THE POSITION IN THE FREE STATE

Auckland Star, Issue 66, 19 March 1900, Page 5

THE POSITION IN THE FREE STATE

Enemy Relinquishing a Hopeless Struggle.

President Steyn. Escaped by Subterfuge.

NEW ZEALANDERS PROTECT A CONVOY.

BULLER'S ADVANCE TO THE DRAKENSBERG.

Skirmishing in De Beers Pass.

[N.Z. Press Assoc:

(Received 8.50 a.m.)

LONDON, March 13

Thirteen train loads of Boers left Bioemfontein just before the town surrendered. The burghers desired President Steyn to transfer the keys to Lord Roberts, but he fled under the subterfuge of a pretended visit to the Outposts. ' The New Zealanders under Major' Robin repelled an attack on a convoy at Dreifontein. • "' A portion of the stores taken when ?he British convoy was recently captured at Riet River was recovered at Bioemfontein. Colonel Hunter Weston's feat of traversing the Boer lines north of 'the Free State capital saved 26 locomotives being carried off. LONDON, March IT. The railway is now open from Capetown to Bioemfontein. The cavalry north of Bioemfontein report that the country is clear to Modder River. ■: The markets and banks have re-1 -timed business at Bioemfontein. ■ Lord Roberts reports that hundreds »re disarming, submitting, including .ight hundred Bioemfontein Boers. 'Many from Aliwal North have arrived. At the Basutoland border they -_re prepared to surrender, declining ( President Steyn's summons to Kroon.Bt'ad. The -'Daily News'" Delagoa correspondent states that the Transvaalers Admit' that their cause is hopeless. Lucas Meyer, recently stated to be h_ supreme command, refuses to ight, and has gone home. Schalkburger, one of the leading commandants, and hundreds of Sthers have done likewise.

Sixty-three British were killed at Dreifontein, and several Australians tfere among those wounded.

Amongst those killed was Abrahams, of the New South Wales Mounted Rifles, and the wounded, include Parry and Taylor, both of the Australian Horse, and Captains Bennett, Davidson, and Woods, of the New South- Wales Mounted Rifles.

Amongst the convalescent at Bioemfontein are Maxwell and F. M. Meagher, of the Victorian Mounted Rifles. ■

Cape-Bloemfontein Line of Rail Open.