BRITON V. BOER.

Lake County Press, Issue 904, 29 March 1900, Page 5

BRITON V. BOER.

London, March 23

It is reported that Mafeking has been relieved. The War Office awaits verification. The War Office witholds until it is verified, the message that Mafeking has been relieved. A scout brought the news.

The Britishers are going north and the rebellion at Prieska, Griquatown, Carnarvon, and Campbell has been crushed.

The Daily News states that the State Presidents meet at Kroonstadt to discuss the situation. The feeling between the two Republics is very bitter.

Incendiarists destroyed Pomeroy. Five thousand Boers are posted in the hills at the rear of the town.

General Bailer has engaged 600 stretcher bearers preparatory to an advance.

The Daily Chionicle states that General Warren’s division is embarking at Durban for East London. President Schreiner, in an unexpectedly cordial letter, says the gallant defence of Mafeking was probably the most dramatic act of the war. He says, may the holiday which he promised upon the relief of the town come soon. General Kitchener is at Doornberg. The Times’ Bloemfontein correspondent states that Kruger on the 21st issued a proclamation annexing the Free State. Steyn published a counter proclamation that the Free State was intact.

The Daily Mail states that Steyn, replying to Lord Roberts, declared that his Government was unchanged, and that he was commandeering as usual.

Brigadier-General Brabant has occupied Rouxville and Zaston.

Gatacre’s detachment at Smithfi dd captured some Transvaalers and loads of arms, ammunition, and guns. A handful of rebels who quitted the town previous to its capture are reported to have passed Jumesborough, drifting in the direction of Sand river. Groups are reinforcing them. The Queen carried flowers for the wounded at Woolwich(l), including Private King, of the Connaught Rangers, who was shot thirteen times in

the firing line at the battle of Colenso. Freestaters are surrendering many inferior weapons and there is an impression that they are concealing mauser rifles. Cape rebels are disarming slowly, and it is believed they are hiding their rifles. 'L'he Boers are massing and have entrenched Kroonstad. A reconnaissance at Fourteen Streams on the 21st resulted in an artillery duel the whole morning. The Boer guns were silenced.

The Times states that Colonel Plumer, after a reconnaissance at Ramathabama, retired at night to Crocodile Pools. His base hospital has been removed to Gaberones.

Pretoria is preparing for a two years’ siege.

Boer women demand that British prisoners be shot.

At Thabanchu, General French received a heliograph message from Maseru that 4000 Oolesburg Boers were trekking towards Ladybrand, in Orange Free State, east of Bloemfontein and near the Basutoland border.

The Daily News fixes the meeting between Presidents Kruger and Steyn to discuss the situation for April 4th. Stejn, addressing the burghers at Kroonstad said the Boer losses amounted to 800 and the British 64,000. The British would be unable to continue the war much longer. Arrests and trials of many suspected rebels are proceeding at, Ladysmith.

The Transvaal and Free State prisoners have had to be arrested at Simonstown owing to quarrels. Twenty thousand arsenal employees sang the National Anthem during the Queen’s visit to Woolwich.

In the House of Commons Mr Chamberlain stated, in reference to Sir A. Milner’s proclamation refusing to recognise the forfeiture of British property by the Boers, that the proclamation covered the forfeiture, nonpayment of ordinary rent, fees for license, and also war tax. The Australia, with a detachment of N.S.W. Lancers, has arrived at Capetown. The enemy, with four guns, hold a bridge across the Yaal River facing Warren ton.

Five hundred Boers are entrenched near Fauresmith.

The Boers in Natal have sent their women and children to the Transvaal.

Deserters report that they intend to retreat with guns and stores via Lang’s Nek.

The Australian Regiment at Nerval's Point is starting on a 16 days’ march via Bloemfontein.

The following Australians have died of enteric fever :—Jenk, New Zealand ;

Trooper Ouinner, Queensland ; Private Eudd, New South Wales ; and Private Harrison, New South Wales Medical Corps. A sentry at Capetown shot a Boer who was attempting to escape. A committee is being formed for each colony to control the colonial officers’ and families relief fund. The Princess Henry of Battenberg is president of the Australian committees, the Duchess of York president of the Tasmanians as well as New Zealand committee. March ,25. General Metheun has secured an important crossing east of Fourteen Streams, and a new punt is in readiness. Reinforcements are -being hurried forward, with a view to crossing and outflanking the Boers. There are indications that Mafeking can hold out for three weeks. A battle is imminent mar Maseru. Jouberb has resumed supreme command at Kroonstad. The third New Zealand contingent have been sent to Capetown to join Sir Frederick Carrington’s new force for the protection of Rhodesia. General Woodgate has died of wounds received at Spion Kop.

It has been decided to include the families of colonial officers in the fund being raised for the relief of officers’ families. It is affirmed that a committee of burghers'at Kroonstad has assumed the government of the Orange Free State and deposed Steyn. Lord Roberts reports that four officers rode without escort, except one trooper, eight miles beyond their camp on the Madder River on the 23rd. The Boei-s fired on them, killing the Hon. E. Lygon, Grenadier Guards, brother of Earl Beauchamp, and seriously wounding Lieut.-001. Orabbe, Lieut. Trotter, of Grenadiers, also Lieut.-001. Oodrington, of Coldstreams. Boers say that in response to handkerchief signal they attended the wounded men, conveyed them to a farm, and cared for them all night. Later. There is a great concentration of Boer forces, with enormous supplies, at Kroonstad. The rebels are entrenched between Kenhardt and Yan Wyksolti. Trooper Harding and Private E. Smith, New Zealanders, are seriously ill at the Cape. Lord Kitchener, having completed successful operations against the rebels in north-western Gape Colony, has rejoined Field-Marshal Lord Roberts at Bloemfontein.

Lord Roberts reports that the Free State country is becoming settled and that the people, recognising the advantages offered them under British rule, are selling supplies to the conquerors. Twelve thousand troops landed at Capetown last week and four thousand sailed yesterday. Correspondence has been published which shows that Premier Schreiner declined tne Mayor’s request to strengthen Kimberley in June and August The Boer leaders are circulating a story that the Russians have captured and occupied London, and that General G.tlacre has been defeated with great loss.

Mr Balfour credits Ca tain Lord Edward Cecil with acting on his own responsibility, and having the feresight of provisioning M ifeking for a long siege. Albany, March 23 Thes.s. Afric, from Capetown brings a lengthy despatch by Lord R iberts on the flight of Cronje from Magersft ntein and the attack on Koodoosrand. Afterdescribing the pursuit to where he surrendered, he. says Cronje was expecting help, and mistook Kelly Kenny’s division for his reinforcements, and made no effort to secure the bestavailable position, and was thus cut off from flight. Sydney, March 23. Four Companies of the Imperial Bushmen have been completed, and sufficient suitable men are available to till the remainder. Brisbane, March 23, Mr Lyne has replied to the Premier’s suggestion for an increased Imperial Bushmen’s Contingent that the available transports are barely sufficient for 2000 men and horses. London, March 27. General Methuen is completing transport arrangements ns well as stores, in view of a rapid advance. The Times states that at a moderate ti ustworthy estimate 2000 Boers have been killed in action, and their total casualties, exclusive of several thousand Free Staters who have returned to their farms, number 15,000. The enemy henceforth cannot number above 30,000. The British hope the Boers will fight at Kroonstad, as the position is not naturally strong and the plains beyond render pursuit easy. Ninety thousand sleepers for the Dundee-Yryheid railway have been transferred irom Dundee to the Transvaal.

General French received many submissions of Free Staters and has returned to Bloemfontein.

Many Trausvaalers doubt the utility of further resistance.

The Standard says the leaders of the Imperial Opposition recognise that the extension of sovereignty over South Africa is the only possible settlement of the question, but recommend that the several States he formed into selfgoverning colonies. The Imperial Yeomanry, numbering 10,000, is complete. HOW ORONJE WAS CAUGHT. Albany, March 24. The s.s. Afric, from Capetown, brings a lengthy despatch by Lord Roberts on the flight of Oronje from Magorsfontein and the attack on Koodoorsrand. He describes how Oronje took np a position in a bend of the river. A portion of the Ninth Division under Col. Srnith-Dorien attacked on the left bank of the river, and the Highland Brigade on the right, while a portion

of the Eighth Division came into action from a ridge overlooking the Boer laagers on the south of the river. The approaches to the river on both sides were flat plains, without any cover. The Oornwalls and Canadians though meeting with stubborn resistance gradually drove the Boers back without losing very many until, having to charge over some 800 yards, they got well into some Boers perched in trees. The Scotch Brigade, nearly a mile further along encountered an even heavier lire, and lost heavily. The result, however, was that the Boers were driven back upon their laagers, with a reported loss of 900. The following day shelling of laagers was resumed, and so deadly was the fire, setting alight as it did wagons and exploding magazines, that the Boers were compelled to abandon them, and take refuge in the bed of the river. The position seemod so hopeless, and it was so useless do sacrifice life, that Oronje was summoned to surrender, but, learning that terms were unconditional, he decided to continue the fight, and shelling and rifle fire were resumed, two naval guns supplementing. We continued to shell the enemy nearly the whole of the night and prisoners describe the Boer camp as a veritable charnel house. All next day firing was kept up. Many Boers attempted to escape but were headed off. The following day, soon after dawn, a most terrific fire broke out. The Gloucester and Essex regiments had lost their way and bivouaoed in error close to the Boer laager, but their casualties were practically nil. Later in the day General Frencli captured a kopje held by a strong force of the enemy, of whom many were killed, and fifty were taken prisoners. The capture of this kopje, greatly strengthened our position and effectually prevented any relief coining to Oronje.