CABLEGRAM FROM THE AGENTGENERAL

Evening Post, Volume LIX, Issue 45, 22 February 1900, Page 5

CABLEGRAM FROM THE AGENTGENERAL

REVIEW OF THE POSITION. THE COLONIAL FORCES TAKEN TO KIMBERLEY. To-day's message from the AgentGeneral to the Government says : — "It is reported that the New Zealand Contingent took an active part in every engagement with Cronje's rear-guard. "Cronje seems to have narrowly escaped, but carried off all his guns. He also captured a valuable British convoy on the Riet River. "The practical result from the operations of the last week is that the Boers have been cleared out of the neighbourhood of Kimberley, and also from the southern side of the Tugela. "Our loss in both operations did not exceed two hundred, and we captured Jarge quantities of ammunition and other stores. On the other hand, the Boer loss was trifling. "The Boers gained a victory at Rensburg last week. Our loss was two hundred. They also gained a victory over Colonel Plumer's force at the Crocodile River. [The Press Association advised us on the 16th inst. that an artillery duel was proceeding at Crocodile Pools, which is some seventy miles north of Mafeking, but the result was not given.] "There are great hopes that the siege of Ladysmith will soon be given up, but it is uncertain. "Lieut. -General French took with him to Kimberley the New Zealand Contingent, sixty New South Wales men, and the Queensland Mounted Infantry. All did well during the march."