TRANSVALL WAR.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 709, 10 March 1900, Page 4

TRANSVALL WAR.

DEFEAT OF BOERS AT OSFONTEIN. LADYSMITH TEMPORARILY ABANDONED.. MAFEKING DESPONDENT BUT DETERMINED. • A GORE BOY MISSING. London, Maroh 8. Sixty dead Boers, in addition to those previously found, wore found in a cave in Cronje's laager at Koodoosrand. Supplies are now plentiful at Osfontein, but prior to their arrival the British army lived for three days on fresh meat and porridge made from the horses' bran. Lord Roberts has turned the Boer left flank at Osfontein, and the enemy are in full retreat. The enemy occupied a position extending four miles north and 11 miles south of the Modder, Major-general Colville's Guards division acting on the north, and General Kenny's division and General Tucker's cavalry on the south. The cavalry, outflanking the enemy, opened the way for" ' General Kenny, who advanced without firing a shot. The enemy retreated in a northeasterly direction, closely followed by the cavalry and horse artillery (mounted), while Generals Tucker, Colville and Pole Carew crossed tbe river at Poplar's Drift, where Lord Roberts says he intends to establish his headquarters in the evening. It was a very successful day, and the enemy were completed routed. The fighting was confined to the cavalry, which did exceedingly well. The British casualties n.mber 50. The position occupied by the Boers was extremely strong and cunningly arranged with a second line of entrenchments. Lord Rcberts states that a direct attack would have caused heavy loss. The turning movemont was ljecessarily wide, and the horses were fatigued. General French's horse artillery batteries did great execution among the Boers' commandos. Commandants Dewet and Delancey commanded the fleeing Boers. President Kruger's valuables have been lodged in vaults at Amsterdam. The rebel Dutch in Griqualand West have annexed Prieska and Kenhardt to the Free State. They also imprisoned the magistrate and many o£ the residents at Kenhardt. Three thousand rebels threaten the town of Carnarvon in Cape Colony. During Major Maxwell's attack on the Boer position to the North of Dordrecht on Sunday last, and when the Cape Mounted Rifles endeavored to scale the breastworks, one of their number was captured and compelled by the enemy to hoist the white flag. As soon as he had mounted the wall and waved the flag the wily enemy hurriedly retreated, but they were helped to scatter by our shell fire. The captured rifleman marvellously escaped unhurt, through amid a terrific British fire. A patrol consisting of the Inniskillings and the Victorians had a sharp brush with the , enemy, numbering 100, near Norval's Pont. The Boers still occupy the hills south of the Orange River. Ladysmith has been temporarily abandoned owing to its insanitary condition. Cronje's staff admit that they have been overwhelmed with kindness since they were taken prisoners. The Ameer of Afghanistan at a recent durbar expressed his willingness to send •50,000 soldiers to assist Great Britain in South Africa. Lord Roberts has been gazetted an honorary colonel of the City of London Imperial Volunteers. The offer of Sir Thomas Fitzgerald, the well-known Melbourne surgeon, to act as surgeon consultant with the Royal Army Medical corps, has been accepted. In the House of Commons Mr Chamberlain said that he was glad to announce that the Government's request for 2000 additional Australian bushmen had beeu cordially and enthusiastically received in the colonies. President Kruger has returned to Pretoria. President Steyn, after appointing a DeputyPresident at Bloemfontein, went to Pretoria. He declares that he is determined to fight to the last man, and that the struggle in the Free State is child's play compared to what it will be in the Transvaal. General Buller is pushing his troops toward Van Reenan's Pass. The Boers in retiring from Ladysmith to Biggarsberg exploded the railway bridges as far as Glencoe and tired the Elandslaagte colleries. They also threaten to destroy the goldmines. The Boers who took part in the engagement at Osfontein numbered 10,000. The British Government intends to intern Commandant Cronje and those prisoners with him at St. Helena. The flying column sent through Zululand has invaded the Transvaal and scattered small parties of Boers. The ' Times ' Capetown correspondent says tbat an explicit Ministerial statement that the annexation of the two Republics is intended would infuse new life into the loyalists and damp mischievous agitation. Ladysmith Boers attribute the retreat from Osfontein to the commandant's withdrawal from the key of the position. Commandant De Wet abandoned a gun and immense quantities of forage and many tents, as he dreaded that the British would cut the line of communication with Bloemfonteiri. Poplar Grove, Lord Roberts' headquarters, is twenty miles eastward of Osfontein. Residents of Kimberley declare that the Boers killed British lying wounded during Major Scott-Turner's sortie from the town in December last. The flying column sent through Zululand under Colonel Prendergast, consists of the King's Rilles, Mounted Infantry ard Mounted Police, with Maxims and quick firers. The column invaded the Transvaal towards Catasa, where GO Boers were caught in ambush Three were killed and they scattered the other parties. The Queen visits Ireland early in April. The visit is of a private character, and has no political complexion. It is undertaken at the Queen's own spontaneous desire, and is hailed with enthusiasm by all classes in Ireland as a gracious tribute to their soldiers' valor and sympathy with the families of the killed and wounded in South Airica. The Mafeking garrison is despondent, but determined to hold out. President Steyn is urging Commandant Suyman to storm the town and then hasten to his assistance, as the Free State is hard pressed. The garrison at Mafeking are eating horseflesh and weevily biscuits. Since the beginning of the siege 290 have been killed or wounded and died of disease. Tho Queen stays at Buckingham Palace fnm to-day till Saturday. While on her visit to Ireland she will reside at the viceregal lodge in Dublin. The Queen has ordered the ranks of Irish regiments in future to wear on St. Patrick's Day a sprig of shamrock in their headdress. The order is made to commemorate the gallantry of the Irish regiments serving in South Africa. The Prince of Wales held a levee at St. Paul's. The Agents-General were presented after the foreign ambassadors. The Hon. W. P. Reeves was unavoidably prevented from attending. There have been dealings in the new war loan, at a premium of Ito lj per ceut. It is believed it will be issued- to-moirow at a fixed price of 98 or 98£, and bearing interest at the rale of 2$ per cent. Capetown, March 7. The Dutch Church in Cape Colony is strongly agitating for peace and the preservation of the independence of the Republics. March 8. Operations round Colesberg tried the Australian troops and horses to the utmost. Lord Kitchener inspected them and stated that he hiphly appreciated their ' excellent work and complimented thera upon their general efficiency. The Bm-rs are still besieging Mafeking, and are raking the streets of the town with a* new siege gun. . Typhoid and dysentery are prevalent in the town. President Steyn assured Mr Hales, the released Westralian correspondent, that the capitulation of Pretoria would be preceded by events that would astonish Europe. A saddler named Aitken, of tbo N.Z. Mounted Infantry, was reported missing afler the Osfontein engagement. Melbourne, March 8. Sir T. Fitzgerald goes to South Africa for three months without fee, the Government paying bare expenses. Sydney, March 8. In reply to Mr Lyne's enquiry as to tbe duration of service of the new Bushmen's contingent, the War Office cables 12 months, or the duration of the war. j There are 6000 distinct pieces in a locomotive. There are also thousands of teapots used daily to- infuse in Southland " McKenzie's " Hondai-Lan-A Teas.