TRANSVALL WAR.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 717, 29 March 1900, Page 6

TRANSVALL WAR.

TU3WS FROM MAFEKING. , : •. BOEBLOSSES. ." London, March 26. Lord Robert's proclamation calling upon Boers to surrender, and recommending them to trust to the clemency of the British, does, nof apply to rebels. He offers leniency to the burghers who were mislead by President Steyn if they reconsider their action and disarm. -The halt of Lord Boberls at Bloemfontein is due to a cautious effort upon his part to secure a peaceful transition of authority from the Free Staters to their conquerors. The British vanguard, consisting of detachments of New Zealanders and Canadians, have left Van Wyck's Vlei, and - are now advancing northward. A Beuter's special explains that long-range guns are requited for the seige of Pretoria. The Tasmanians and Bimingtons' Scouts, who were in the. van of General Clemets' force, were the first to enter the town of Pbilippolis. Later on General Clements entered the town, the Dragoons, with drawn swords, acting as his escort. When General Clements entered Pbilippolis he read Lord Koberts' proclamation to the burghers and announced to those swearing neutrality that if they had taken no leading part in the policy of the R«publios or in the hostilities they would be allowed to return to their farms. The lato Government at Bloemfontein, said the General, would , uover be re-established. The burghers listened carefully aud then surrendered their arms, and look the oath of neutrality. The landdrost (mayor) and sheriffs have been reappointed to their offices. A number of Colesberg rebels who had taken shelter in the town were arrested. 'Commandant Oliviei's force of Uoers, supported by 15 guns, is reported to be in occupation of a position to the north of Liuly brand, on the borders of the Free State and Ba»utoland. ■ Other reports from tl.is town say that Olivier has deserted his laager, and that the enemy are ileeing wildly to the north, with General Gatacre's (? French's) cavalry in hot pursuit. The Free Staters threaten to shoot Commandant Olivier for grossly deceiving them. A Beuter's message states that the show of resistance at Kroonstad and elsewhere is merely designed to cover the ultimate withdrawal of the enemy from Transvaal (? Free State) territory. Lieutenant-colonel Crabbe's party, armed only with revolvers, were out on a foraging expedition to some farms north of the British camp at Glen siding. In tho course of their investigations the officers came to the siding, whore they examined the telegraph apparatus. On leaving they caught sight of five mounted Boers on a kopje. The Boers immediately wheeled and disappeared to the east. The British officers, in an endeavor to catch the Boers, divided and swept round each side of the kopje, but met a deadly rifle fire at short range. The Hon. E. Lygon was shot through the heart. Then the Boers pretended to retreat, but were joined by three others, and then the eight marksmen lay in ambush. The men belonged to the Johannesburg police. Upon seeing that their fire was successful, the Boers left their ambush and rendered every service, washing and dressing the wounds, aud sending news of the disaster to the British camp. The three wounded men were transferred to Bloemfontein, and are progressing favorably. ' Tho military authorities hope that the Boers will fight at Kroonstad, as the position is not naturally strong. The plains beyond render pursuit easy. March 27. General French has received many submissions, and has returned to Jjlownfontein. Many Transvaalers doubt the utility of further resistance. A relief force, consisting of the Kimberley Light Horse, under Colonel Peakham, has advanced 18 miles north of Cbristiania, or about 14 miles north of Fourteen Streams, where the enemy are opposing Lord Methuen. Colonel Baden-Powell has reported that all was well on the 13th, and that the cordon of iuvesting Boers was much relaxed. Another report from Mafcking states that on the 13lh the garrison captured 2G head of the enemy's cattie. Many of the natives who are shut up in Mafeking have refused to eat horseflesh, and are therefore starving. A force of 400 Transvaalers have reoccupied Griquatown (Griqualand West), and' seized and imprisoned the loyal residents of the town. A column has left Kimberley to expel the invaders. Lord MethUen is completing' transport arrangements as well as stores, with the view to a rapid and effective advance. Outpost skirmishes have taken place been General Buller's troops and the Boers to the north of Blandslaagte. Fresh troops are being pushed to the front as rapidly as possible. General Buller has established a hospital containing (iOO beds at Estcourt. The Duke of Norfolk is going to the front as an olh'cei of the Sussex Yeomanry. Mr Balfour, in the House of Commons, has agreed to the appointment of a committee to inquire into the alleged army contract scandals, and, if the law officers so decide, the Government will prosecute the alleged offenders. Foreign steamers are 1 aiding 500 Boer recruits monthly at Delagoa Bay. The eighth division will be landed at Port Elizabeth and East London. The ' Times ' states that at a moderate, trustworthy estimate 2000 Boers were killed in action. The total casualties, exclusive of several thousand Free '^Haters who have returned to their farms, is 15,000 of the enemy. Henceforth the Boers will not muster above 30,000. The ' Standard ' says that the leaders of the Opposition recognise that the extension of sovereignty over South Arica is the only possible settlement of the question, but recommend that several States be' formed of self-governing colonies. The Imperial Yeomanry, numbering 10,000, is now complete. Ninety thousand sleepcis for the DundeeVryheid railway have been transferred from Dundee to the Transvaal.Sir T. Brassey has issued a circular to the Liberals, in which he urges that the war has advanced the question of Imperial representation, springing from participation in the burdens of the Empire. By the federation of Canada, Australia, and South Africa, they will become important units, shortly simplifying the creation of an Assembly wherein the colonies will bo represented in the ter of dealing with foreign relations, military and naval expenditure, and facilitating Home Kule on local questions in Ireland and elsowhere. The assured loyalty of those who have surrendered and the absolute security of his rear communications are pre-requisites to Lord Roberts' absence from Bloemfontein. A fo-ce of four hundred Boers ha"ye occupied Paapkuil, 40 miles north-west of Kimberley, and are recruiting from the rebels in the Herbert district. Commandant Olivier's column, with eight hundred waggons, by a forced march reached Clocolan in a prostrated condition. They rested two days. It is feared many escaped. The Basutos are repairing the railway north of Bloemfontein. Heavy rains have fallen throughout South Africa, and many camps have been converted into swamps. Colonel Baden-Powell on the 13th captured the enemy's trench and killed twelve. Capetown, March 26. At Molteno and Dordrecht Sir A. Milner, on his journey northwards, was warmly welcomed, while President Schreiner, who accompanies him, was hooted. The railway line ha 3 been diverted so as to cross the railway line at Bethulie by way of the waggon bridge. General Forestier-Walker has arrived at NorvalsPont." March 27. A troop train overturned at. an embankment on Victoria road, owing to the subsidence of the railway line. Nine soldiers were injured and there were many miraculous escapes. Roberts, of the N.S. Wales Lancers, has been discharged from Pretoria Hospital. • A hundred Boer prisoners at Simonstown are suffering from typhoid. - A large quantity of shrapnel and machine gnn ammunition has been found on farms at Springfbn'ein. Durban, March 26. The colonists of Natal are excited to a. dangerous degree in view if the likelihood of the disloyal element of the population escaping punishment altogether. Sidney, March 27. Mr Lyne,- on behalf of Australia and Tasmania, has sent a cable to Mr Chamberlain similar to Mr Seddon's with reference to British supremao/ in South Africa.