The Oskaloosa herald., 1900-03-29
ONLY SMALL FIGHTS.
South African News Tells of I'm
important Skirmishes.

LadySmlth, March 2S.--lt is report
ed that the Beers are massing in their
entrenched positions at Biggarsberg,
and it is added that their transport
trains are packed at Newcastle in
readiness to facilitate their retreat in
case necessity requires such step.
London, March S.-Reconnaisances
of slight Importance continue to be
the only features of the war in South
Africa. Lord Roberts wires to the
war office as follows:
"Bloemfontein, Monday, March 26.-Capt.
Sloane-Stanley, of the Sixteenth lancers,
was slightly wounded in an affair of out
posts north of the Modder river March 25."
This bare statement is all that comes
from the commander in chief.
Staying on Their Farms.
A dispatch from Maseru, Basuto-
land, dated &c, says:
THE Basutoland government is busy
collecting natives to be employed at Bloem-
fontein in repairing and laying railroads.
The natives report that the Free Staters
on the borders of Basutoland have refused
to go to Kroonstad and are staying on
their farms, as it is Low the plowing sea-
son and they are inclined to keep their
land and submit rather than give it up and
fight"
No Attack I'm Natal.
Boer reports from Natal show no
developments of Importance have oc-
CURED there up to March %. A dis
patch from the Boer camp at Glencoe,
dated March 30, says:
mo attack is expected to be made on the
Boer forces in Natal. Gems. Botha and
Meyer have been Joined by their wives.
Pretorius, with a patrol, got between an
advance guard of lancers and it's main
body March %. One lancer, who refused
to surrender. was shot.
Rains Are General.
Advices from Cape Town say:
"Rains are general throughout South
Africa and rivers which have been dry for
years are being flooded. Many camps are
transformed into swamps. This will still
more initiate against an immediate Brit
ish advance.
Sickness among the Boer prisoners on
the transports is increasing. Three deaths
occurred March 26. The bodies were buried
by the British with the Transvaal flag on
the collins, the leading Dutch of Simons-
town attending the funeral. Typhoid alone
claims 100 victims among the prisoners and
the population of Simonstown fear an epi-
demic.
Building Trenches.
Michael Davitt arrived at Lorenzo
Marques March "a.
A dispatch in the second edition of
the Times from that port declares the
Beers are using natives from the mines
to construct trenches around Johan-
nesburg, adding that the mines are
expected to shut down owing to the
military demand for Kaffir labor.
VIII Wait Month.
London, March 2S.-The Cape Town
correspondent of the Daily News says:
at is improbable that the advance from
Bloemfontein will be made for another
month. Gen. Clements is advancing to
Bloemfontein in four columns. When Lord
Roberts begins the march northward Gen
Gatacre will be left in charge of Bloem-
fontein.
THE colonial government has ordered
the Cape volunteers to withdraw south of
the Orange river for fear of accentuating
racial feeling"
Seize a Farm.
London, March 28.-A dispatch to the
Daily Chronicle from Kimberley says
that 400 Free Staters have taken pos
session of the road between Kimberley
and Paardeberg. They have seized a
farm near Pandamsfontein, where a
number of army horses had been sent
to rest and Craze. 1t is rumored that
their object is to raid the railway by
way of Jacobsdal.
Guarding the Passes.
London, March 2S.-A special to the
Daily Telegraph from Ladysmith,
dated Monday. says: "There are about
10000 Beers guarding the nine passes
over the Drakenberg range"
No Opposition.
London, March 2S.-The Daily Mail
publishes the following from Faure-
smith: "Gen. Clements column oc-
cupied Jagersfontein ana Fauresmith
this morning amid great rejoicing and
enthusiasm. and without opposition.
The British troops were warmly
cheered and union jacks are now fly
ing everywhere"
Plant of Slow Growth.
London, March 2S.-The Morning
Post has the following, dated March
26, from Burghersdorp:
Dutch lip loyalty is now very strong and
the Dutch are tumbling over one another In
efforts to give information TO the British
authorities. Real loyalty, however, will
be a plant of slow growth in these dis
tricts. have travelled with Sir Alfred Mil
ner and / believe his policy toward the
rebels favors tempering justice with