The Transvaal WAR.

Evening Star, Issue 11450, 18 January 1901, Page 6

The Transvaal WAR.

DE WET CROSSES THE VAAL

KITCHENER'S FUTURE WORK, BOER LOSSES AND LOOTING Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. , LONDON, January 17/ De Wet has recrossed the Vaal River and rejoined the Transvaal commandos. BELATED PRECAUTIONS. LONDON, January 17. The Government of Pretoria have prohibited civilians wearing khaki, and anyone wearing a costume resembling the British uniform is liable to arrest and punishment. DEATH OF A NEW ZEALANDER. LONDON, January 17. Private Daniel Clarke, of the New Zealand Rough Riders, was killed at Klerks dor P- . - ■ » RECENT BOER LOSSES. LONDON, January 17. (Received January 18, at 8.59 a:m.) The sustained sixty casualties at Zuurfontein. At Kaalfontein the . garrison ran short of food and ammunition. THE CAPE TOWN BURGHERS ON GUARD. LONDON, January 17. Ten thousand Gape Town Guards have been enrolled. It is expected that Herzog will attack the Hex River pass, which is being strongly held. BEYER'S AIMLESS QUEST. LONDON, January 17. Commandant Beyer, with 1,200 men and five guns, continues trekking to the northeast since his defeat at Krugersdorp. KITCHENER PREPARING. LONDON, January 17. A big concentration movement is in progress in the Bethel and Ermelo districts (Transvaal Colony). SUTHERLAND LOOTED. LONDON, January 17. One hundred Boers looted the township of Sutherland, and then retreated northwards. KITCHENER'S SCOUTS. LONDON, January 17. Each of Lord Kitchener's fighting scouts has been provided with two spare horses, of which there are hundreds, the Matabele natives riding or leading the extra animals for them. MOVEMENTS OF TROOPS. LONDON, January 17. Lord Kitchener has transfercd 20,000 troops to the southward. A V.C. HERO. LONDON, January 17. (Received January 18, at 8.59 a.m.) Lieutenant A. C. Doxat, of the Imperial Yeomanry, a stock broker, and the son of Mr Edmund Doxat, chairman of Dalgety and Company, has been awarded the Victoria Cross for returning under a heavy fire to rescue a.trooper who had lost his horse during an engagement at Zeerust. RETURNING NEW ZEALANDERS. MELBOURNE, January 18. (Received January 18, at 9.47 a.m.) Lieutenant Walker and Troopers Grange and Scottj New. r Zealanders, are aboard the Damascus. MR BRYN ROBERTS'S CHARGES. IMPORTANT STATEMENT. Dr W. C. Woods, of Albury, who is at present at Q.ueenscliff, has (says the ' Argus') received a letter from Trooper J. R. Cross, .of C Squadron, Ist Brabant's Horse, in whieh the writor makes an important statement bearing upon the charge of insubordination brought by Mr John Bryn in the House of Commons ajjain3t some of tne South African colonial troops. Trooper Cross states that ou October 18 last year the squadron was ordered to leave on a three days' parol, and, saddling np bright and early as usual, .they marched out of camp about a mile, and formed up ready to.start. They were kept waiting rather long in ignorance of the cause of the delay, and became somewhat restless. To their great surprise, they learned that the Kaffrarian Rifles and the Border Horse had " struck," and laid down their arms. "So we did not go on patrol," continues the writer. " The colonel threatened to put the Cape Mounted Rifles' guns on to them. They said they would give them a fight for it if they attempted any such thing. So you can imagine that it was a fair mutiny. lam well pleased, however, that the guns were not even turned towards them, as there would assuredly have been war between the ' colonial' division, and this, of course, would have meant that the Cape Mounted Rifles would have called upon us for help. AH those who refused duty were taken prisoners, and, in the face of the enemy, put off the field in disgrace, as being useless. They declined to give up their arms, on the ground that they were necessary for their protection, as far as Vreilepoort Station, but their horses, sadd'es, and bridles were taken, and they marched away under a strong escort to the station, where I believe they have to go before Lord Roberts on a charge of ' direct disobedience of orders and mutiny while on active service.' . . . They left us just when we needed them most, as we had a good chance of catching De Wet."

It will be remembered that Mr Rol>erts's first statement, which was indignantly denied by Mr; Brodrick, Secretary of State for War, referred to Australian soldiers. Snbsequentrv, Lord Kitchener, in reply to Mr Brodrick's inquiries, replied that the charge was absolutely without foundation. Then Mr Roberts wrote to the London 'Times,' after that journal had delivered a strong attack upon him, apologising for his statement, adding that he h?4 found that the letter from a member of the Imperial Yeomanry, from which he had quoted, referred to South African troops,-and not to Australians, as having been guilty of insubordination. Later it was announced that Mr Roberts would revive the subject next session of the Imperial Parliament, but in the light of his own admission, and of Trooper Cross's letter, the Australian troops are not concerned in the matter. The Damascus arrived at Melbourne yesterday with forty-two invalided soldiers" for Australia under Major Madocks, of New Zealand.