THE TRANSVAAL WAR.

Manawatu Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 7159, 9 February 1901, Page 2

THE TRANSVAAL WAR.

(Press Association.—Copyright.) ; _. . London, February 7. i The fiev Duplesis, a Dutch pastor at L'-idlev, implores the Cape Dutch to cease blowing the fire of desti action. - be declares that rider the influence of despair and fanactism the Boers are i committing acts against Christianity < and civilisation. ; General Buller, criticising the war, said that generally speaking the 'British subordinate commanders lacked initiative and independence of action, and the rank and file lacked independent intelligent action. _. ' February S. Eleven thousaud irregular troops have been embodied ia South Africa ! during the last three months. -iirigaclier.-General Brabant, who commands the Cape defence forres, is pushing northwards and westwards, and | clean-jg tho cou-Ury of invaders | Major-Ganeral De Lisle has reached Jiilansvlei. He declares that his troops were never so well mounted for hard . trekk-ig. • I •The coknna experienced tertible ■ difficulties, crossing fords and climbing rugged precipitous hill.s, dragging & .ms. i \\aggons with double teams took'thirty j eight hours to cover three miles over almost impregnable passes. The Boers did not defend the passes niess they were utubie to retreat on horseback. Neuter's Capetown correspondent states that the troops fouling a broad tront are sweeping the enemy towards | Cape Coiony. Outstretched w.-ngs of i cavalry are cleariug everything before them. Lord Kitchener is acting simultaneously m the southern districts, his forces working jointly upwards. ; Cartwright, the ed'tor of the South A-..-ican News, has been arrested and admitted to bail on a charge of repro-

aucrag a seditious libel from a London newspaper, dated January 17th. The article stated that Lord Kitchener had.secretly iasirucSed the troops pi--smng General De Wet's commando to

take/ no prisoners. Lord F;tcbenei telegraphed n unqualified denial of the statement. In an engagement at Xifcrakkop, ibe taouth Australian Bushmen lost Corporal Ouriio, Killed, and Lieut Depse.y and 1 nvat.: Ford daugcrousiy wounded. 1 nvafce Drinfcwater, of the New booth Walea Bushmen, has died of enteric. Major Dobbin, an Australian officer entiasted with the command of the demount Depot at Piquetberg, seventy^ live nr'es north of Capetown, has «mnred ,4000 °f the finest horses and 0000 lnr^es. During the war the New South Wales Agency-General has been re-, spouiable for supplying tb 3 War Office with 2,522,0000 pounds of .New South oc-nL t!lined meats' of Jfao.OOO poi/Tids supplied by the Sydney Meat Preserving Company. The Agency also sold to the \Vnr Office 4QV tons of New Souih Wales jams «iucc October. The Westminster Gazette says that the only chance of a settlement in South Atrica is to show thafi we are in earnest m the prosecution of the war. The cheapest course is to spend liberally, and to spend quickly.

m , _ Sydney, Febuary 8. Ine Government have been advised that favo troopb will anuvfi between Feb-ruiu-y 25th and March sth, to take the Aew South Wales Contingent to the uaae.

iUfScdJon has cabled to the Governmfiiit ihar'iing it for entertaining the contingent en the Cornwall.