THE TRANSVAAL WAR

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1507, 17 January 1901, Page 30

THE TRANSVAAL WAR

THE INVASION OF CAPE COLONY. INTENTIONS OF THE ENEMY. LONDON, January 10. Tlie vanguard of the invading Boers is now twenty miles from Piquetberg, eighty miles north of Capetown. The invaders have been instructed to cut the lines of communication near the coast, and thus compel the British to hurry southward to eal with the intruders, General Botha in the meantime taking the offensive in the Transvaal. The latest reports in regard to the Cape Dutch are most- reassuring. Lieut.-Colonel He-nniker’s force, including the Second Battalion of the Coldstream Guards, holds an extended line to the south or Sutherland, 180 miles north-east of Capetown. Portions of the invaders have moved westward from Fraserburg, which is about 80 miles beyond Sutherland. A strong British column has garrisoned Carnarvon, an important centre in the northern part of Cape Colony, which figured largely in the eurlier stage oi trio war. Four British columns are operating from Middleburg, on the eastern railway, south of Colesberg. Horses have beeih commandeered at Warrenton and Worcester, where the circulation of the newspaper “Ons Land was forbidden- . , Entrenchments are being constructed across the Cape flats from False Bay to Table Bay. . , , . A patrol of Westralians, while breax- - ivig a wire fence near Richmond, fortysix miles south of De Aar junction, came under a close fire of the enemy. They, however, skilfully evaded capture. A patrol of Brabant’s Horse was am bushed at Richmond, five being captured. The prisoners were stripped and then released. Another patrol of tlie same regiment avenged the incident, defeating a Boer patrol, killing the leader, and capturing a number of horses. The Boers on the night of the 7tli simultaneously attacked many posts in the Belfast, Wonderfontein, Nooitgeda.cht, Wildfontein, and Pan districts, on the line of the Delag,oa railway in the Eastern Transvaal. A dense fog enabled them to creep close to the British’ parties. After heavy fighting the Boers were repulsed, twenty-four being killed. One British officer and twenty men were killed, and three officers and fifty-nine men wounded. Commandant Beyer’s commando attacked a convoy near Krugersdorp on the Bth, and were repulsed with the loss of eleven killed. The British casualties were trifling. General De Wet recently visited his farm and disinterred two cartloads of ammunition. Lord Kitchener’s proclamation is gradually proving effective. RECENT CASUALTIES: LONDON, January 10. During Colonel Babbington’s recent engagement with De La Key’s commando a Naauwpoort, twelve of the Imperial Light Horse were killed and 25 wounded, the majority severely. Eight men belonging to the Scot’s Greys, Guards and c jHI ussars were also wounded.. MR KRUGER. LONDON, January 10. Mr Krugetr, who has been suffering from an affection of the heart, is now convalescent. LONDON, January 11. Commandant Hertzog, with 700 men and two' guns, crossed the Roggeveld Mountains in Western Cape Colony* travelling a distance of fifty miles, and has been lost to pursuit in the Clanwilliam . country, which is extremely difficult with passes easily defended. The cruiser blue-jackets and guns have been landed at Lambert Bay, west of Clanwilliam, where entrenchments are being made to prevent Hertzog advancing along the Sand veldt. A second column of Beers, five hundred strong, belonging to the western invading commando, has reached Doom River, seventy miles south of Calvinia. The eastern invading commando, under Commandant Kruitzinger, was within fifteen miles of Richmond, or about thirty miles east of the main line of railway. Several thousand Boers in Bechuanaland, who were supposed to be trekking for German East African territory, have turned south and occupied Griquatown. LONDON January 12. Lord Kitchener reports that Commandant Hertzog’s commando is near Sutherland, 130 miles north-east of Capetown. Major-General Settle is arranging to head him off. The invaders on the Midlands line of railway have broken into fragments, some returning north. One half of thei eastermost line of invaders are going north. The other half is hiding in the mountains to the northwest of Jamestown. It is semi-officially announced at Capetown that the invaders are avoiding the! , railway and garrisoned towns. They are continuously on the move, seizing horses and 1 foodstuffs, their mobility per-

Commandant Kruitzinger finds it easier to push southward from Richmond than to retreat northwards. Hertzog’s vanguard is west of Calvinia (230 miles north of Capetown) extending towards Vandirunsdorp, while portion of the same commando has been pursued between Fraserburg and Sutherland. All the country which the invaders have quitted is again quiet. Garrisons are being posted to protect the chief towns. A portion of the. British mounted forces have moved southward to the protection of southern districts. A hundred Boers crossed the Orange River towards Barkley East. The British farmers and Cape Police l in the neigiibourhood repelled and punished them. All the towns on the main line of railway through Orange River Colony to Preetoria are sfcroim-v held, but the Boers show no disposition to make an attack. Mounted troops occupy Piekinerskloof Pass, blocking the invaders' westward march. Colonel Henniker’s troops, with others, cover the railway in the vicinity of Magesfontein with a screen which is considered impene rruble. A naval brigade, two thousand strong, with six Hotchkiss guns', is in readiness at Capetown. Four thousand men of the Town Guard ancl 450 of the Postal Corps have been enrolled and are drilling daily. The “Cape Times” anc C “Argus’’ have each formed corps among their em ployaes. The attack on the British post at Macfiadorp on Wednesday night- was repulsed at dawn. Major-General Bruce Hamilton has reprovisioned Hcopstad and Bultfontein in the east of Orange River Colony. The latter town has been surrounded by the Boers for two months, during which the townspeople repulsed several attacks. Mr J. Kcfmeyr, the leader cf the Afrikander Bond, who lias been recruiting his health at Munich, has cabled to the Afrikanders that the proposed visit of the Hons J. X. Merriman and J. TV. Sauer and himself to England, to lay the position in South Africa before the Bri_ tish Parliament, is useless. Lord Kitchener lia.s warned the mineowners that any dynamite in the mines near the Rand is the property of the military, and that he will not be answerable for any damage caused by its explosion. A number of the City Imperial Volun-teers-are offering to return to-the front. The “Daily Mail” states that the British have decided to bring trains from Pretoria co Delagoa Bay direct without transferring control of them to Portu_ guese drivers. The “ Daily Express ” states that Holland prevented Dr Leyds re-engaging the Boer exiles now in that country. The circulation of the newspaper “Ons Lan ' and “South African News” has been prohibited in the districts under martial law. KITCHENER DRAWING IN. EFFECT OF THE GUERILLA FIGHTING. LONDON, January 11. There are indications that it has been determined to denude the districts unable to protect themselves, evacuate all the towns outside the British lines of ccimmmioation, and to abolish convoys. Tlie Boers invading the western districts of Cape Colony have divided into two columns, and are advancing on Clanwilliam, one hundred miles north of Capetown, and on Worcester, about forty miles north-east of the capital. During the general attack made by the Boers on the British posts along the Delagoa Bay Railway, the Boers penetrated the British lines at Belfast, and engaged in hand-to-hand fighting with the Gordon Highlanders and Royal Irish Rifles, who finally expelled the assailants. Generals Botha and Viljoen, whenever they are pressed by the British forces, retire northward to recruit. General Lyttelton is at Belfast, but is unable to follow the enemy in force. The British losses at Naauwpoort, between Reitfontein and Krugersdorp, were due to the Beers, who were concealed in the grass, allowing the Hussars to scout up the hill, and only firing when the, Imperial Light Horse ascended in close formation. The Light Horse dismounted and responded briskly to the Boer fire, blit as they were suffering considerably from the enemy’s fire, they were recalled. Having reformed, they carried .the position by assault. The Boer tactics at Bindley, where Colonel Lang fell, were of a similar nature. Many Boers who have surrendered and have been placed in refuge camps are cheerfully assisting the British to recapture stock and punish marauders. All the British soldiers stationed at Cairo capable of acting) as mounted troops have been warned to hold themselves in readiness for despatch to South Africa. LONDON, January 13. Lord Kitchener has cleared Johannesburg of undesirables. Many foreigners have been shipped away.

per mine haj been limited. A Reuter estimate places the total at twelve hundsed. The majority of the Dutch farmers in the Wellington district support the Kronstad appeal for peace. The farmers also denounce the idea of an Afrikander mission to the House of Commons, and maintain that the despatch of such a mission is calculated to prolong the war. Detachmelnts of British troops sent to garrison Murraysburg, 170 miles northwest of Port Elizabeth, were sullenly received by the local Boers. A number of rebels in the neighbourhood have joined the invaders. The British have strongly garrisoned the towns of Graaf jxeinet and Bethesda, on the Port Elizabeth railway, south of Rosmead Junction. Local farmers are bringing horses in for sale to the British. An official declaration has been published in the disaffected districts to the effect that no one will be recognised as neutrals now that raiders and rebels are in arms. Those passively assisting the invaders will be sternly punished. The< declaration has created a great impression. LONDON. January 14. Moving front Dordrecht Major-Gene-ral Wodehouse, with a iorce of Volunteers, expelled tlid Boers front a strong position near Barkly East. The Boers retired in the direction of Cramberg, the Lancers pursuing them to Myberg. ' The commander escaped by seizing a valuable horse belonging to a native and riding off. Raiders have appeared at Damslaagte, 28 miles north of Majesfontein. Disloyalists are creating confusion by circulating false .information with respect to the movements of the invaders. FURTHER BOER REVERSES. LONDON, January 14. At daybreak .on the 12th inst. 1400 Beers attacked Zaurfontein Kaifoutein, but were repulsed and driven in an easterly direction, with cavalry in pursuit. A field cornet was captuerd, and several killed. The British casualties were six. Kalfontein was shelled for six hours, but the garrison of 140 maintained an exceptionally gallant defence. Major-General Boyes defeated the Boers at Senekal, in the eastern part of Orange River Colony, killing Commandant Duprey and eight burghers. There were no British casualties. Several drafts of cavalry sail from England for the Cape immediately. The “Morning Post” says the raising of colonial police has been temporarily abandoned, the War Office preferring the enlistment of Yeomanry. BOER ATTACK ON ZEE-RUST. LONDON, January 14. The Boers attacked Zeerust, in the Eastern Transvaal, on the 7th ms!-,, but were repulsed. Six of the British were •wounded. CAPTURE OF LIVE STOCK. LONDON, January 14. The Irish Rifles surprised a Boer laager at Kopjeallen, neiar the Ventersburg road, south of Kroonstad, and captured three hundred horses and a number of oattle. PEACE ADVOCATES FLOGGED. LONDON. January 14. Lord Kitchener reports that three agents of the recently-formed Peace Committee in the Orange River Colony were taken as prisoners on the 10th inst. to General De Wet’s laager, near Bindley, and flogged by De Wet’s orders. One British subject was also shot. DEFECTIONS FRO-x DE WET’S RANKS. LONDON, January 13. Basutoland natives report that several commandants, who had controlled sections of General De Wet’s force, grew tired of the ceaseless movement from lilace to place, and quitted their leader’s column. The disaffected commandants are now conducting operations independently. DR LEYDS INTERVIEWED. LONDON, January 14. A “Daily Telegraph” representative interviewed Dr Leyds and Mr Fischer at Brussels. Both declared that the struggle would continue, and were confident that the Boers would regain independence. AN APOLOGY FROM BELGIUM. LONDON, January 13. The Belgian Government has formally apologised to Great Britain for the insult offered to the British Consul at Liege on the occasion of Mr Kruger’s visit to the city, when the windows of the Consulate were smashed by the mob. ADELAIDE, January 11. The War Office has accepted a tender through the Government for 300 tons of oaten hay for South Africa. Three thousand tons were wanted, but the conditions of shipment were so stringent that it is doubtful if further trade will be done. SYDNEY, January 11. The War Office has accepted an offer to snpplv 400.000 tinsmf New South

INTERESTING WAR STATISTICS. Tlie Acting-Premier lias received the following cablegram from the AgentGeneral in London: '‘South African operations of war. British troops in South Africa, 210,000; —Regulars, 142,000;-’ militia, 29,000: colonials (including South African colonials), 33,000; yeomanry, 8000: English volunteers-, 7000. "British casualties to date: —Deaths from all causes, 12,700. “Oversea colonial contingents sent. to South Africa:—Australian colonies, 0350: Canada, 8050: New Zealand, 3820. Proportion sent home tc 33 st December : —Canadians, three-fifths; Australians, one-third; New Zealanders, one-sixth. “Progress of war for the last two months less favourable. Boer duplicity, and farm-burning and other drastic mea-* sures responsible. “Boers have fought with desperation and some success. Much outlying country has been abandoned to them, but they have failed to break the lines of comn.unication. “Their numbers have increased since October, and there are now probably about 16.000 in tlie field. “The position is unexpectedly difficult. but not specially dangerous, as the Cape Dutch show no sign of general rising, so far.” NEW ZEALAND CASUALTIES. DEATH OF LIEUTENANT ROSS OF THE THIRD. . The sad news has been received from Sir Alfred Milner by the Acting Premier, by cable dated 7th January, that Lieutenant A. D. Ross, of the* Third Contingent (formerly of Christchurch), has died at Pretoria, the victim of enteric fever. Sir Alfred Milner has cabled to the Acting-Governor that No. 1447. Private W. Miller, of the New Zealand Rough Riders, was severely injured, at Pretoria on 27th December as the result of an accident. Miller belongs to Auckland. His mother lives at Raglan. Sir A. Milner lias also cabled that Private Heywood (No. 510) was discharged from hospital at Pretoria on 30th December. FARM BURNING IN THE TRANS- “ VAAL. The following letter dated Macha_ dorp, 19th October, is from a lance-cor-poral in a Scottish regiment, to his father and mother in England : “We expect to go out again in a day or so to bnrn some farms down again, places that they (the Boers) come down to at niglit and get food off the people, and go on the kopjes in the morning. .... When we go out burning farms, you go in, look if there are any Boers in; if not, then we tell the women we are going to set the house on fire. . . . pile some things in the centre of the floor, and away it goes. She can get outwhat she can while it’s burning, and if anyone fires at us from auy other farm close by, off some others go, and set that one off the same way. So I think they will get sick of the job first. Soon after we have set- fir© to the shanties we catch all the pigs and fowls, in fact. any. thing that is running about, and as soon as the roof has come in we do a quiet stroll back to our camp, but we do have some fun while going after the pigs and poultry that would make some fine groups if we could only have a snapshotcamera. First thing you see is Tommy after the pig, down goes the pig, and Tommy also. ..... it’s very likely some other Tommy may get the grunter after all his trouble, but- everything is fair in war, they don’t grumble about it. liecause they will go after something else, perhaps gets a tui'key or a couple of ducks, and if he cannot get them off he will go into the house, and he wifi have something, if it’s only a hors© in the stable, because he can sell that very soon when he gets back to a conductor or some nigger that is going home. The “Central News” agency, cabling from Johannesburg on November 16th, says:—“lt will be remembered that on November Ist a party of Boers stealthily approached in the dead of night a farmhouse occupied by a patrol of Compton’s Horse, and, firing through the window, killed two men who were seated at a table writing home. The remainder of tlie party were taken prisoners, but - were subsequently released. A few 'days ago an Italian named Luigi Deli was arrested within the municipality on suspicion of being a spy, and he was identified as being one of the Boer party who attacked the farmhouse. He was taken before Major O'Brien and a military tribunal to-day, and charged with murder, and also with breaking the oath of neutrality. On taking the oath the prisoner had applied for an order, which enabled him to proceed to the farm on the pretence of obtaining work. He then joined the Boer commando. Both charges were proved against- the prisoner, and lie ivas sentenced to be hanged. After his removal from the Court, Deli admitted having fired the •shot- which killed one of tlie men in the farmhouse. Deli was engaged as a workman at Begbie’s foundry at- the time -of the explosion, and took a prominent part in agitating for the expulsion of the Brit-