A Tribute to the Australians.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXI, Issue 5060, 10 March 1900, Page 2

A Tribute to the Australians.

lord Roberta's Headquarters

The Enemy's Withdrawal From Xadywnith

The Zululand JTlying Column

A Grave Charge

A Bint to the Imperial Government

Volunteers and Militia

The Kharki Hoan

The Engagement at Csfontein

The British idvanee

The Undaunted

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph— Copyright Capetown, March g President Steyn assured Mr Hales, the West Aastrftlian war correspondent, that the capitulation of Pretoria would be preceded by events which would astonish Europe. The operations round Cqlesberg tried the Australian troopa and horses to the utmost. Lord kitchener inspected them, and stated that he highly appreciated their excellent work, and complimented them upon their general ffficieucy. , .•■ Poplar Grove, Lord Roberta* he*d? quarters, ia twenty miles eastward of Qsfontein. '^he^oers at Ladysmith Attribute their retreat to the comma.ndants' withdrawal from the key of their position,.

The lying column sent through 2uiuland under Colonal Prendergast coHsists of tbs King's Riles, mounted infantry, mounted police, Maxims and »qaick-firiug gun. The column invaded the Transvaal towards Uatasa. A party of sixty Boers were caught io ambuehs and three were killed. Other parties were scattered.

The residents of Kimberley declare that the Boers killed the British lying wounded during Major Scott Turner's sortie from the town in December last.

The Capetown correspondent of the Times states that an explicit Minis terial statement that the annexation of the Republics is intended would infuse new life into the loyalists and damp mischievous agitation.

The Boers besieging Mafeking are raking the etreets of the town with a new siege gun. Typhoid and dysentery lire prevalent in the town.

Lond©n, March 9 Sixty thousand volunteers and militia will mobilise in the summer on Salisbury Plains.

The war loan has been dubbed '« kharki," and is quoted If to 2 per cent premium.

Louis Botha commands 6000 at Glencoe.

The Eighth Army Division will leave for Bouth Africa on March 16. The batteries will no£ accompany ifc, as Lord Roberts considers they are not needed.

Fifteen transports will embark H s ooo troopa before March 20, for South Africa.

The mounted troopa afe Osfontein far outstripped the supporting infantry, and the enemy extended in a southeaat direction and fired volleys at the cavalry at a 800 yds range. General French then swept southwards, again outflanking the Boers, and after again volleying, they continued to escape, fleeing headlong to the eastward. The police from Bloemfontein were powerless to prevent the Free Staters becoming demoralised. They declared that they were unwilling to fight longer.

General Clements has seized Norval's Pont. The Boers blew up the bridge over the river. Their rearguard is on the northern bank. General Gatacre Is at Bnrghersdorp.

Lord Roberts is now threatening Bloernfontein and the line running to Norval's Pont,

The following Australian casualties are reported from Achtertang, with General Clement's force :—Wounded, A. H. Baker) missing, M, Ashinore. Both these are West Australians. H. M'Oreedie, of the New South Wales Mounted Infantry, has broken his ankle.

Wilson's Promontory, March 9 The Undaunted, from Lyttelfcon, has passed here.