STRENGTH OF THE ENEMY

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 163, 11 July 1900, Page 5

STRENGTH OF THE ENEMY

MOVEMENTS OF STEYN AND DE WET.

RETREATING SOUTH.

UNFORTUNATE BRITISH PRISONERS.

THE ATTEMPTED RECAPTURE OF RUSTENBUKG-.

[N.Z. Press Associ

'(Received 9.15 a.m.)

f CAPETOWN/July 10. It is estimated at Pretoria that

General Louis Botha^s force in the Transvaal, and De Wet's commandos i» Orange River Colony, number ■11,000.

The Boers have evacuated their i positions round Senekal, and apparently have withdrawn in the direction of Ficksburg, south of Fouriesberg, and Bethlehem.

Ex-President Steyn and Commandant Christian De Wet, with a force of 3000 Boers, have retreated to Fouriesburg, close to the Basutoland border, and 25 miles south of ■Bethlehem.

' P., J. Blignant, State Secretary, R. Dickson, State Attorney, and G. IVantonder, senior member of the Executive Council A the late Free State, surrendered to the British at lleilbron.

The prisoners of the Irish YeoXnanry and Derbyshire Militia thrust across the. !N"atal border were nearly

gtarvecli

'-.Tte MnifpitQ? we, re stolen, and they were wearing the indescribably jfilthy clothes of the Boers.

:.A; detachment of Australian ■Bushmen made a forced march from Zeerust to Rustenburg, sixty miles west of Pretoria, and took part in. the. defence, of the town against the attempt' at" recapture by a detachment of the enemy.

Several members of " the Dutch [Ambulance Corps at Pretoria have been convicted of carrying informatioi. and ammunition to the Boers, and have been sent to Capetown.