THE WAR.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7385, 11 February 1902, Page 2

THE WAR.

KITCHENER'S REPORT ON PRE-

VENTIVE MEASURES.

HOW DE WET BROKE THROUGH.

THE CONTINENTAL SLANDERS.

Received February 10, 10.17 p.m.

London, February 10.

Lord Kitchener reports from Wolve* hock on Sunday that after the operations and captures already reported east of Liebenbergsvlei and tbe Wilge River, the whole force of mounteds on the night of the sth were drawn into a continuous line on tbe west bank of the Liebenbergsvlei, stretching from Frankfort to Fannychorne and Kaffirskop. * They advanced at dawn to the westward, and were assisted on the night of the 6th by entrenched outposts fifty yardß apart m holding tha line from Asian d on to Heilbron, and the Frankfort blockhouse line to the Dornkloof , Kroonstad, and Lindley line, while advances were made, and the columns worked along from the blockhouses to prevent the enemy crossing at dawn. The line then advanced to the Heilbron- Kroonstad road, the Idft wing advancing to the Amerika siding, acd junotioned at Kroonstad.' The Wolvehook blockhouse line on the night of the 7th was held in the same way. They advanced at dawn to the railway blockhouse line, which was strengthened to prevent Boers crossing. Received February 10, 11.5 p.m.

London, February 10.

Lord Kitchener's despatch, continued, states that De Wet on the 6th was within an enclosure, but during the night he dispersed his men, and then with a few men and a herd of cattle he macte for the Kroonstad-Lindley blockhouse line. At one o'clock, the night being very dark, De Wet, by rushing the cattle at the wire fence, broke through amidst the cattle, losing three of his party killed. The outposts on the line were attacked at various places during the night of the 7th, and some few of the enemy crossed near Heilbron, where they left ten dead. As far as can be ascertained, two hundred and eighty-three Boers were killed, wounded, or taken prieoners, while 700 tired horses and many cattle were captured. The British casualties were ten. Received February 10, 11.15 p.m.

London, February 10.

At an enthusiastic mass meeting at Capetown resolutions repelling the calumnies and vindicating the humanity of the troops, and expressing unwavering confidence in the Government, were carried. The Mayor presided, and said the conflict must never terminate except by a decisive victory of arms or unconditional surrender.

Mr Thomas Graham, AttorneyGeneral, said the calumnies were the result of an organised conspiracy, fed on the ill-gotten gains of a coterie who were appealing from the God of Battles to the slums of Europe.

Scherinbruck, a German settler and member of Parliament, O'Reilly, Deputy-Mayor, Theophilus Schreiner, and Sir David Gill also spoke.

The German and Danish residents are also holding meetings with a similar object.

The Wesleyan Synod passed a resolution denouncing the slanders.