THE TRANSVAAL WAR.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4609, 13 March 1902, Page 5

THE TRANSVAAL WAR.

METHUEN’S FIGHT AT TWEEBOSGH. FURTHER PARTICULARS OF THE ENGAGEMENT. TIDINGS OF THE CAPTURED GENERAL. LONDON, March 11. Sections of the 4th and 38th Batteries of Royal Artillery fought with groat gallantry during tho attack on Lord Methuen's column. Three hundred infantry of tho Northumberland Fusiliers and Loyal North Lancashircs also displayed conspicuous courage in protecting the waggons, refusing to surrender until further resistance was useless. Collier’s, Kemp’s, and Vermaas’s Boor troops were present. Lord Methuen, whoso thigh is fractured, is being well cared for in his own waggons. Lord Kitchener hopes that reinforcements arriving will rectify the situation, without disturbing operations elsewhere. There is a general feeling of disappointment and regret at one of tho most untowards incidents of tiio war. The temporary set-back is regarded as unfortunate, but there is a resolve to face the situation and make greater and more determined efforts. “The Tim.es” says that tho Commander dealing with Do la Rey ought to be a strategist of ability, exercising initiative based on good and rapid information. Colonels Byng’s and Rimingtoii’s and other forces are engaged in a sweep to tho westward. Later. Tho Boer loaders in Holland suggest the exchange of Lord Methuen for Commander Kruitzinger. The Paris papers, while jubilant at tho disaster, recognise Lord Methuen’s chivalry towards the late Commander Villehois, who was killed in action about two years ago while fighting on the side of the Boors. The Berlin populace repeatedly hurrahed on receipt of nows of the disaster. A tremendous sensation was produced in Now York, where tho news has greatly injured British prestige. (Received March 13, 0.46 a.m.) LONDON, March 12. The War Office states that Lord Methuen’s force was proceeding from Vryburg to Lichtenberg. The Secretary for War, speaking in tho House of Commons, stated that the disaster did not require special reinforcements beyond the "largo ono already arranged. The casualty list states that Lord Methuen is dangerously wounded, but is progressing well. Captain W. A. Tilney, of the Seventeenth Lancers, who was missing, has rejoined the forces, wounded. German newspapers ascribe the disaster to defective scouting, which was evidenced by the wildness of the panic. THE SCENE IN THE COMMONS. (Received March 12. 10.27 p.m.) LONDON, March 12. Intense indignation is expressed in tho House of Commons at the indecent exhibition on the part of the Irish members on hearing of the capture of Lord Methuen. Sir Henry Campbell-Banner-man is blamed for not attempting to restrain it. BRITAIN AND GERMANY. STRIKING SPEECH BY THE FOREIGN MINISTER. (Received March 12, 10.55 p.m.) BERLIN, March 12. Baron von Richthofen, the German Minister for Foreign Affairs, was cheered on acknowledging, in the course of a speech, the facilities given for the distribution of gifts in the concentration camps. England’s natural _ susceptibilities, he said, were proportioned to her unflinching sacrifices in blood and treasure, and the heavy losses of excellent officers. He urged juster criticism, and quoted a German general’s eulogium on the Boer camp in Ceylon. Lord Methuen, he said, was deserving of German sympathy, as he had, as Military Attache in Berlin from 1877 to 1881, enjoyed the particular esteem of the first two Kaisers. The speaker added that he hoped Groat Britain would accept their German cousins’ ambulances for the benefit of their common cousins in South Africa. The Boers objected to British ambulances, fearing the divulgation of operations. The “Morning Post” hopes that antiBritish persons will not be allowed to pass through the British lines. STATEMENTS OF BOER ENVOYS. (Received March 12, 10.65 p.m.) NEW YORK, March 12. Messrs Wessels and Wolmarans, the Boor delegates, said in the course of an interview that they had never asked or (expected intervention of any country. They only begged to secure civilised warfare. They wanted a fair and square fight, and were able to continue the conflict for years. PRO-BOERISM IN AMERICA. (Received March 13, 0.30 a.m.) WASHINGTON, March 12. President Roosevelt personally requested the Republican leaders in Congress to smother resolutions expressing sympathy with the Boers. LOSSES OF THE ENEMY. (Received March 13, 0.46 a.m.) LONDON, March 12. Lord Kitchener's weekly report to the War Office on the losses of the enemy is as follows’. —Six killed, two wounded, eighty-eight prisoners, thirtysix surrendered. PURCHASE~OF~REMOUNTS. Speciaii to thu “ Times.” NAPIER, March 12. The military authorities seem to have very different ideas on what is the most suitable remount for South Africa. So diverse are the views that those entrusted with the task of selecting horses for our contingents really did not know what stamp of animal would give most satisfaction. Some officers from Home will work on nothing but tho cob classes, after the style of the Transvaal pony, whilst others reject tho cob in favour of the bigger horse of the cavalry stamp. Formerly horses were taken at 14 hands 2 inches, but for the Ninth Contingent anything below 15 hands was rejected. Thus some of the cobby class sent from the North Island to Dunedin for the nse

of the Ninth are a better class even, than those sent away with other contingents. When Colonel Hunt and Captain Nuttall, Imperial remount officers, wore in Hawke’s Bay, they gave preference to cobs, and, strange as it may seem, whilst our officials aro rejecting the smaller stamp of remounts, Captain Nuttall has, I learn, wired from Melbourne asking for as many of the cob sort as can bo supplied to him for South Africa.

Special to the “Times.” AUCKLAND, March 12. Sergeant-Major Carpenter, of the Auckland district instructional staff, says General Methuen, who was his old G.O.C. in England, is a splendid man and soldier, and none could help admiring him. Ho stands 6ft 4in, is a very fine swordsman and boxer, and is extremely popular with all who havo served with him or under him. The_ General, according to tho sergeant-major, is the best friend tbo London volunteers over bad. He lost no opportunity of having them out for instruction, and as far as possible giving them equal opportunities with the regulars.

GISBORNE, March 12. Lieutenant T. Nesham, who was killed in tho Tweebosch engagement, after displaying great gallantry the guns, was the only son of the late Admiral Nesham, who was well-known in Now Zealand as captain of H.M.S. Tauranga nine or ten years ago. Lieutenant Nesbam was an officer of artillery, about twenty-eight years of ago, and first cousin of Mrs (Dr) Craig, of Gisborne.

His Excellency tho Governor has received the following cablegram from Capetown, dated the 9th instant:Molyban. —The following members of New Zealand Mounted Infantry Contingents are ill of enteric fever: —4616 Albert Devine, Seventh Contingent; 3294 Arthur Oscar Warwick, 3367 George Fraser, 3293 George Walker, 3830 Charles Cooper, 3613 Samuel Gilbert, all of Seventh Contingent; 4072 James Considino is suffering from a gunshot wound. A message from the General Hospital, Pretoria, states that James Lewis Tayor of Now Zealand Contingent (which ono not specified) is ill with enteric fever. When tho news of tho disaster to Lord Methuen’s column was published considerable anxiety was felt by the relatives of Captain Tuckey, of Wellington, who is staff officer to Major Pans. Yesterday, however, a cable message was received from Vryburg, statiiig tha,t Captain Tuckey was safe and unwounded.