The Oskaloosa herald., 1900-12-27
PRAISE FOR BOERS.
British journals Express Admira-
ton for Their Bravery.

would be by far the most acceptable
Christmas box to. the average Eng
ushman, though there seems little
likelihood of the wish being granted.
The desire for the suppression of this
wonderful Boer leader, however, is ac-
companied by generous admiration Of
his latest feat.
ut would be unworthy of the Brit
ish name" says the Times, "to refuse
the credit that is due q feat of arms
80 brilliant as the unexpected dash
backward Of De Wet and his men
through the British lines"
Other papers take the same view,
comparing the ride to ~Springhaas mex
with the charge of Balaklava. In fact,
admiration for the extraordinary dar-
ing displayed by the Beers on this oc-
casion almost predominates over the
chagrin at the failure OF the British
officers to cope with their opponents.
Movement Checked.
London, Dec. 24.-The war Office has
received the following dispatch from
Lord Kitchener, dated Pretoria, De-
cember %:
"As far as It is possible for me to form an
opinion from the reports OF officers on the
spot, l think the Boer movement into Cape
Colony has been checked. OF the two forces
that entered the colony, the eastern is still
north of the Zoutpansberg range, while the
one that entered west appears to have been
turned in the direction of Britstown and
Prieska. Our troops are getting around
both sides, and a special column is also
being organized which will be dispatched
Immediately when I know where its serV-
ices are most wanted.
1.-THE Beers AVE not received much as
sistance in Colony, as. far as my informa-
tion goes. We nave armed some Of the
colonists, who are assisting our forces.
Railway and telegraph communication has
been much Interrupted by the very bad
weather.
'DeWet is in the neighborhood of Sene-
kaL. Gen. French, in conjunction with Gen.
Clements, attacked a force under Beyers
south Of Magaliesberg. The Beers broke
away In a southwesterly direction toward
Potchefstroom and were followed by Gen.
Gordon with a column of French force.
Yesterday evening about hVe O'CLOCK
Clements force was engaged south of Oil
plants neck, but l do not yet know the re-
suit.
1.-THE western column of Beers occupied
Britstown and cut the railway south OF
DeAar Junction. The enemy is being fol-
lowed up.
Gen. French has been in contact for two
days with the commandos of Beyers and
Delarey south of the Magaliesberg. He Is
pursuing them. The enemy has lost con-
siderably, and Commandment Kreuz and
others have been captured.
Gen. Colvllle engaged two separate COM
mandos December q near Vlakfontein
with slight losses, the enemy retiring"
Situation Gloomy. -
London, Dec. 24.-Lord Kitchener's
dispatches, breathing a confidence
hardly justified by their contents, are
almost the only available news from
the seat of hostilities in South Africa,
but kilograms from Cape Town depict
the situation in anything but roseate
hues. without believing the assertion
of the Transvaal agency in Brussels
that 5000 Beers have invaded Cape
Colony, it is quite evident that the
invasion was a serious and well
planned affair.
Advices from Cape Town represent
the Dutch element in Cape Colony as
greatly elated over the southwark
progress of the Beers and as boasting
that the whole district of Victoria
West will join the raiders. 1t is sus-
pected in Cape Town that the force
travelling from Zoutpans Drift Is not
a body of Beers but one of colonials,
Fastening to join the invaders.
The Pietermaritzburg correspondent
Of the Daily Mail says: The Beers
are active between johannesburg and
Pretoria, exchanging shots with the
British outposts, and it is reported
that parties of Beers are lowering
around johannesburg.
Buying Horses and Mules.
Kansas City, Mo-, Dec. 24.-Capt.
Heygate, of the British army, is pur-
chasing $4,000 cavalry horses and
mules for the British army in South
Africa. He came here more than a
year ago to buy horses and mules for
the British army, but he was ordered
home a short time ago because it was
thought that the Boer war vas over
But the unexpected renewal of HOSTILE
ties has MADE the purchase of more
horses and mules absolutely neces-
sary. AS fast as the animals are in
spected and bought they will be sent
to New Orleans and shipped to Cape
Town, Durham and New London on
British transports, some of which are
now on their way to the United
States. One shipload of the animals
will be taken to South Africa by Lieut..
David Moberly, leaving New Orleans
soon after January 1. Lieut.. Moberly
said:
by the time the horses and mules are
landed in South Africa they cost the Brit
ish government $3.50 a head. That is a large
price for an animal which will be fit for
service only six weeks. Most of the ami
mails die because of the change in climate.
They must cross the equator in going to
South Africa, and the torrid heat of the
tropics kills them rapidly. The average
death rate on shipboard is 80 to the 1000.
Forty days after a horse is purchased in
Kansas City It is landed in South Africa.
Since The beginning of the Boer war Eng
land has purchased over 10000 head of
horses and mules in the United States. 1t
required s5 ships to carry them from New
Orleans to South Africa"