WAR NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 155, 2 July 1901, Page 5

WAR NOTES.

%A CUERRE A LA HOLLANDAISE

" As a sample of the war news which finds currency and credence in the •Netherlands, the appended summary iof military operations in South Africa Which a Dutchman sent home to qualify Lord Kitchener's reports will take Blot of beating. This "concise report" Is dated Pretoria, January 17th, 1901, end its writer makes the remark: "Put (this opposite Lord Kitchener's reports fend you will observe a difference." ' We" can, without glasses. Great is JTruth, and it shall prevail! The. one defeat of English follows ifche other.- General Clements dead, ij&eneral Broadwood captured.. Kitchener is at a,loss and threatens he will destroy everything, when Boers do not surrender before January 21.

Except Johannesburg, Pretoria, ftliddleburgh, and a few great villages, all other towns, places, etc., will be destroyed and set on fire. With Jagerstfontein it has happened so, in favour of the De Beers diamond fields of Kimberley. Boers, however, destroyed Itotol the'Bexriani, Durban, Roodepoort mines, as also three or four others at lijohannesbuqg. Monday, L4th inst., a small remainder English troops came in, having been struck and total Stripped by Boers. Most of thi?m came in, running- with ibare feet. Wounded soldiers are brought up, packed up in a great number of carte. Boers destroyed five railway stations (Easter Line). At Pan they plundered, without firing a gun, a train containing khaki clothes, vicrtuals, ammunition and last not least a great marine cannon. This event happened as follows: English asked by •wire whether the line was free or not and Boers, of course, hastened to reply: line free. January 31.—B6ers conquered Bellast arad called it to seat of their Government. English losed here eighty-five officers and 800 men. Kitchener went to this town but was obliged to return. At Wepener a battle was-joined and the English troops losed five batteries, i.e., thirty cannon. The new troops hardly come in from Cape Town got by way of introduction drubbing A great many Englishmen (bank managers, clerks) etc., fled out of Pietersburg told to people at weioria, that Boers bad in Pietersburg 150 conquered cannon, and were well provided with all necessary things On the accession of the throne by King Edward at Pretoria a parade is held. There were but 500 men present. In order to get this number together, orderlies must leave their wounded. These troops were inspected by Kitchener and a staff of six officers, lne remainder of the staff had broken legs etc., on account of the at te back mentioned, railway "accident." The whole festival was done in 10-15 minutes. From a report General Knox has sur-rende.p^d-to. ;; De -Wet, W~win^h-im; 3000 men. In Cape Colony (Cape Town) even the English refugees were formal refcellious and sang in the Government s building the Transwal fcynme (na-

tional song); Milner turned the cannon against them.

In the neighbourhood of Amsterdam and Piet lietief French aud RmithDorrien fought against Botha. French was said to have conquered a great many sheep, cannon, carts, prisoniers etc., etc.; however nothing than boast. Christian Botha (not Louis Botha) beat French back in a formidable manner. Tile event happened so: French had divided his army in three columns, in order to attack Botha from three sides. One column must across a river enormously swollen. The stream was too strong- and men and mules etc. drowned. Who did not drown, was killed by a shot by the Boers. This caused a stoppage respecting the remaining two columns, which now came one by one in fire, and were successive.^' beaten very soundly. French left 10,000 men on the field of battle, Sinith-Dorrien SOOO.

In order to substitute these 18,000 •men, the posts along the railway lines have been reduced from fifty and 100 men to ten and twenty. The Boer generals not only break through the English cordons, but have fetched horses and cattle too away under sight of the troops.

The above is the story of the oeleibrated (?) columns, of which so much has been boasted. French was captured, but subsequently discharged upon parol as also Baden-Powell; hence their return to England.