The Transvaal WAR.

Evening Star, Issue 11434, 29 December 1900, Page 6

The Transvaal WAR.

THE CHASE OF DE WET.

RUMORS OF HIS INTENTIONS. WANDERING RAIDERS. THOSE UNFORTUNATE YEOMANRY. THE CAPE INVASION. GENERAL COLVTLLE'S PREDICAMENT. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, December 27. General Knox, with Colonels Barker, Pilcher, and White, are engaging Dc Wet's force of Boers near Leeuwkop. De Wet hopes to break through southwards. De Wet, Steyn, and Commandant Haasbrock are said to have recently conferred. They decided to surrender if the rebels were not punished and they themselves and the other leaders not deported. A commando of rebels, anticipating De Wet's defeat, entered Cape Colony eastwards of Bethulie, and then melted away. 'Some are declared rebels. All believe that if captured fighting in the Orange River or Transvaal territory they will be shot, but that if they surrender in Cape Colony they will be amenable to the treason law. Martial law has been proclaimed at Beaufort West, and Carnarvon. Lord Kitchener, at Pretoria, reports that the eastern column of the enemy, which invaded Cape Colony, was headed off and pursued in the direction of Venterstad. The western column headed northwards through Steynsbirrg.

THE YEOMANRY'S LATEST TROUBLE. LONDON, December 28. Unofficial telegrams state that a portion of the Yeomanry Squadron who were pursuing the Cape Colony invaders were entrapped in the direction of Prieska and taken prisoners. Ten of them were wounded. Everybody was subsequently released, minus horses and saddles. THE CAPE INVADERS. LOSE. THEIR MAXIMS. LONDON, December 28. (Received December 29, at 9.1 aan.) • Lieutenant-colonel H. M. Grenfell, who is following the invading column of 700 Boers, under Commandant Kruitzinger, reports that the invaders constantly retired when pressed, and that they ultimately made a detour, but were compelled to abandon their Maxim guns and carts. The 9th Lancers attempted to outflank the enemy, but failed. They sustained eight casualties, the wounded including Lieutenant Lord Hamilton Temple Blackwood (a son of Earl Dufferin). KRUITZLNGER'S AMBUSH. CAPTURE OF SIXTEEN OF BRABANT'S MEN. LONDON, December 28. Commandant Kruitzinger, as a result of the mistake of Colonel Burrow's detachment, captured sixteen members of General Brabant's Horse. THE BOERS TREKKING. LONDON, December 28. A big commando, with 160 waggons, in the Vryburg district, are trekking westward. They crossed the railway at Brussels Siding, south of Vryburg. Two hundred and seventy other Boers crossed the line at Saltpans.

THE POLICE AND THE BOERS. A PLUCKY STAND. LONDON, December 28. A force of police at Boksburg gallantly held 200 Boers at. bay, repelling their attacks until reinforced from Johannesburg. The enemy then retreated. GENERAL COLYTLLE REINSTATED. AND AGAIN ASKED TO RESIGN. LONDON, December 28. (Received December 29, at 9.14 a.in.) When Major-general Sir H. E. ColviJle was ordered Home from South Africa in July last, shortly after the capture of the Irish Yeomanry at Lindley, an iritjcdry was held by the War Office. This has resulted in the general's reinstatement, and he will assume command of the infantry at Gibraltar. Sir Evelyn Wood, as Acting Commander-in-Chief, now l-equests General Colville to resign, but the latter declines to do so. He is, however, returning to England. ' The Times,' commenting on the incident, suggests the seriousness of Mr Brodricfs action in overriding the decision of the Marquis of Lansdowne when the latter was political head of the War Department unless some fresh evidence has been obtained sufficient to justify such a serious step. WANTON DESTRUCTION. LONDON, December 28. (Received December 29, at 9.1 a.m.) The Boers have damaged a quantity of mining machinery. A RAID .THAT FAILED. LONDON, December 28. Very few respectable fanners joined the Boers south of Thabanchu. On the other hand, many of them afforded General Knox valuable information.

VICTIMS TO ENTERIC. LONDON, December 28. The deaths of Troopers Quigley (New South Wales) and Butler (Queensland Bushmen), from enteric, are announced. MORE REINFORCEMENTS. LONDON, December 28. (Received December 29, at 9.14 ajn.) The Third Dragoon Guards have been ordered to South Africa. The First Dragoon" Guards, who are also under orders, will take with them saddles of the colonial pattern. Their equipment will include a rifle and sword, instead of a carbine and lance. AUSTRALIAN CONTINGENTS. SYDNEY, December 29. (Received December 29, at 9.46 aon.) A meeting of the Premiers will be held here to consider Mr Chamberlain's request to keep the South African Contingents up to their original strength. Tasmania has already started enrolling men. South Australia replied that they would be glad to despatch troops, but that nothing

could be, done till,the return of the Contingent from Sydney. "'' A SCOTCH CORPSSYDNEY, December 28. * A cable received by Lord Hopetoun from the Marquis of TnlHbardine has been dis? tribnted to the various Governments, - stating that South Africa is raising regiments of Scottish horse, and asking if Australia can send 150 Scotsmen. They will be supplied with horses, saddles, and rifles on arrival at their destination. They must start within a fortnight for Durban. They will be paid at the rate of 5s per day for privates, with a six months' engagement. If they wish they will be dismissed at-Jo-hannesburg. They can appoint their own officers. THREE TROOPERS RETURN. / WELLINGTON, December 29. Three invalided troopers returned by the Papanui this morning. The}'"are: J. J. Raynes (Auckland) and Henry Sutherland (Dunedin). both of the First Contingent, and John F. Collins (of Palmerston North), who joined the Imperial Yeomanry in South Africa. The men were driven to the Acting Premier's office, where the Hon. J. G. Ward welcomed them.