THE INVASION OF CAPE COLONY.

Feilding Star, Volume XXII, Issue 164, 14 January 1901, Page 2

THE INVASION OF CAPE COLONY.

Telegraph. Press Association Copyright London, January 12. Lord Kitchener reports that Commandant Hertzog's commando is near Sutherland, and that General Settle is arranging to head -him off. The invaders on the Midland Line have broken to fragments. One half of the easternmost Boers are going north, while the other half are hiding in the mountains to the north-west of Jamestown. It is semi-officially announced that the Capetown invaders are avoiding the railways and garrisoned towns, and are continuously on the move, seizing horses and food stuffs. Their mobility eludes pursuit. Hertzog's and Brand's vanguards are west of Calvina (towards Vandirunsdorp), while a portion of the same commando has been pursued between Fraserburg and Sutherland, i All the country which the invaders have quitted is again quiet, and garrisons protect the chief towns. A hundred Boers crossed the Orange River towards Barkley East, the Cape Police and British farmers repelling and punishing them. All the towns on the main line to the Orange Colony and Pretoria are helcl strongly, but the Boers show no disposition to attack. Mounted troops occupy Piekernskloof Pass, blocking the invaders' [ westward march. Henniker's troops, with others, cover the railway in the vicinity of , Matjeefontein, and form a screen across Capetown which is considered impregnable. A naval Brigade, 2QOO strong, with six Hotchkiss guns are at Capetown in readiness. Four thousand of the Town Guards and 450 of the Postal Corps have been entailed, and are drilling daily. The Cape Times and Argus have each formed an employees' corps. AFFAIRS ON THE RAND. REFUGEES RETURNING. Lord Kitchener has warned mine owners that the dynamite in the mines near the Rand is the property of the military, who are not responsible for any damage caused by its explosion. Lord Kitchener has cleared Johannesburg of " undesirables." Many i foreigners have been shipped away. Refugees at Capetown are returning to guard the Rand mines, but the number per mine has been limited. Reuter estimates the number at 1200. A number of City Imperial Volunteers are offering to return to the front. The Daily Mail says the English have decided to bring the train from Pretoria to Delagoa direct, without transferring the control to %he Portuguese drivers. Holland has prevented Dr Leyds re-engaging the Boer exiles in Holland. The attack on Machadodorp on Wednesday night was repulsed at dawn. Mr Hofmeyer, a leader of the Africander Bund, cabled to the Africanders that the proposed mission to England was useless.

BRITISH* FORCES IN THE FIELD

Wellington, January 18. Tbe Acting Premier bas received tbe following cablegram from tbe AgentGeneral .'—South African war operations—British troops in South Africa, 210,000; regulars. 142,000; militia, 20,000; colonials, 33,000; yeomanry, 8000; English Volunteers, 7000. Tbe British casualties to date are : Deaths from all causes, 12,700. Oversea contingents sent to South Africa—Australian colonies, 5350 ; Canada, 2050 ; New Zealand, 1820. Proportion sent home to December 31st— Canadians, thieefifths; Australians, f one-third ; New Zealanders, one-sixtb. The progress of the war for tbe last two months bas been less favorable. Boer duplicity, farm burning, and other drastic meashave been responsible for tbis. They have fought with desperation and some success. Much outlying country has been abandoned to them, but they* have failed to break the lines of communication. Tbeir numbers have increased since October, and now there are probably 16,000 in the field. Tbe position is unspeakably difficult, but not especially dangerous, as the Cape Dutch show no signs of a general rising, so far.