Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-02-22
FIGHTING
WITH CBI|ggl'JE
Costliest Action of * !, War
Fought at Paarde 6g
Drift Sunday. s
CRONJE ASKS ARMIsTICE
British Loss Was Extremely Heavy
Rattle Almost a Duplicate Of Mod
der River - Terrific Smelling
Monday and Tuesday.

BAetl0 AimOSI duplicate OIL MO0s
der River Terrific Smelling
Monday and Tuesday.
Paardeherg Drift, Orange Free State
Tuesday, Feb. 90, via Modder River,
Feb. .21. (By Associated Press )-One
of the costliest actions of the war oc-
CURED at Paardeberg Drift Sunday,
Feb. is, when General Kelley-Kenny,
in his pursuit of Cronje, caught his
rear guard at Kip Drift and followed
the burghers to the Beers lager at
Koodoosrand. The drift action began
at daybreak, the mounted infantry
driving the Boer rear guard up the
river towards the main body, while
another body of mounted infantry
manoeuvered on the right front and
flank of the Beers. The British main
body advanced to outfanll the Beers
laager on the north bank of the river.
Kelley-Kenny having seized two drifts
found the Beers strongly enclosed and
ordered an attack with the Highland
brigade on the left and Knox's brig
ade on the center and right while
General Smith-Dorrien's brigade cross
ed the river and advanced along che
north bank. On both the north and
south banks the ground is level. The
advance across this was deadly and the
British loss was heavy. The battle
was an exact replica of Modder river.
The soldiers were under fire all day
long and the fighting had no definite
result as the Boer laagers were well
barricaded and they remained therein.
The British shelled the laagers vigor-
ously. The Beers confessed a loss of
over 800. The terrific shelling was re-
sumed Monday, when Cronje asked for
an armistice. The shelling continued
Tuesday, over fifty guns pouring lead
into the Boer camp.
Paardeberg, Wednesday, Feb. 21.-1
(By Associated Press.)-A Boer Kopje
has been captured with fifty prisoners.
Cronje's position is unchanged.
Roberts Reports Tuesdays Movements
London. Feb. 22.-(By Associated
Press The war Office has received the
following from Roberts, dated Paarde-
burg, Feb. 81: Yesterday afternoon l
became satisfied by careful reconnois-
sance in force of the enemy's position
that could not assault it without
very heavy loss, which was most anx-
ious to avoid. Accordingly decided to
lombard him with artillery and turn
my attention to the enemy's reinforce
ments. The result was most satisfac-
tory. The Beers We're driven off in all
directions, losing good many killed
and wounded and about fifty prison.
ers, who say they arrived from Lady
smith two days ago by railroad. They
also say it was our. artillery fire that
caused them to abandon the kopje
they were occupying. Our loss is two
officers, Captain Campbell of the Ninth
Lancers, and Lieutenant Houston, of
the artillery, and four men, all slight
~ wounded.
Buller's Casualties.
London, Feb. 22. (By Associated
Press )-Buller reports his casualties
up to Monday, Feb. 10, as follows:
Killed Captain Thorbury, of the Roy
al Fusiliers; ;wounded-two officers and
fourteen men.
Rotha Attempts to Relieve Oronje.
London, Feb. 22.-(By Associated
Press. special from Paardeberg,
dated Wednesday, February 81, says:
"Commandant Botha attempted to re-
lieve Cronje. There has been severe
fighting and Botha's force is believed
to be scattered, with heavy losses.'
Hurryins to Cronje's Help
Berlin, Feb. 22.-The Tageblatn pub
fishes special dispatch from Brussels
which says the Transvaal legation
there announces that all the Beers are
evacuating Natal, their positions in
that colony being no longer tenable.
General Joubert, it is added, has or
dered the concentration of all the
available forces to oppose Lord Rob
erts. The siege of Ladysmith, it is
further announced, will be raised, and
it is expected General Butler will enter
the town at the end of the week.
Progressing Toward Ladysnilh.
!; Chieyeley Camp, Natal, Wednesday,
Feb. 21.-(By Associated ress.)-The
steady progress OF the relief column
lis uninterrupted. The Beers, Tuesday,
iwere forced from the last position
gsouth of the Tugela, resulting in the
evacuation of Colenso, which was
promptly reoccupied by the Dublin
Fusileers and Thornycroft's horse. A
Transvaal flag was captured as was a.
handkerchief Inscribed with General
Botha's name This is treasured as
great trophy. The Beers heavily
ahelled Hlangwanda hill and Colenso,
So ~ IS