TRANSVAAL WAR.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 799, 21 August 1900, Page 4

TRANSVAAL WAR.

London, Aug. 17. Colonel Helyar, prior to the discovery of his murder, had been roported missing. Tho crime is attributed to tbe Boer policy of guerilla warfare. ' Tho crime has aroused widespread indignation. General Do Wet outmarched and eluded General Lord Kitchoner, despito lho fact that the British transports had double teams and picked animals. The escape is attributed to Do Wet's ability to march at night, the pursuers requiring daylight. General Do Wet's force has split into small bodies. De Wet was last heard of at Rustenburg. The Boers under bim released all tho British prisoners in their possession, with the exception of officers. General Carrington is at Ottoshoop, with tho enemy on his front and right Hank. Aug. 18. Colonel Kitchener has relieved Colonel Hoare at Elands river. General Carrington, on the 16tb, drove a small body of Boers from Malmani in tho direction of Zeerust. General Marshall is president of tbe courtmartial appointed to try tho conspirators arrested in connection with the plot to murder British officers and ' abduct Lord Roberts The first person tried was Lieutenant Cardna, a cool, young, and well-dressed lawyer and burgher. A witness named Do Toit deposed that early in July Cardna asked him to assist in an enterprise lo stagger Europe. They discussed the plot to seize all the officers in Pretoria, with the help of 250 residents, while Cardna went to Lord Roberts' house and abducted him. Lord Roberts was to be handed to General Botha, behind Beckett's kopje. Cardna showed him Botha's cipher letter as a proof of genuineness. When asked about the oath of neutrality, he said: "That is nothing. Discovery only means transportation to Ceylon." De Toit declined and communicated the plot to the constabulary. Captain Duhan, the prosecutor, said he found the key to Botha's letter on Cardna. Lieutenant Kruger, of tho Imperial Transvaal police, translated the cipher, which read : " Proceed work. Be courageous. I not leave you lurch." Lieutenant Kruger and Marcus, late a field cornet, refused to join. Lieutenant Hans Cardna, of tho Staals Artillery, was charged with breaking his parole and plotting to kidnap Lord Roberts and the officers, and pleaded gu Ity. The court-martial advised a withdrawal of the plea. The sensational evidence previously sent was then given. Three British were killed and 43 wounded in General Hunter's action at Spitzkop, ' chiefly amongst the Highland Brigade. Kitchoner's chief casuality in his operations against Do Wet was the severe wounding in the hand and arm of Liout.-Col. De Lisle, commanding the second corps . of Mounted Infantry.