THE TRANSVAAL WAR

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume LII, Issue 2602, 30 August 1901, Page 2

THE TRANSVAAL WAR

Another shipment of 500 cattle is boing** Eent to South Africa, and also 100 heifers purchased by the Government for the Government of NataL

It is officially reported that De la Rey issued a proclamation warning Boers against Lord Kitchener:* proclamation, aud adding they wi.l continue the struggle. Kruger, in the course of an interview, the Boers will disappear if God wills, but man will never conquer them.

The "Daily Mail's" Brussels correspondent states that Botha has decided to keep the British prisioners as hostages in the even. r.JT Lord Kitchener's proclamation bsing - forced.

Mr Balfour, in a letter supporting Faber's candidature at the bye-electi >l i cw the Andover s:at, says: " To weaken im Government encourages the enemy, aud prolongs the war." A detatchmeut of the 10th Hussars had a sharp fight with Scheeper'd commando south of Uniondale. The British had four killed and eleven wounded. Commandant Vander-mereandField-corneb Duplessis were amongst the Boer wounded. "*

The "Standard's" Pretoria correspondent reports that Colonel Williams' column escaped scathless in connection with the capture of a convoy near Kierksdorp The , prisoners include Miss Steyu, the ex president's niece, and Commandant Da la Bey's mother.

The Premier ha? received the following cable message from the officer commanding the Seventh Contingent:—" Part of Seventh New Zealanders, under Colonel White, made a night march and captured a Boer laager and 27 prisoners. No casualties on our side. All ranks complimented by the Comminder- "* in-Chief."

The Uniondale engagement was fought on difficult ground. Besides other losses, ten Hussars were captured before Scheeper treated. Colonel Beataou is driving er's force northwards.

Commandant Lotter's force has taken refuge in the summits of the Achtersberg mountains, in the Sneenbetg range, in Cape Colony. Colonel Scobell, while pursuing him, secured aud shot one hundred horseß, and fired the grass slopes of the Achtersbergs. The invaders in Cape Cjlony are split in to fragments. Two Boer sympathisers at Middleburg have been sentenced to two months' imprisonment each for secretely entertaining the enemy, and about one hundred have been *. disfranchised at Burghersdorp, Middhburg and elsewhere for treasonable conduct.

Commmdant Lother sent an unprintable reply to Lord Kitchener's proclamation.

Two commandoes, numbering 700 men, unsuccessfully attempted to cross the Orange River into Cape Colony.

The invaders in the Midland Districts of Cape Colony are attempting to move south to join Commandant Scheepers in the vicinity of Mudahoorn.

A correspondent of the "Standard" says that Mr Krugei is convinced that the Czar's attention to Mr Vanderhoven, who attended the wedding of the Prince of Oldenberg as representative of the Transvaal, implies that) the Czar and President Loubet will discuss the question of intervention.

Router's Pretoria correspondent reports that surrenders are occurring freely throughout the country.

Steyn and De Wet are reported to be near the Basutoland border.

Haasbrock'a ciptured correspondence Bhowß that he received Steyn'a lost dynamite and ammunition.

Three British officers and 65 men on Elliott's right, northwards of Ladybrand, were surrounded on unfavourable ground and captured by a superior fo cc. -They were afterwards released. One was killed and four were woundeu during the action. An inquiry into the matter has been opened.

The ''Daiiy Express" correspondent states that 400 burghers have surrendered ab Middleburg.

In reply to his proclamation, Lord Kitchener has received a long letter from Mr Steyn, sttting out arguments in favour of the Boer case. The ex president says that he will continue to fight. Lord Kitchener has also received a letter from Commandant De Wet to the same effect. General Botha, in a letter to Lord Kitchener, protests against the proclamation, and save he intends to continue fighting. Lord Kitchener, commenting on these letters, says, nevertheless, the number of surrenderors has lately increased considerably.

Mr Kruger, in an interview with a correspondent of the " Daily Telegraph,".said that tbe issue of Lord Kitchener's proclamation was the blackest crime, and without pretext. The Boers are still regularly governed ana systematically led. The proclamation would intensify resistance. The story of the conspiracy of the republics against Great Britain was an abominable lie. " I proclaim ib before the Almighty," declared the ex president ; " my witnesses are Lord Salisbury and Mr Chamberlain. They know id was we who did our utmost to avert bloodshed," and he added : •' We*are now ready to conclude

peace on a basis of give and take, on a bads of ihe independence of the Republics, and a free pardon to colonial Afrikanders, we making a reasonable sacrifice and giving satis■"':.:The:*Ditty TelegraphV*-correspondent states that Lord Kitchener's proclamation is causing angry quarrels, some Boers wishing to surrender. A considerable number in one commando eastward of Bloemfontein were arrested and disarmed. Lord Kitchener rerorts that a convoy from Kimberley to Griquatown was attacked on Saturday near Rooikopje. Of the Yeomanry escorting the convoy, nine were killed and twenty-thres wounded. The Boers eventually were repulsed. Colonel Bir Henry Rawlinson, in a forty minutes' gallop eastward of Edenburg, captared eighteen Trahsvaalers. - "'•" Twenty-one Boers have surrendered at Obfontsnek, confessedly as the result of Lord Kitchener's proclamation. Lord Kitchener's weekly report states that 32 Boers have been killed, 24 wounded, 139 taken prisoners, and 185 have surrendered, the majority northwards of Magaliesbers Hills. They include a nephew oi Mr. Kroger. One hundred and sixteen rifie3, 9000 rounds' of ammunition, 245 waggons, 286 hoTses and 6615 head of cattle have been captured. Two rebels, Ignatius Nel and Ohategan, have been sentenced to be shot for treason and murderously firing on troop* at Camdeboo, Cape Colony. Four others have been sentenced to penal servitude for life in the Bermudas. gLord Milner had an enthusiastic reception at Cape Town. In the course of his speech, he laid emphasis on the statement that the future of tho country was in the hands of the loyalists.