THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12586, 22 August 1901, Page 5

THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

A SMART EXPLOIT. SURPRISE OF A LAAGER. . BRITISH CAPTURES. RECOVERY OF A GUN. 'TRANSVAAL STOCKS. United Press Association—By Electrio-. Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, August 20. Captain. Wood, with one hundred and fifty South African Constabulary, surprised 700 Boers in a laager near Middleburg, in the Transvaal, and lulled twenty-three. Captain Wood was unable to follow up hi* success, and retired, losing’one killed, box wounded, and fourteen missing.

Colonel Thorneycroft, in the • Wepener and Bethany districts, captured forty-three

Boers. A Reuter’s correspondent reports that General F. W. Kitchener and Major-Gen-eral Campbell had a sharp fight in a forest near the Selous River, and captured thirtyseven of Commandant Ben Viljoen’S Boers, and recovered, intact, one of the pom-poms captured from the Victorians near Middleburg on June 12. Commandant Vilj-oen destroyed the other pom-poms which he captured. Transvaal 5 per cent stock rose on the Stock Exchange, as a result of an announcement that Great Britain will pay the last two and all future coupons on presentation, less income tax. Air Kruger’s Government is to be held responsible for coupons dated 1900, which, however, bond-holders, with a view of receiving payment of the other coupons mentioned, must surrender, undertaking to accept principal a t par after receiving a quarter’s notice. It is believed that the majority of the bond-holders will willingly accept the offer.

RUSSIA AND THE BOERS. ' LONDON, August 20. The pro-Boers in Brussels and Holland are delighted at the announcement that the Czar invited a representative of the Transvaal Republic to the Prince of Oldenburg's wedding. Mr Kruger sent his secretary, Mr Joukheer Vandervoven; The,' British representative was absent from the wedding.

LORD KITCHENER’S REPORT. (Received’ August 21, 11.12, pm) LONDON, August 21. Lord Kitchener’s weekly report ista/ts*' that 64 'Boers have been 'killed 1 , 20 wounded and' 248 captured, including Landdrost Steyn, of Vredefoit, Commandants Breytehback and. De Yilliers, father-in-law of Schalk -Burger, while 95 Boers have surrendered. Two hundred and! sixty-seven, rifles, 15,700 rounds of small arms ammunition, 127 waggons, 940 horses and 4700 cattle have been captured.

Major-General, Knox and Colonel ' Sir Henry Bawlinson are dealing with 250 TramsvaaleM passing Th&banchu southwards, and Kruitzinger’a 250. , LORD KITCHENER’S OPINIONS. ; PATIENCE 'NECESSARY; AUSTRALIANS MENTIONED FOR BRAVERY. (Received August 22, 12.30 a.m.) LONDON, August 21. Lord Kitchener, in hils report reviewing the operations to July 8, emphasises that patience is necessary to overcome the insensate resistance of the Boers. Be l denounces the ignorant arrogance of the leaders, which is causing the devastation, of the country and the distress of , the, people. Ho mentions for conspicuous bravery eleven 1 Australians. . \ '• BURNING THE TRANSVAAL FLAG. LONDON ? August 21.

The “ Standard states that; a number of Australian troopers on Tuesday a;t Capetown hauled down and burned the Transvaal vierkleur flag, flying at the " Ons Land" newspaper offices. The spectators applauded.

TRE BRITANNIC’S CONTINGENT, SYDNEY, August 21

New South Woles supplied about 200 of the Contingent which has sailed for South Africa, in the Britannic. The balance wont from other colonies.

THE RICARDO LIBEL CASE. • BRISBANE, August 21,

In the Ricardo case Captain Douse gave evidence to the effect that he heard Captain Ohauvel urging Colonel Ricardo to obey an order to advance. The;latter replied, “No fear, we are sale here.” Other witnesses gave evidence that at the Vet River Colonel Ricardo, when ordered to advance, replied, “ I am quite willing to do so, but it will be Colonel Pilcher’s fault if I am lulled.”

GENERAL BADEN-POWELL. [Per Press Association.] GISBORNE, August 21

The following interesting passage' occurs in a letter from Colonel Porter, in oonn.maud of the Seventh Contingent, to "a friend here, written on June 30:—“I had the honour of an interview wiilth the celebrated General Baxkn-Powell. Hei ’sras passing through GreyEngabad in* a, private carriage to Durban,; m route to England to recruit hia health. He telegraphed from Pretoria that ha would like to see' me, and I was very glad to metib him,I’and 1 ’and found him exceedingly nice, but ®ot’ looking well. He looked worn cut and overstrained, requiring complete rest. Ho inquired all about New Zealand, and spoke in most complimentary terms of its people and its Contingents, and also said that he might try, to visit it before returning to. South Africa. I assured him of a good welcome from the New Zealand people if he did come." THE NEW ZEALAND CONTINGENTS. THEIR RETURN HOME. [Per Press Association,] WELLINGTON, August 21. A trooper of the Sixth Contingent writes that notice has been gazetted that all oversea Volunteers, including the New Zealanders, are to return home at the end of .October,