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THE TRANSVAAL.

By Slsoteio Telegraph.— Gopykight. (per xrarasD PR3S3 association ) Received December 8, at 10.30 p.m. London, December 8. The Queen has presented a Union Jack to ths American hospital ship Maine. Durban, December 8. Ladysmith was safe on the sth, but the situation was daily becoming more difficult, the bombardment doing considerable damage. The wounded were removed to the hospital, but owing to the Geneva flig not being respected by the enemy nine invalids were wounded by a ahell, and one killed. Received December 9, at 0 4-5 a.m. Adelaide, December 8. Capetown, November 17. -- With reference to the charge made by General Joubert against the English firing on the ambulance, one of General Joubert's chaplains, writing to the Standard and Diggers News, Johannesburg, says the ambulancs was not in its proper place, being within the line of fire. One shot did fall near it, but the instant the British saw it they ceased firing. The chaplain is certain the shot was a mere accident The Boer wounded are loud in their praise of the chivalry and humanity of the British soldiers. Colonel Baden-Powell's nocturnal surprise on the Boers entrenched near M afeking was accomplished in maErnificent style. Ciptain Fitzclarence was selected to lead the enterprise. The squadron left the camp when everything was still, and crept stealthily towards the enemy's lines. They got close up before the Boers had the Blighest idea of anything afoot. The anxious watchers at Mafeking heard ringing cheers as the gallant band dashed forward to the Boer trenches with fixed bayonets. Then the night rang out with the shouts and yells of the contending forces. Boer reinforcements came hurriedly forward, and Fitzelarence's whistle sounded, and the men ran back to their own lines. The squadron was warmly welcomed by Colonel Baden-Powell. Cronje made his big attack on Mafeking at 430 a.m. on October 31st. His big guns began to concentrate on the kopje held by Captain Walford's troop of police. When day broke the Boers were seen menacing our position, and at six o'clock opened a tremendous fire into the kopje from both sides. Colonel Baden-Pcwell directed the town guns to support Walford, whose Maxim kept up a withering fire, putting the enemy's 12pounder temporarily out of action. Under cover of their artillery the Beers crept up close to the kopje, recognising that rushing tactics could alone avail, but the Maxim mowed them down. After five hours fighting they retreated, beaten. Received December 9, at 1.5 a.m. Durban, December S. Pretorious, a member of the Natal Assembly, has been arrested for treason. General Joubert spent two nighta in his house. _ The Boers wrecked the Indiwe Coalfields 'ailways, and have annexed the Dordrecht district. , The naval guns have engaged the Boera Long Tom at Colenso. Capetown, December 8. A battery of horse artillery and the 12th Lancers have reinforced Lord Methuen. Ten thousand Cape volunteers are now in the field. 0 Bloemfontein, December is. President Steyn has arrived at Spytfontein, where he was received with enthuaiasm. „ , _ Sydney, December 8. The Aberdeen, with the New South Wales troopß, arrived at Port Elizabeth on the 3rd. _____ THB ATTACKS ON MAFEKING. REPULSE OF THE ENEMY. DESTRUCTION OF BRIDGES. THE SITUATION IN JOHANNESBURG. Hobabc, December?. The steamer Rakaia, which has arrived from Capetown, brings Cape files to NoAfrican News publiahea the following items: , Q Naabwpoobt, November 8. A German refugee, who tramped from the Transvaal, via Norvalspoort, states that the Free States commando at Donkerpoort haß been reinforced to 6000 men, and has several gUnS * Craddock, November 8. The published report that a secret meeting was held by the Dutch is entirely false An open meeting, reported by the local papers, was held to discuss the Red Cross fund. No secret meeting has been held by the Dutch or Bund of this diatrict. Colisbubg, November 8. Particulars are to hand of the deaoruction of the Reitfontien and Achtertang bridges on Sunday last. At 9 a.m. 300 armed and mounted Boera crossed the river after demolishing the Reitfontien bridge by three Charges of dynamite. ®hey then proceeded to Achtertang, and destroyed the bridge there with tiwo charges. 32he Boers were commanded by Commandant Grobelaar, and a bodv of artillery accompanied them. The men were armed few with Mausers and Martini Henrys. Before returning across the river they broke a telegraph pole and cut and destroyed the wires for about 200 yards. Pbhtobia, November 7. A message via Lorenzo Marquez siys The bombardment of Mafeking witn heavv cannon started yesterday afternoon and waß resumed at daybreak. I* o particulars of the result have yet been received. Early this morning the bombardment of

Ladysmith commenced with artillery, under the command of Commandant; Trichardt and Major Wolmarans. At 8 o'clock the firing was heavy. The Cape Times of November S states that Mrs Raynes, who is at present in Capetown, has just received a letter from her husband, Mr T. Raynes, C.E., engineer and manager of the Johannesburg waterworks, dated Johannesburg, October 27. The letter was sent by a native runner to the border, and the following is an extract therefrom: " The Government are treating us splendidly ; in fact we seem their first consideration. The arrangements in Johannesburg are perfect, and the regulations deserve noth'nj/ but the highest praise. Everything for the management of the town and the people is simply admirable. There is very little destruction of property. lam afraid I cannot say the same for the private houses, which are mostly inhabited by Boer families. We have been made special constables for the protection of the waterworks, with myself as sergeant in command. Wot bid tor not being a burgher. We have to watch the waterworks all night, in watches of four hours each. We are provided with arms and special permits, and every consideration is shown us." IN THE HANDS OF TIIE BOERS.

One of the Epecial correspondents of the Standard, who wbs captured by the Boers, gives the following account of his experiences, which he forwards from Ladysmith : The victory of General French at Elands Laagte, he says, enables me to forward you an account of an exciting and novel experience that has befallen me. I left Ladysmith for Dundee to join the force under General Symons, hoping to be in time to record the engagement that was then believed to be imminent. I found that a passenger train had just left, but a goods train of five trucks was on the point of departing, conveying cattle and a quantity of stores and equipments consigned to the camp at Dundee. Together with a photographic artist, an employee, and the cattle contractor, I decided to proceed by this train. We got through safely as far as Elands Laagte, but at this point the Eignal was dead against us, and the driver pulled up. The signal had been cleverly manipulate by a party of Boers, numbering about 50, who had been lying in wait for us. Iho moment we slowed down the driver was covered by their rifles, and we were called upon to alight. The passenger train, we learnt afterwards, had managed to " rush " the station. The Boers had fired upon it, but the plucky engine-driver put on fall steam and went safely ahead, though he was compelled to leave the guard behind. T'oe Boers had then taken possession of the station, and ordered the men in charge to set the signal at " stop," in order to check our trainl Our driver ran right into the trap, and we found ourselves prisoners before we well knew what had occurred.

Directly they had secured the train, the Boers cut the telegraph line and tore up the track. We ourselves were treated well, though the Field Cornet in commaud warned us that anyone attempting to escape would, if discovered, be immediately shot down. At the same time, he assured us that the Boers were not savages. Those under his charge consisted of Transvaalers, Free Staters, and Dutchmen from Cape Colony who were British subjects. My enforced stay with the enemy was not without its amusing features. I found them a great deal IeES truculent in manner than in appearance. At firat sight, thanks to the intin te variety of their costumes, they might have been mistaken for a picturesque band of brigands. The majority of them were attired in skirts and trousers, with red and blue fancy-patterned scarves, and formidable slouch hatß.

Some of them, the day after the capture of the train, when its contents had been looted and shared, came out in the most fantastic garb. Several appeared in military greatcoats, and one young fellow strutted abont proudly wearing a Staff officer's cap, while another was considerably inconvenienced by a huge sabre clanking at his heels. But, unsolaierly as they might seem to an eye accustomed to the neatness of Aldershot, there-was no mistaking their physical fitness. Nearly all of them were strong, powerfully-built men, while a few were veritable giants.

They were all in the highest Epirits. For instance, on the night of our capture the Field Cornet was induced to preside over an impromptu smoking concert. The are extremely fond of music, and it was amusing to see a Johanne3burger playing the pi*no, with his gun still slung over his shoulder, while his more rustic comrades stood around him spellbound. They sang tho Transvaal "Volkslied" with immense fervour and volume of sound. The one subject of their talk was their resolute determination to fight to the last for the independence cf their country. General de Kock, with a few guns and 1500 men, including a German contingent, arrived in camp the same night. It was evident to us. from the conversation of the leaders, that a battie was impending. I and my fellow-prieoners were strictly warned to remain within doors under guard._ During our confinement ihe ptoceedings of one or two of the mora turbulent Boers caused us some anxiety. Two of them actually came to blows in our room, and had to be separated by force. But the leaders were, on the whole, particularly careful to place us under the charge of well-disposed and trustworthy men. On Friday night our Field Cornet, although nodding in his chair for want of sleep, presided for an hour over another smoking concert, when the utmost jollity and goodwill prevailed, \Yc prisoners | slept on the floor, while the majority of the Boers withdrew to a short distance from the railway. On Sunday morning we were startled by the sound of the British guns, and began to hope that there might be a prospect of rescue or escape. Our desire waa Boon realised. The Boerß, including our guards, speedily found enough to occupy their attention without troubling about a handful of civilian prisoners, and in the course of the morning we made our way unmolested to the British lines. There we were enabled to follow the whole course of the battle of Elandslaagte. ABMOURED THAIS' ACTION AT MAFEKING. Router's correspondent at Mafeking forwarded the following message, dated October 14, via Kuruman, October 19, by despatch rider to London: —At daybreak this morning the whole garrison stood to arms, and the Boers were reported to be advancing from the south. -At 23 mmute3 past 5 a sharp rifle fire was heard from the north, and a galloper reported that the patrol under Lord Charles Cavendish Bentinck was in action. The firing lasted only a few minutes, and then the armoured train under Captain Williams, of the British South African Police, and Lieutenant Hore, of the Railway Section, was ordered out to engage the enemy. Within seven minutes of Bentinck's engagement all the ouipo3ts had reported having heard his firing, and about 20 minutes to 6 Ciptain Wilsi n was despatched to ascertain what had actually happened It waß found that the enemy had retreated, and the alarm flag was then hauled down and the town guard retired. The armoured train came into action at nine minuteß past 6. The scene inside it was perhapß unique ia the annals of warfare. The crew of the leading truck Firefly consisted of a detachment of the British South African Police and railway volunteers, Capt. Aflhley Williams himself being in command, Mr Swayne being the driver of the engine, and Mr A. Moffat acting as stoker. The second truck was in charge of Lieut. Hore, an engineer on the Bechuanaland Railway. No 1 truck waa armed with a Maxim, and its crew mostly with Lee-Metfords. Truck No. 2 which carried another Maxim, reioiced'in the name of Wasp. The third truck, the Gun, carried a Hotchkiss. The crew of the trucks numbered barely 15 m As the trucks steamed past Lord Charles Bentinck's squadroi they were received with a cheer, someone shouting, ihey can't shoot for nuts; go ahe*d.' About two miles beyond Bentinck s men, the

enemy, about 600 strong, were sighted to the right front of the trucks, and the leading track immediately opened fire with the Maxim at 300 yard 3. The enemy replied with quick-firing cans and their pounder Maxim, and in a minute or two both sides were raining bullets. Onr men manned every loophole, and as they served their gan3 pissed more than one amnßing and sarcastic remark, especially when the enemy retired gradually before them. The train advanced steadily, and as the Dutchmen now and again discovered the range and fcecan to drop shells too close, it kept) on the move up and down the line, to the discomfiture of the TSoer gunners. Meanwhile the Manser bullets rattled merrily but impotently on the armour, eich new discharge or volley being greeted with what our feliows called *'gua laughter," After the engagement had la-ted fome time, Colonel Baden-Powell decided that the armoured train should return, and he despatched Captain Fitzclarence with a squadron of men to cover the retreat.

The men or the Protectorate Regiment behaved remarkably well under a heavy and well-directed fire. The townsmen stood to their defences all the morning, and there was never a sign of flinching on the parti of anyone. So keen is the spirit in Mafeking that amongst the railway detachment who he!p to man the Sandages limits to the north of the town are two ladie3, the wife and daughter of a railway employee. They absolutely decline to go to the women's laager, and as both are good shots and have their own Lee-Metfords they are capable of taking care of themselves. During the morning Major Baillie, who endeavored to get through to Fitzclarence with an order to retire, had a narrow escapeHe galloped off to reach onr right flank, and ran the gauntlet of the enemy at about 250 yards. Fire was opened on him, and hia water-bottle was struck. A second or two later his horse was shot in the hindquarters, and he was only able to reach the shelter of the train just in time, his horse, which he had to abandon, being quite disabled. Colonel Baden-Powell directed the operations with consummate coolness, while his staff officers were very successful in persuading all despatch riders to assume that air of calm confidence so recommended in the ' Pocket Book.' Mafeking is very jubilant to-nightj and quite ready to try another fall with the Dutchmen as soon as they are ready.

A note from Commander Cronje, most) courteously worded, baa been received by Colonel Baden-Powell, offering facilities for the interchange of wounded and prisoners. Thia being so, it may be supposed that when the Boers fired on the ambulance train that went out after the fight to pick up ths dead they did eo under a misapprehension.

THE EN'EMV NONPLUSSED. The war correspondent of the Daily Mail, in his account of the battle of Glencoe, says : " I noticed, looking through my glasses, how much the Boers aeem to bB nonplussed by the tactics of the Imperial troops, especially the well-drilled, swift-moviDg horsemen. The enemy remain, as of old, a mob ; they are without horses and forage, and many re;y for food upon what they can obtain by looting Their animals are mostly in a wretched condition. Before to-day's battlo several Boera had, I learn, left the commandoes and gone home to their farms, and many others are now likely to follow.

" The movements of the commandoes in the Utrecht; district are somewhat mysterious. It is supposed they have some idea of jetting rouad between this and Ladysmith. -Many Boors are reported to be falling back on thsir old positions. They have been raising a series of fortifications between Sandspruit and Uannhanser, the object being to contest the grand advance of the Imperial troops, i'-'ear s-andspruit camp they have a camp with artillery, and behind Volksrust there are guns on Mount Pogvtani, overlooking Laing's Nek. .Laing's Nek and the Ingogo Heights are fortified, and earthworks have been thrown np and guns left at various places on the way south," A sad feature of the battle of Glencoe (says the 3>aily Mail correspondent) was that three Englishmen who we-e commandeered at Krugersdorp fonghu with the Boers. One of theni was killed. The others, who were greatly affected, slated that they were compelled to fight.

RATTLE OF ZLiNDSXAAGTS. —THE GALIiAST GORDONS. Mr G. \V, \teevens, the Daily Mail war correspondent;, thus describes the part taken by the Gordons, who suffered so severely In the battle. " Out of 257 British killed and wounded the Highlanders lost no less than 11S. The Gordons, who advanced inmagnificicnt order, were immediately sainted with a heavy fire, which told from the first, Lieutenant - Colonel Dick - Cnnyngham being almost the first man hit. Soon after the major of the Gordons dropped with a bnllefc through his leg, but as he lay where he had fallen he lit his pipe and placidly smoked while the advance was going on. As man afcer man dropped supports were rushed into tue firing line, and shooting went briskly on, onr rr.en dartiDg from cover to cover, splendidly led and ever advancing. Yet as ridge after ridge was won the Gordons still found a new ridge confronting them. Men still dropped ; men still reinforced the firing line; and yet the advance waß ever steady and ever forward. Thu3 the Gordons fought their bleeding way till the final ridge was neared, with nearly every officer down. Then slamming every available man into the firing line, Manchesiers, Devons, and Light) Horse, all mixed, with the bugles chanting the advance, bagpipes shrieking, and the battle a confused surge, the men swept) yellinp forward, and the position was won. Meanwhile one squadron of the sth Lancers and one of Dragoon Gufixds had lapped ronnd the Boar flink, and now, catching them as they retired in disorder, gored and stamped them to pieces, and the commando was not."

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OAM18991209.2.3

Bibliographic details

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXIV, Issue 7693, 9 December 1899, Page 1

Word Count
3,127

THE TRANSVAAL. Oamaru Mail, Volume XXIV, Issue 7693, 9 December 1899, Page 1

THE TRANSVAAL. Oamaru Mail, Volume XXIV, Issue 7693, 9 December 1899, Page 1

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