Telegraphic News.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume XLIX, Issue 2457, 30 March 1900, Page 2

Telegraphic News.

(PROM ODR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)

[By Telegbaph],

London, March 28

The reply ot Russia to the note to the Powers by the two Presidents, Kruger and Steyn, shows the greatest sympathy for the Boers and the greatest regret at the inability to comply with their request for mediation, explaining that had the Presidents applied to the Powers ,efore telegraphing to Lord Salisbury there was reason to believe that England could have been approached. The reply, however, would have been the same, as mediation would have been iniposs'ble after Lord Salisbury's categorical answer on the subject. The " Chronicle" states that 400 Free Staters threaten the railway near JacobsdaL Renter's agent states that a strong force of Boers hns re-occupied Ladybrand, and it is inferred that their retreat upon Ki'oonstad has been interrupted.

The " Times," commenting on Russia's reply to the Presidents, says that perhaps it is the unkitdest sent, acidulating a platonic sympathy with an intimation that the Republics had looked the wrong way, but that it would hava made no difference if they had looked the right way. The .Australian joint cablegram to Mr Chamberlain has been a further blow to the enemy's sympathisers. The Transvaal Boers arrested Commandant Primsloo who retired to his farm. By President Kruger's permission they are also looting the farms of the Free Staters, attributing the outrage to the British. A strong column of the Imperial Yeomariry has been sent to Griquatown. The column proceed later on to Mafeking, co-operating witli Lord Methuen's Warrenton column. Lieutenant M. E. Lindsay of New Zealand has received a commission in the 76th Dragoons. Major-General Clements occupied Jagersfontein and Fauresmith unopposed, receiving a cordial welcome from the inhabitants. The Boer version of their movements is that Commandant Ollivier's column has joined with the Grobler and Lemmer's column and that the entile force will join Commandant Delvet to oppose Lord Roberts near Winburg. Capetown, March 28 Two Boer prisoners at Simonstown succeeded in escaping. The Natal Boers report that they have destroyed the shafts and machinery in the Dundee colleries and that they intend destroying all the others.