THE TRANSVAAL WAR.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4315, 26 March 1901, Page 7

THE TRANSVAAL WAR.

CABLE NEWS.

UNITED PKESB ASSOCIATION. —BT ELEOTEIO TELEOBAPH.—COFTEiani.

THE NEGOTIATIONS FOR PEACE, REJECTION wr GENEROUS r ’ ,r TERMS. LONDON, March 21. There are indications that General Botha interpreted the magnanimous terms offered by Britain as an' indication that she was anxiouy to terminate the war-

The majority of the Liberal members of Parliament admit that it is possible —(sic—^impossible)—Tor Mr Chamberlain to go further without compromising British .supremacy in South Africa. The American press acknowledges that splendidly generous terms were offered by Great Britain to the Boers. The Continental newspapers also recognise Mr Chamberlain’s moderation. Mr Rennet Burleigh, war correspondent of tho London j<ai!y Telegraph,” reports that failure of tho peace negotiations has been received .with rejoicings by botk the regulars and colonial : troops. I

In the term.-- offered General Botha was informed that if tho Cape Colony or Natal rebels returned to their own colonics they were liable to, be dealt with according to law. BOERS IN CAPE COLONY. LONDON, March 21. Tho section of invadors at Sockdo'orn were so closely pursued that they were compelled to burn their carts and many rifles and saddles in order to avoid capture. Nine of the Boors were killed and seven wounded. (Reeeivetd March 26, 0.16 a.m.) LONDON, March 26. Colonel H. J. Scobell’s column severely handled Commandant Sdieoper’s commando at Dlaauwkrant/,, killing six Boers and capturing many horses. Tho commando, escaped in the direction of Aberdeen. Severe fighting occurred on Friday at Hart becstcfout oin. .DRIVING THE js.NEMY NORTH, j LOIN DON, March 24. | Tho latest advices from tho front show that a wide driving movement has been begun in the north-east part of Orange River Colony. In advancing from the southern part ,cff the colony, tho British have occupied Rouxvillo, Sinithfiold. Roddersburg.nnd Dewetsdorp, without opposition. ' THE SURRENDER AT LINDLEY,. . .. LONDON, March 21. . The decision of the Court of. Inquiry into the surrender at: Lindlcy,,da the northern part of Orange River Colony! some -months ago, of Colonpl Sprngge’s battalion of Irish,Yeomanry..’ has born made public. The C'ourti exonerates Colonel Spragge from blame, and expresses the opinion that ho could have, resisted tho Boers longer than he'did only’that some ,persons on the*British side'riused the white ‘ ’ V ; yf/’ ■■ i GALLANT TuSTRALIANS. (Received March 25) 1Q. 63 p.m.) /LO-'-<'oN, March 26. Captain E. Tibey,. of the .Victorian ' Bushmen, has .boon iflhdo a companion of ;tlip Distinguished : Service Order for . prompt action, his brAvo defence preventing the- oceiipatien of Phillipstowh earlyin thepresent -month,, . i : ! Corporal ” Elliett, ; pf, ..the ~ Victorian • Bushmen, Las. been .awarded tile medal for distinguished servicb in tlio field for gallantry at tho Spacow iriver, whereby sixteen Victorian, Bushmen captured thirty-three Boers. ■ ! ,/V LONDON, March 24,: Reinforcements to ,-tue extent of five , thousand men will be, despatched from i England to South Afr^efy,between ; morrow and the oth Aprils . ; : Tho Boors wrecked and looted a. pro- . vision train at Viaklaagto, midway be,-! twoon Laing’s Nek and Johannesburg. Hattrus, IVlayor of Maraisburg,! a to-'n in the eastern district pf Cfijie Colony, has been arrested on.a charge of treason.

THE SIXTH CONTINGENT"'' ITS ARRIVAL AT PRETORIA. . The Premier has received the foil wing cable message fr'dlri Colonel Banks, of the Sixth Contingent, dated Pretoria, 23rd' instant: —"Arrived Pretoria yesterday. All ' well. '.iTifty, to *.ixty horses at East London 1 under Cosgrove to recuperate.” .. ,- ■ THE SEVENTH CONTINGENT:; ; -The quarters qf, the, Seventh. ContinT gent are to be/shifted.’from. Newtown Park to Trentham immediatelj. Camp will be broken at an- early hour this morning. The .Wellington company of the contingent willbe .mounted/ arid the other companies .will march to the railway station and there entrain for Trentham. ~Thc present intention is to-camp for four or five days there; A course of shooting practica- will..bo, gone through: at the butts, and advantage will be taken of the ,hilly ground at the eastern, end of the range to. obtain some exorcise in skirmishing and .. similar movement’s “oheountry closely ■ ‘approximating to that ef South Africa. r -.,.. ,- , r During the past twd days threei teams of six horses each, - attached to service waggons, have been driven about the streets'by mounted drivers, with a’view to breaking them, into the work which will require to be done at the front. Last evening they were shaping very well; but they appear to be too light to 'last through an arduous, campaign. An Auckland paper says':—-Probably in no part of the colony have tho medical tests .to which. the volunteers seeking inclusion in tho various New Zealand contingents for South Africa have to be subjected been more rigidly ■ carried out than in Auckland. Again and again influence has-been brought to bear to get men through, but the medical examiners have not deviated one iota'from the conditions laid down in the sheets prepaid! for the medical tests. Several medical gentlemen have assisted, but none have been more regularly'associated with the principal medical officer (Dl- Walker) in the later contingents than Drs King; and Murray. . P