TRANSVAAL WAR.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 1037, 24 May 1902, Page 4

TRANSVAAL WAR.

London, May 21. Commandant Vanhccrden was killed while unsuccessfully attacking Aberdeen. The ' Morning Post's' Pretoria correspondent says there are a number of irreconcilables, principally Free Staters, at Vcrecnigii/g. The Transvaal minority mostly favor immediate peace, and those knowing Great Britain's power and determination may intluence the majority. The crops have Wn reaped in many distiicts by troops, thus increasing the enemy's straits with regard to tood. The irrecuneibililes are relying on Great Britain neaiing the end of her purse, but the majority are letter informed. Advices received in Holland state that a majority at Vereeniging are personally interested in prolonging in» war. The struggle will die out without a conference or a treaty. Mr Bennett Burleigh says the discussions were acrimonious.

The 'Times' states that tho notorious train-wrecker, Jack Hinton, and his suboidir.ate, McKinney, have surrendered at Balmoral.

Stcyn, Wessels, Mailer, Collie], and Hertzng uri! the chief opponents of peace. l)e Wet is inure pacific. Thousands of 10-is of goods are warehoused in Hamburg and New York ready for shipment to South Africa directly peace is proclaimed.

May 22. Iteutei s Pretoria coi respondent states that on Wednesday, in accordance with the April arrangement, the sis delegates chosen by tho Vereeniging Conference, consisting of members of the two Governments, with lie Wet, De la Hey, and eight secretaries, arrived at » Pretoria on Sunday. They lodged at a house * next to Lord Kiiclc c.t's.

Ihc 'Daily Tcl.gniph' states that the delegates include fcelmlk liuigcr, Botha, Smuts, Meyer, and Beyers. A stiict censor- JJ ship is being observed over messages from Pretoria.

Mrßennet Burleigh has telegraphed ton relative for coniniuuicitiun to the 'Daily Telegraph.' This fact is interpreted as a circuitous announcement that the British terms have bean accepted, and that peace is in sight.

The' Times that a pessimist like Mr Chamberlain is hnpeful, though not sanguine. lie fears the inecom-ilablcs wield disproporli unite power for evil. Mr Seddon addressed the Seventh N.Z. Contingent at Newcastle, mustering 3(io, on the eve of their departure for the colony. Sir A. Milner and Lord Kitchener and the Boer delegates are actively conferring at Pretoria. There arc no reliable indications of the result.

Nine thousand troops participated in Gen. Lan Hamilton's drive from the 7th to the 11th May. Vanzyl's commando of rebels and Harp's commando were practically wiped out.