LATEST MAIL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11241, 9 December 1899, Page 5

LATEST MAIL NEWS.

Adelaide, December 8. A steamer bringing the latest mail news from South Africa has arrived at Adelaide. The following are the most interesting items : — FIRING ON AN AMBULANCE. JOUBERT'S CHARGE AGAINST THE BRITISH EXPLAINED. Capetown, November 17. With reference to the charge made by General Joubert against the English, of firing on an ambulance, one of Joubert's chaplains writing to the Standard and Diggers' News, of Johannesburg, says the ambulance was not in its proper place, being within the line of fire. One shot did fall near it, but the instant the British saw it they ceased firing. The chaplain is certain the shot was a mere accident. The Boer wounded are loud in praise of the chivalry and humanity of the British soldiers.

THE NOCTURNAL SURPRISE AT MAFEKING. ACCOMPLISHED IN SPLENDID STYLE. Colonel Baden-Powell's nocturnal surprise on the Boers entrenched near Mafeking was accomplished in magnificent style, Captain Fitzclarence was selected to lead the enterprise. The squadron left the camp when everything was still, and crept stealthily towards the enemy's lines, and got close up before the Boers had the slightest idea that anything was afoot. The anxious watchers at Mafeking gave ringing cheers as the gallant little band dashed forward to the Boer trenches with fixed bayonets. Then the night rang out with the shouts and yells of the contending forces. The Boers reinforcements came hurriedly forward, Captain Fitzclarence's whistle

sounded, and the men ran back to their owi lines, followed by a shower of rifle shots. The squadron was warmly welcomed 01 [jjta return by Colonel Baden-Powell. CRONJE'S ATTACK ON MAFEKING. A HOT ENCOUNTER. ' General Cronje made his big attack 01 Mafeking at half-past four a.m. on Octobei 31. His big guns began to concentrate on E kopje held by Captain Walford's police troop. When day broke the Boers were seei menacing our position, and at sis o'clocl they opened a tremendous fire into the kopji from both sides. Colonel Baden-Powell directed the tow guns to support Captain Walford, whosi Maxim kept up a withering fire, putting thi enemy's 12-pounder temporarily out o action. Under cover of their artillery the Boeri crept up close to the kopje, recognising thai rushing tactics could alone avail, but thi Maxim mowed them down, and after fivi hours' fighting they retreated beaten.

HOW GENERAL SYMONS FELL. The Natal Witness says General Sir William Penn-Symons was shot while within the plantation which surrounds Mr. Smith's homestead at Dundee. Sir William had visited the batteries of artillery, along with Colonel Dartnell and his staff, and afterwards rode along the infantry lines viewing the relative positions of his own different troops and those of the enemy. He freely exposed himself to the bullets of the Boers, it may be said to an extent which was unwise, considering the Boers characteristic of desiring in war to first destroy the leader. Sir William did not seek to prevent his identity being known to the enemy 011 the hill above, for wherever he went there followed him his orderly, carping tho lance and red pennon, objects which alone would draw towards him Boer attention. Very keen was the regret when it became known that the General had been wounded, but hope revived when the general's words were heard : "You are fine fellows, all of you," he remarked to a group of privates who were near, and turning to an officer he said : "Tell General Yule my accident is but slight, and that I will be out again tor morrow." It is said that General Penn-Symons, when he saw the position occupied by the enemy, declared that he would now show the Dutch that the British soldier could climb a hill as steep as Majuba, and occupy it in face of tho fiercest of Boer fire. And this was done.

A PIGEON MESSAGE FROM LADY SMITH. The following message, Jated November 2, was received by pigeon from the Assistant Military Secretary, Ladysmith "Yesterday General French went out with cavalry and field artillery, and effectively shelled a Boer laager. No loss on our side. Lieutenant Egerton, R.N., of H.M.s. Powerful, wounded in the Naval Battery, is since dead. General JouOert lias sent in Kineard, R. 1 .: Fusiliers, and nine wounded prisoners.: Eight Boers were sent out in exchange ; no others fit to travel. To-day Colonel Brocklehurst, with cavalry, field artillery, Imperial Light Horse, and Natal Mounted Volunteers were engaged with the enemy-south-west of Ladysmith. The fighting lasted several hours. Our loss was very : small. The uombardment continued yesterday and to-day, many shells being pitched into the town. The troops are in good: health and spirits, and the wounded are doing very well." BRITISH PRISONERS AT PRETORIA A Reuter's message from Pretoria, dated October 31, says : —The officers have been removed to the Government model school, a new and commodious building in the centra of the town. They are allowed the run ol the playground. The President has issued instructions that the prisoners are to be well treated, in the hope that similar treatment will be accorded to the Transvaal prisoners. It has now been arranged that officers shall be allowed to purchase their own provisions..

INSIDE KIMBERLEY. The Port Elizabeth Telegraph prints a) communication from Kimberley, dated October 20, in. which the writer says :—"Wo are well here and not the least bit nervous. Kimberley is, indeed, so well protected that the military authorities assure lis that it would need some 30,000 Boers to succeed in taking the town. I cannot say that we are comfortable, because we are not; we are not allowed to take a bath, as the Boers have blown up the waterworks ; the reservoirs are full, but there is only sufficient for three weeks, so we have to be most careful. Of course milk and fruit are things of the past. Now that martial law lias been proclaimed, we have all to be in at nine o'clock at night, and are not allowed to be out before six in the morning. The streets, after nine at night, are as quiet as the grave !■ We are not allowed out of the town, or in the gardens, as all the military are stationed there. So we feel like prisoners, and life is most monotonous. The Boers have built a fort on the kopjes outside Wesselton, and have two 14-pounders pointed in the direction of the Premier mine. However, they are a tremendous distance out of Kimberley, and so quite out of range. We are feeling most isolated, and simply longing to hear from the colony— you are getting along there, and what you think of us here. We are just longing for the troops to arrive from the Colony. The days now are so long. When the last alarm was given on Sunday night, everyone was in church, and they all rushed out anyhow. We shall simply have no nerves left when it is all over. We were cut off from all communication so suddenly, that we are only just now commencing to know what it means. We are expecting an attack at any time, and if the Boers do not attack us, our men intend to attack them, anyhow, as soon as troops arrive. We have 4000 men in the town to fight for us, and 850 are mounted. It is a pity that Mr. Rhodes is here, for some reasons, as the Boers hate him so, and will be all the more anxious to get hold of the place. But I would not be out of the place for anything. The general opinion is that there will never be a shot fired at Kimberley, especially as they have not been able to take a small place like Mafeking."

WAR ITEMS. Banks in Johannesburg are open daily from nine to noon. The white man's curfew is rigorously operated in Johannesburg at nine o'clock each night, The Boers have invaded Inggwavuma (Zululand) and looted and burned the public buildings and stores. According to private letters received in Capetown, the Star offices and Eckstein's Buildings at Johannesburg have been burned to the ground. The liquor edict, which governed the consumption of drink in Johannesburg, has new been relaxed, the immediate dangers of excess being passed. Ladysmith is full of Boer prisoners and wounded, the latter presenting horrible evidences of the swordsmanship of the cavalry, evidence which will endure for the lifetime of the victims, noses and ears being missing, cut off during the cavalry charges. THE WAR FUND. The Mayor has received the following additional subscriptions to the Transvaal war fund:— school, 17s lid; Mangawhara school, 6s 6d; Omahu school, 3s 9d; " Officer," A Battery, £1 Is; Whangaroa school, 2s 6d; Patmngi schools 9d; Waio. karaka school, £1 Is Id; E. J. Bodle, by sale of Song of (he Soldier's Mother," second instalment, £1; W. J. Cheeseman, ss; Tiingetiroa school, Is Tangitiroa school, li 16a.