Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-01-16

ished a post in the enemy's country.
With force of all his arms he took up
position January at Zeutpans Drift,
on the north side of the Orange river,
in the Free State.
Warren Across the Tugela.
cape Town, Jan. 15.-(By Associated
Press.)-A dispatch to the Argus, dated
January 10, says the authorities have
! received news that General Warren has
crossed the Tugela and occupied a
strong position north of the river.
Report Discredited.
London, Jan. 15.-(By Associated
! Press.) The above report has been
current here since yesterday, but is
discredited in official circles.
Rumor OF Another Reverse.
London, Jan. 15.-By Associated
Press IA telegram from Newport,
Wales, says Rutherford Harris, form
erly resident director in South Africa
OF the British South African company,
has received a cablegram to the effect
that Butler has suffered another re-
verse.
British Cross Border.
Modder River, Thursday, Jan. IL
General Darlington, with two regi-
ments of Lancers, the Victorian
mounted rifles, and battery of horse
artillery, left here on the evening of
Jan. Z Sunday and crossed the Free
State border on Tuesday.
simultaneously other movements
were made. A column under Colonel
Pitcher went from Belmont to the
south OF General Babington's route.
while a portion of the garrisons of
Klokfontein and Honey Nest Kloof,
under Major Byrne, advanced toward
Jacobsdal.
General Babington penetrated twelve
miles and his scouts twenty. They
saw no signs of armed Beers. The
farmhouses were found empty, the oc-
cupants having had news of the adj
vance and gone further into the inter-
ior.
The British bivouacked at Random.
They burned three farmhouses the
property of Lubbe, one of the Boer
leaders.
Yesterday they swept around south
ward, returning here today. Nothing
was accomplished except a reconnois-
sance.
Colonel Pitcher came into touch
5 with General Babington and then re-
turned ito Belmont.
Major Byrne reconnoitred the hills
about four miles from Jacobsdal and
saw 700 Beers.
Details of Ladysmith Fight.
London, Jan. 15.-A special dis
patch from the Hoofd laager at Lady
smith, describing the attack of Jan.
6 on Ladysmith, says:
The British made no attempt to
hold the first line of breastworks, but
made an exceedingly stubborn resist
ance at the next row. Every inch was
stubbornly contested, and conspicuous
bravery was displayed on both sides.
AFTER 10 o'clock the British artil-
lery fire slackened, and a terrible indi-
vidual contest ensued among the rifle
men for the possession of Plat-Rand
ridge. AT noon heavy thunder
storm interrupted the battle, lasting
for two hours.
"Altho the burghers succeeded in
ultimately gaining possession of most
of the British positions on the western
side of Plat-Rand, they We're finally
obliged to retire from most of the
ground they occupied.
ssFhe British We're most strongly in
trenched, their redoubts being still
fully loop-holed, and the combat was
SO close that rifles were frequently
fired at arms length. 1t was hand-to-
hand encounter.
''The men on both sides fought like
demons, and the horror and bewilder-
ment of the scene could scarcely be
paralleled.
s"rhe operations were continued the
next day (Sunday) on smaller scale,
but it is reported that, as q result of
/ one of the forlorn hopes, one gun and
two ammunition wagons were cap
turedH