SOUTH AFRICA.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXI, Issue 5455, 26 August 1901, Page 2

SOUTH AFRICA.

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. London, August 23 Lord Kitchener's despatch on the 1 progress of the war referred to delays in the operations between April and Jane through the necessity for training the new Yeomanry, many of whom -were unable to ride or shoot. Afterwards satisfactory progress was made Lord Kitchener sent back 200 Yeomanry recruits as radically unfit. They were suffering from varicocele, heart disease, and deafness. Lord Kitchener complains bitterly of the slipshod examination of recraita in England Oolonel Featherstonhaugb, near KLlerksdorp, captured a convoy of 86 waggons and 9000 rounds of ammunition

Oolonel Fflatherstonhaugh's captures were efteeted by Oolonel Williams's column, including the Second New South Wales Mounted Infantry, the Third Neve South Walei Bushmen, and the A Battery Royal Australian Artillery with two guns. Finding traces of a big trek near Kalkoanplaats, Staat Valley, Oolonel Williama'a column pursued, and after a hard gallop of 12 miles and sharp fighting captured the convoy, accomplishing the return journey to camp, with all serviceable captures, a distance of SO miles in 27 hours. The fact that fehe convoy was enabled to maintain a lead of the pursuers for so long is ascribed to the contributions made voluntarily, or extorted, from farmers during the trek. The majority of the Boera escorting the waggons fled. Eighteen prisoners were taken, including the Landdrost of Bloemhof and Dutoit, a telegraphist, who had in his possession wire tapping apparatus A number of Boer sympathisers at Swellendham have been arrested, Commandant Smut and 120 men trekked 30 miles south of Edenburg across the railway in the direction of Basutoland. Lord Kitchener permitted the immediate return of 300 refugees to the Rand beyond the usual monthly number, The Times, with a view to speedily terminating the campaign, urges the employment of seasoned British troops from India prior to their return to England, tried South African campaigners replacing them in India. Owing to the difficulty of obtaining a representative gathering of members, and the danger of inflammatory speeches, it is not expected that the Oape Parliament will assemble even by October unless the situation changes. The Governor of the colony will meantime issue warrants for expenditure. Kruger, replying to a German proBoer society's address, says Lord Kitchener's proclamation showed he recognised the impossibility of subduing the Boers by arms. Melbourne August 25 One hundred and twenty Victorian troops return to South Africa by the Britannic on indulgence passages.