THE TRANSVAAL WAR.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4637, 16 April 1902, Page 5

THE TRANSVAAL WAR.

CABLE NEWS. UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION. BT ELECTRIC TE LEG BATH. COPXSIQHT.

PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. COMMUNICATIONS WITH PRETORIA. (Received April 16, 1 a.m.) LONDON, April Zo. . Mr A. J. Balfour, First Lord of i'ie Treasury, stated in the House of Commons that Lord Kitchener had on Saturday communicated to the Government a message ho had received troni the Boer delegates. A reply had oaen sent to this, and a further communication was' expected. (Received April 16, 1.8 a.m.) LONDON, April 15. “The Times’’ says the communication from tho Boer delegates was only a feeler. It would be wiser for the Boers to surrender unconditionally without haggling, trusting to British generosity. The Transvaal Legation at Brussels intimates that the conditions of peace proposed by the Boers include autonomy, with a shadowy recognition of British sovereignty, amnesty for rebels, a huge grant for restocking farms, equality of languages and the cession of the Rand to Britain. RECENT ENGAGEMENTS. SEVERAL BRITISH SUCCESSES. LONDON, April '4. Lieutenant-General lan Hamilton’s column defeated the Boers, killing forty-four of them, including Commandant Potgieter, and capturing fifty-rour men, two guns and a pompom. General Hamilton’s force included Colonel Kekewich’s and Major-General Rawlinson’s columns. Tho Yeomanry, Scottish Horse and Mounted Constabulary fought admirably. Captain Salter, Lieutenant Bull and five men were killed, and fifty-two wounded. Colonel Kekewich captured tho guns. Colonel Golenbrauder’s column defeated Commandant Beyers, inflicting a hundred and six casualties. Coleubrander blocked Beyers’s outlets. Colonel Murray, with a half-battalion of the Inniskilling Fusiliers, made a brilliant advance, and seized a hill at the entrance to Molispoort. The force of Colonel Colenbrander is pursuing the enemy, and it is hoped that further captures will be made. Captain Coodo and two men of the West Riding Regiment were killed, fourteen wounded, and some captured at Saltfontein. They formed part of a strong patrol, which tho enemy attacked in overwhelming numbers. (Received April 16, 1.8 a.m.) LONDON, April 15. Details of Colonel Coleubrander’s fight at Malispoort show that the country is extremely difficult. Lieutenant-Colonel Murray was seriously wounded. There were seven other British casualties. A strong column attacked Colonel Kekewich at Roomal on the 11th inst. The fighting was very hot. Most of the British casualties were only slight wounds. LORD KITCHENER’S REPORT. (Received April 16, 1 a.m.) LONDON, April 15. Lord Kitchener’s weekly report to the War Office of the losses is as follows—ss killed, 43 wounded, 167 taken prisoners, 5 surrendered, 130 rifles, and 5200 rounds of ammunition captured. Tho report adds: —Tho Boers in Cape Colony are very scattered. Bruce Hamilton, ’Park and Colonel Williams, are sweeping tho Eastern Transvaal from Heidelberg to Standnrton, between Ermelo and Carolina blockhouses and the South African Constabulary line. MISCELLANEOUS. LONDON, April 14. Commandant De Villiers and seven hundred rebels at Douglas, Cape Colony, have asked Lord Kitchener’s terms of surrender. WASHINGTON, April 14. In order to pacify the pro-Boers, President Roosevelt sanctioned an inquiry as to whether British camps were established in New Orleans or elsewhere for remounts. Tho representatives of the Southern and Western States were indignant, and declared that if the purchases of horses and mules were stopped these States would lose several hundred thousand dollars monthly. At tho instance of Congressmen fearing to lose their seats, President Roosevelt recalled the Federal remount inspectors. SYDNEY, April 15. With very few exceptions, the Municipal Councils throughout the State declined to receive the Anti-War League petition. Messrs W. M. Bannatyne and Co. have received advice that the troopship Kent, with the South Island Regiment of the Ninth Contingent, arrived at Durban at 7 p.m. on Saturday last. Six horses were lost on the voyage.