The Attack on Pieter's Hill

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXI, Issue 5056, 6 March 1900, Page 2

The Attack on Pieter's Hill

Children Eonnd in the Boer Trenches Cronje Thanks Lord JRoberts General Gataere fs Operations A Boer Position fcheiied Colonial Troops at the Front Shelling the ii nemy Kruger Wants Peace Escape of Three British Officers from Pretoria United Press As«ooiatton—By Electri* Telegraph—'Copyright London, March 4 Several children were found in the trenches at Fieter'a Bill, and one baby was wrapped in a blanket. London, March 5 Kruger announced that Oronje surrendered owing to the scarcity of ammunition and food. Many Boers are retreating in the direction of Biggarsberg. The British are sending additional mounted troops iuto Zululand to intercept the Boers. Colonel Price, of Victoria, has moved his camp, which comprises a strong force of Australian Mo a a led Rifles and the Berkshire Regiment seven miles north of Oplesburg. The Westralian and South Australian mounted troops, which recently arrived at Capetown, have left for the front, The Queen congratulated the Bins Jackets who assisted General Baiter in the relief of Ladysmitb. The newspapers insist upon making the cost of the war a first charge upon the revenues of the Republics after annexation. Dr Leyds declares that President Kruger wants peace, but will never sacrifice the independence - of the Republic?. He is ready to submit to arbitration. The Australian Bushmen's Fund exceeds £18,000. The Imperial Government have accepted the oiler of the Canadian Government to garrison Halifax with local troop?, in order to release the Second Battalion of the Prince of Wales Leinster Regiment for active service. Capetown, March § Lord Roberts' pacifactory proclamation has had a good effect in the lower portion of the free State, but the I northern districts are still warlike. Cronje thanked Lord Roberts for his considerate treatment of the B,oer prisoners. General Gatacre made a reconnaieanpe in force on Friday from SterkatrooiH towards Storinberg, ans shelled a Boer position, M»jor-General Brabant marched during the night to Labuschagce's Nek, and occupied a strong position;, including a fort customarily vacated at night. At dawn yesterday the enemy were returning leisurely when Brabant's force firfd, bewildering them. Later on the enemy's determined attempt to retake the position was repulsed. . Msjor-General Brabant occupies other point?. The British had six kilied and fifteen wounded. Major Maxwell, of the Hoyal Engineers, with a mixed force of eleven hundred men, attacking the Boers in the rear, north of Dordrecht, at dawn yesterday, seized a lofty mountain in the face of a heavy fire. Two Boer guns continued firing all the afternoon, and several Cape riflemen, in endeavoring to reach the breastworks were repulsed, losing four killed. , Two hundred Victorians and Taimanians, under Captain Jenkins/of th« Victorian Mounted Rites, with two guns, while' reconnoitring from Colesberg, in the direction of Waggon Bridge, Orange River, saw fifty Boers busy on the opposite bank, arid dropped a shell amongst them, thus causing their precipitate retreat towards a distant laager. Other shells fired burst among the retreaters. ." l It transpires that on the eve of the war ultimatum, the Volksraad secured i pensions for President Kruger and all tho other officials, expecting that Great Britain would recognise ths pensions. Three British officers escftptd from

Pretoria daring the confusion following » stoppage of the electric light. Sir William McQornctac has sailed for England.