THE BOER WAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11239, 7 December 1899, Page 5

THE BOER WAR.

THE BATTLE OF MODDER RIVER.

TREACHEROUS SUBTERFUGES.

THE MORNING AFTER THE FIGHT.

HARROWING SCENES.

PITIABLE CONDITION OF THE BOER WOUNDED.

FREE STATERS' ARTILLERY PANIC-STRICKEN.

THE BOER LOSSES.

THE ENEMY'S MORALE MUCH SHAKEN.

EVACUATION OF WEENEN BY THE BOERS.

By Telegrapli-Press AESociation.—Copyright.

Capetown, December 5, The Boers as in previous encounters resorted to various treacherous subterfuges during the battle of Modeler River. Iu spite of remonstrance they used Dum Duni bullets, while numbers fired from under the shelter of the Red Cross flag. About 200 galloped off the battlenekl during the afternoon. Their flight was disorganised by the Naval Brigade, whose shooting was exceedingly accurate, exploding shell.- among the fugitives. Scenes cf the most harrowing deficription were witnessed the morning after i,he battle. Many of the Boers were hurriedly buried on the spot. The shell-riddled buildings of the town were filled with unattended wounded Boers, whose condition was pitiable. The groans of the sufferers were terrible. Three dead Highlanders were found in one of the enemy's trenches. One of the number was grasping an enemy's rifle in his gtiffened hands. The Free Staters' artillery became panic-stricken during the engagement and bolted, while the Transvaalers showered on them denunciations at their cowardice. The prisoners taken report that at the instigation of General Cronje many of the were whipped to prevent their fleeing. Notwithstanding his wound, Lieut.-General Lord Methuen continues on duty. Capetown, December 6. The British troops at the battle of Modder River were almost maddened with thirst, the water carts being unable to approach the zone of fire. Commandant Cronje considered the defences capable of withstanding an attack for three weeks. General Methuen is satisfied that the enemy's morale has been much shaken by the defeat at Modeler River, and that their losses exceeded the British. Earl De la Wait, who is acting as the London Globe correspondent, was nearly shot while assisting the wounded, at Modder River. The Lancers have located the Boers on a strong ridge six miles from Modder River. LONDON, December 6. The Times states that the Boers lost 150, with hundreds wounded.

OPERATIONS IN NATAL.

BOEiIS EVACUATE WEENEN. DtritßAN. December 5. The Boers have evacuated Weenen. The piers of the Tugela River bridge at Co'enso remain intact. A trestle bridge has been completed over the river at Frere. BRITISH PRISONERS. Durban, December 5. British prisoners in Pretoria are allowed to purchase Boer newspapers.

THE BASUTOS. Durban, December 5. British victories have had a reassuring effect on the Basutos.

NURSES WELCOMED BY THE QUEEN. London, December 6. The Queen welcomed the nurses proceeding to South Africa at Windsor Castle. She remarked, "How sweet of you to care for my men."

BOER WOMEN WANT PEACE. Durban, December 6. A number of Boer women visited the Boer lines at Ladysmith and implored General Joubert to end the war.

A CHARGE OF TREASON. Capetown, December 6. Labasehague, a prominent Afrikander member of the Natal Legislative Council, has been arrested on a charge of treason for joining the Boers at Estcourt,

SPREAD OF DISAFFECTION CHECKED. Capetown, December 6. General Gatacre, at Putterskroof, in the Coleaberg district, has checked the spread of disaffection.

THE COLONIAL TROOPS. Sydney, December 6. The steamer Kent arrived at Capetown on Friday, with the second batch of Australian troops.

WAR ITEMS. War news is posted on the ga.les of all barracks in Great Britain. Any British volunteer who desires to cerve in South Africa must enlist in the regular army. The Manchester Corporation is making im allowance to the families of Reservists in the city police. Major Bethune, commanding the Durban Uitlander Corps, has been appointed Commandant of Durban.

Boer burghers are smuggling their cattle from the Freo State into Basulolano! to obviate their being requisitioned. The Army Remount Department secured in Italy without much difficulty 6000 splendid mules for service in South Africa.

One of the new Colt automatic guns, canable of firing a minimum of 100 shots a minute, arrived at Durban early in November.

The British artillery practice nt Olencoe was super!). One shot from the 671h Battery put. the guns on the Boer right flank out of action.

Mr. E. P. Mathers, telegraphing from Durban to his paper, South Africa, says that Natal is making immense sacrifices, and that a fifth of her manhood is in the field.

M. Zola does not see his way to interfering in the Transvaal question. " Perlmps," says he, "a very human fear of appearing to pose as a riyhter of wrongs stands in my way."

One of the big West Lancashire colliery firms has received an order from the Admiralty for 70.000 tons of coal, to be shipped to Natal within seven days, at u price of nearly £1 a ton.

A prisoner's lot is not a happy one. The Boers sent 200 white Mid 300 black misdemeanants from their gaols over the eastern frontier, and now the Portuguese authorities have sent them back again.

Prices have gone up in Cape Colony. H.iisos that ordiinirilv iv.jnl.l K dear .•! £30 are offered at from 70 In 90 guineas. Lagi-r costs 2s a bottle. Whisky and soda is 2s 6d, and soda and milk costs Is 6d.

Of the Reservists summoned to the colours 98.4 per cent, rejoined, and 0.91 per icn'. accounted satisfactorily for their absence, leaving 1.05 as failing to report themselves. Of the Reservists who rejoined 7.11 per cent. were found unfit for service.

The hill which the British infantry stunned at Gleneoe is 1000 ft high. ThV scaling of it by the Dublin Fusiliers and the Kinji's Royal Rifles may safely be put down as one of the most brilliant deeds in the records of the British nrmv.

On Talana Hill British officers and men were seen giving wounded Boers drink from their water bottles. A private of the King's Royal Rifles, finding a wounded Boer lying in the rain, went some distance for a waterproof to cover his disabled enemy. One of the Devonshires at Elands Lnagto asked his comrade to put his head up. and see how the Boers were getting on. " 1 wi l ! as fooii as there is room fur it," was !he reply, which was not unnatural, says tin . Standard, considering that the air scenud to consist of flying lend.

Dr. Lsyds has infonn.-r! the Dutch newspapers that the British are employing the services of armed natives against the Doers. He protests, on behalf of his (iuvcronient, against such a "brutal and fatal act, which involves great danger fur all the while inhabitants of South Africa.'

Mr. Bryan, who opposed Mr. McKinlsv for the Unil"d Ntates I'raulrncy, says that it is only the Imperialistic liiovinn.nt ; n America I hut prevented her from protesting against England's action in (lie Transvaal, The Boer National Hymn he considers far nobler than the Knglisli N'ati il Aiitkm.

There is at Iwist one DiilchiiKin who admires British pluck, and his name is 1 . Van Dijlc, of Amsterdam. JI-: has been si) struck by the gallantry of the tJorduns that lie lias— here is his letter to a shipping firm:—"] have read with much interest of the stirring accounts at tin; Iwilie of (ilcncoo and Elands Langle, and much like to make my appreciation of the good gallantry of 2nd Gordon Highlanders. 1 have send to my forwarding agents instructions of 100 rases of my Schiedam, and 1 will be glad of you shipping for my behalf, mid villi ail my respects, to these brave soldiers at Ladysmith now."

At the end of September the Yorkshire lamb fairs had been held, prices having ('eclined Is per head for half-bred, and 2s for twice crossbred lambs. The scarcity of turnips and want of gr?ss was ilie cause of the fall in price, Many farmers had groat losses from sheep being struck with maggot. It is many years since there had been so much trouble for tile shepherds. During li.iy time, when all hands were employed, the moor sheep suffered most; ninny farmers losing several sheep, if not seen every day. The great heat was tho cause. On the'moors where there was no shade it was worst.

Tho second instalment of the agricultural returns for the present year indicates tiiat Scotland does not share in tho increases of cattle and sheep shown in tho summary for Great Britain. The figure? for cattle are 4,841,852 for England, or 167,549 more than in 1898 j 736,6,91 for Wales, or 39.914 mow ; and 1,217,177 for Scotland, or 29,107 less. With respect to rtieep, the figures are 16,260,327 for England, or 373,789 more than in 1893; 3,416,357 for Wales, or H7.649 more; and 7,560,980 for Scotland, or 26,968 less. All three countries contribute to the increase in pigs. England on June 4 last had 2,225,420, or 146,522 more than in 18S6; Wales, 258,154, or 19,573 more; and Scotland, 140,239, or 6123 more.

THE FAIRIES ARE BAKING. The Scots have a pretty saying that when the sun shines through falling rain it is a sign that the " Fairies are baiting." The eyes of reany a domestic fairy rain tears over her j baking, when, in spite of all her efforts, she ; finds that she can only give her husband a stone for bread, or when the dainty scones for the children's tea turn out heavy and sodden. But tho sunbeams of success will i soon shine through her tears if she uses the i new Paisley Flour made by Brown and Polson, of Corn Flour fame. With this, not only bread, but scones, griddle cakes, buns, and tea-cakes, can be made with complete success. | No other raising'or leavening agent is re- ! quired. With Brown and Poison's Paisley flour home-made bread can bo produced which is bettor both in flavour and in appearance than most bread that can be bought i it has also the advantage of being easily digested, even when now. Pastry prepared with Paisley Flour can be eatan without fe:ir | of unpleasant consequences. Messrs. Btovi j and Poison's Paisley Flour should therefore fold a place in every household. J