THE TRANSVAAL WAR.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4488, 16 October 1901, Page 5

THE TRANSVAAL WAR.

OPERATIONS AGAINST BOTHA. (Received October 15, 10.46 p.m.) LONDON. October 15. Tho British have occupied Piet Retief, fifty miles north of Vryheid. The main portion of Botha’s force has retired into the Pongola Bush district, nortb-cast of Vryheid. Many evaded the British cordon in small parties, and the Bethel commando escaped. The rivers are flooded, and mists are general. The roads are almost impassable. IRREGULAR TROOPS (Received October 16, 10.46 p.m.) LONDON, October 15. Four squadrons of colonial irregular mounted troops are being raised in Cape, town for three months? service in the western provinces. BOER PRISONERS. (Received October 15, 10.46 p.m.) BOMBAY, October 15. Seven hundred and fifty additional Boer prisoners have landed here. MISCELLANEOUS. (Received October 15, 10.46 p.m.) LONDON, October 15. Eight more members of Letter’s com. mando 'have been sentenced to imprison, ment for life. Two youths belonging to the commando have been sentenced to imprisonment during the continuance of the war. Commandant Scheepers was ill at a farmhouse at the time of bis capture. He was removed in a critical conaition to Magersfontein .hospital. PRESS ASSOCIATION. DUNEDIN, October 15. Steps are being taken by the Mayor and a committee to collect Christmas comforts for the contingents in South Africa.* At the presentation of the South African medal to Nurse Monson at Port Chalmers, the Mayor presiding, fir J. F. Fraser mentioned that there wag still a balance to the credit of the Nurses Fund; and it was hoped when the other four nurses had returned that the committee would be in a position to present each with a cheque for £SO.