We're surrounded by a
stronger force of the enemy with four
or five guns. The detachment held out
from noon of April 3, until April 4, at
o'clock in the morning, and then APP
parently surrendered, for the report
ed firing ceased at that time. Imme-
diately after l heard the news, during
the afternoon of April 8, I ordered
Gatacre to proceed from Sprinfontein,
his present headquarters, TO Redders-
burg with all possible speed and L dis
patched the Cameron Highlanders
hence to Bethany. He arrived at Red
dersburg at 10:30 o'clock yesterday
morning without. t.opposition but could
get no news of the missing detach-
ment. There is no doubb that the
whole party were made prisoners"
Roberts Reports Casualties.
London, April 7..-(By Associated
Press.) )-Roberes reports to the war
office as follows "Bloemfontein, Fri
day, April 6.-The casualties at Red
dersburg are Officers-Killed, Cap-
tain 4. G.. Casson; Lieutenant C. II.
barclay, both of the Northum berlands.
Wounded, two; captured, eight. Nom
commissioned officers and men-killed
eight; wounded, thirty-three; the rest
captured. Our strength was 167
mounted infantry and 424 infantry.
The enemy is said to be 5000 strong,
with five guns"
Cape Town. April r. (By Associated
,Press. IA determined attempt to- es-
cape was made today by the Boer pris-
,oners at Simontown. Fourteen sue
'ceeded in getting away.
Carnavon, Cape Colony, April c. (By
Associated Press. Ut is reported that
200 insurgents, who were not aware
that Sir Charles Parsons has occupied
Kenhardt and who We're on the way
TO that place We're captured by the
, British. The Canadian artillery has
returned here from Nanwekes Wei.