THE BOER WAR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11798, 30 July 1900, Page 5

THE BOER WAR.

LORD ROBERTS'S

ADVANCE.

BOERS LEAVE MIDDLEBURGr.

DISORDERLY RETREAT IN BAD

WEATHER,

BRITISH TROOPS IN GOOD

SPIRITS.

BOERS ACTIVE AT TOTOHEF.

STEOOM.

ATTEMPT TO SUBJiOUJND THE

TOWN.

BRITISPI EVACUATE KLERKSDOKr.

' CLOSING.IN ON THE FEEE

STATERS,

SURRENDER OF. TWO HUNDRED

BOERS,

SUBMISSION OF ONE OF THE

DE WETS,

THE WAR WILL COST SIXTY

OJSE MILLIONS.

A Garrison of 45,000 Required

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyrigb.l

IN THE TRANSVAAL,

THE ADVANCE FROM PRETORIA.

LONDON, July 27. (Received July 28, at 9.5 a.m.)

In connection with the advance of the British from.Pretoria, Generals Hector Macdonald and Bruce Hamilton,, with the Highlanders and Mounted Infantry Brigade, have securely blocked the Inguwooni Pass and Golden. Gate.

A NEW SOUTH WaLES MAN KILLED. • (Received July 28, at 10.40 a.m.). Captain Robertson, of the New South Wales Bushmen, was killed at Belous River. - ..'.'•

WAITING FOR THE AMERICAN - PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. (Received July 28, at 9.35 a.m.) The Transvaalers announce that thsy will continue the guerilla warfare until the result of the American. Presidential election in November is known. Th(|r declare that the Democrats premised to intervene if they were successful at. the polls.

BOERS EVACUATE MIDDLEBURG.

.OCCUPIED BY THE BRITISH,

A DISORDERLY RETREAT.

LONDON, July. 28. (Received July 29, at 5 p.m.) It is officially announced that the Boers have evacuated Middleburg. The retreat is described as a disorderly trek. The roads were blocked with fugitives; "Torrents of rain prevented the British pursuing The weather on the night of the evacuation was 'terrible. One officer died from

exposure,

(Received July 29, at 5.30 p.m.) The British have occupied Middleburg.

THE TROOPS IN FAMOUS SPIRITS.

LONDON, July 28. (Received July 29, at 5.30 p.m.) Lord Roberts reports that, despite the hardships, the troops are in famous spirits.

BOERS IN THE WEST ACTIVE,

iRITISH EVACUATE KLERKSDORP.

LONDON, July 28. (Received July 29, at 5.30 p.m.) One thousand Boers are trying to surround Potchefsfcroom, upon which Genera) Methuen is advancing.

The British have evacuated Klerksdorp where some troops were captured.

Vaal River is the terminus of the railway which runs west south-west from Johannesburg ™rfh nf in °7 A 6 Same Mme> some distance north of Klerksdorp. Some distance no^th of Klerksdorp there are coal mines at work]

DEATH OF A NEW ZEALANDER.

LONDON, July 28. (Received July 30, at 0.30 a.m.) C. E. Enderby, a New Zealander, died at Pretoria.

[C. H. Enderby was m No. 1 Company of the first contingent. He was a railway stationmaster, and his people reside in Wangarmi ]

[N THE ORANGE RIVER COLONY.

CLOSING IN ON THE ENEMY. LONDON, July 27. (Received July 28, at 9 a.m.) The movement for the crushing of the Boers still under arms in the Orange River Colony is being conducted with vigour. After two days' severe fighting, Generals Hunter, Clements, and Paget have occupied Brand Water Basin to the south of Bethlehem.

BRAND WATER BASIN OCCUPIED.

BOERS FALL BACK ON FOURIESBURG.

LONDON, July 27. [Received July 28, at 9.5 a.m.)

General Rundle reconnoitred the Boer commando stationed at the nek which forms the southern exit from the Brand Water Basin.

After a sharp artillery contest, the Boers evacuated their position at Winck, which is-the north-westerly j>ass out of the Brand

Wata

General Rundle believes that this portion of De Wet's commando is now surrounded.

[Received July 28, at 9.35 a.m.)

General Rundle has taken the commando that v.-as occupying the nek to the south of

Bethlehem

SLEEP IS DIFFICULT

Of attainment to those subjected to excessive mental strain. Wolfe's Scnapps soothes • tlie . JJ" aiv '- Promotes nerve invigorating slumber.

The balance of the Boers have fallen back on Fouriesburg, the British following with the object of surrounding them.

GENERAL HUNTER OCCUPIES FOURIESBURG.

SURRENDER OF A COMMANDANT, (Received July 29, at 4.45 p.m.) General Hunter has occupied Fouriesbuvj where he found Mrs Steyn, the wife of tl) ex-President. '

P. De Wet, a Free State commandant, and brother of Commandant Christian De Wet, surrendered to the British at Kroonstad.

THE SUPPRESSION OF DESPATCHES,

INQUIRIES AFTER THE WAR IS

OVER.

LONDON, July 28. (Received July 29, at 5.30 p.m.)

In the House of Commons, replying to strong remonstrances with reference to the suppression of despatches in connection with what was termed a regrettable incident, Mr Wyndhiim promised a searching inquiry at the close of the war, especially in instances where there had been very large surrenders. He added that there would be no further publication of de-

spatclies till the war is ended,

SURRENDER OP TWO HUNDRED

BOERS. (Received July 30, at 0.15 a.m.)

Two hundred Boers Lave surrendered ai

Ficksburg.

THE CAPE PARLIAMENT.

THE AFRIKANDER BOND

CAPETOWN, July. 27.

(Received July 28, at 10.10 a.m.)

In the Capo Parliament, during an incidental division in connection with a Trca-

sury Bill, the Government had a majority of four. Messrs Schreiner and Solomon, and Messrs E. I. Sonnenberg, Wessels, and De Waal (members of the Afrikander Bond) voted with the majority.

The Afrikander Bond have ejected Mr J. X. Merriman from the leadership, and. rejected Mr J. W. Saner and Mr P. de

Waal. They are now approaching Mr Hofmeyr, who advises a policy of in-

action.

APPLICATION FOR MAUSER RIFLES SYDNEY, July 23.

(Received July 28, at 9.15 a.m.)

The War Office have promised to consider the Government's application for a portion of the Mauser rifles taken from the Boers. PRESENTS FOR BADEN-POWELL. SYDNEY, July 23. (Received July 28, at 9.15 a.m.) The Baden-Powell Presentation Committee have selected the well-known hunters Demos (at a cost of 150 guineas).and Orara (at a cost of 100 guineas), as steeds for ulie Mafeking hero, conditionally upon their passing the veterinary surgeon's examination.

CASUALTIES TO .COLONIALS. LONDON, July 28. (Received July 30, at 0.15 a.m.) The following.are among the casualties at Kosk's River on the 21st:—Killed : Pruben, Goodman, Watford, and Oliver (Victorians), Cameron (New South Wales). Wounded: Five Victorians, three New South Wales, nine Western Australians. at Stinkhoutboom. on the 24th: —Killed: Tate and Nicholas (South' Australians). Wounded: Moon (mortally) and two others (slightly), South Australia; Tothill and four others (Western Australia).

THE SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES.

THE COST OF THE WAR.

THE GARRISON REQUIRED.

LONDON. July 28 'Received July 29, afc 6.45 p.m.)

The House of Commons voted the Sup plementary Estimates. Mr Wyndham explained that" they included' £3,000,000 for operations in China, Lord Roberts, he said, estimated the'permanent garrison for South Africa at 30,000, besides 15,000 colonial reservists remaining to, settle. The total direct charges of the war to the end of February next would be £61,000,000.

INVALIDED HOME,

[Per Uniteb Pbkss Association.)

NAPIER, July 28. ; A letter received by the last Cape mail states that Captain Tanner, who left with the fifth contingent, was attacked with dysentery and fever at Beira, and has been ordered to return to New Zealand.

OUR CONTINGENTS AND THE POLICE. (Per United Pukss Association.)

WELLINGTON, July 29. The Government have received the following cable from Sir Alfred Milner: — ' Referring to your telegram of the 24th July, the following telegram has been received from the Commander-in-Chief : 'Referring to your telegram transmitted from the Governor of New Zealand, say in reply that no men have been given any permanent employment in the police in conquered territory. It is essential 'that provisional police be formed in the occupied territory, and volunteers have been taken from the regulars, militia, and Yeomanry, as well as from the colonial contingents.' " I

NOTES ON THE WAR.

By Major Kknnedt.

The news from the Free State is too indefinite to base an opinion on. The scattered Boer forces appear to be too widely distributed over the State to - allow of any combined action against them by the various British commands. The movement for crushing the Boers still under arms in the Free State is being conducted, we sire told, with vigour. The statement has to be accepted as it comes, although there is no evidence that the movements give any greater promise of success than previous operations having that object in view. _ Witte Bergen, where the southern portion of General De Wet's commandos are

manoeuvring, runs from the Natal line in the vicinity of Mount Aux Sources, in a westerly direction across the State, to within about 15 miles east of Winburg, and then turns and runs south-west toward Brandfort, and covering the country to the north of Ficksburg and thence westward to Allandale on the Vet River. The watershed on the southern slope of the Witte

Bergen forms a pan which is locally known as the Brand Water, and it is in that vicinity a portion of De Wet's commando is said to be surrounded. Possibly the news is correct, but it may be remarked that the surrounding of any considerable force of

Boers in such a difficult place would require a large force of troops, and the transport arrangements would have to be perfect to enable the troops to cam]) on the ground they occupy, instead of moving to camps some distance from the front, such as has been

the practice since the campaign opened. It seems highly probable that the Free Staters will slip through General Rundle's lines where ho least expects them to try, and that no good will.be accomplished in operating over too wide a stretch of country with the limited number of mounted troops at the disposal of Generals Bundle, Hunter, Clements, and Paget. Ido not expect anything will result from the operations now in progress, and a new and stroin' cordon will have to bo formed before General De Wet is squeezed into surrenderinc.

Etiikl R. Benjamin, barrister and solicitor Albert Buildings, Princes street, Buncdin fonposite C.P.0.), has tru«t moneys to lend on approved security—Adyi.

The withdrawal of General Buller's army corps from the north, of General Macdonald's brigade from Frankfort, and General Methuen's division from the west, «aye General De Wet the opening he wanted, and until troops are sent to re-occupy the positions these generals were posted at two or three weeks ago there is little prospect of bringing the Free Staters to terms.

Not only in the Free State does the condition of affairs seem worse, but in the Transvaal, also, for' General Buller's lines of communication with' Natal have been threatened on the extreme right of the British line, while General Carrington, on the west or left flank, has met with considerable opposition.

Balmoral, where Generals -French nnd Hutton outflanked the Boers,' lies on the east end of the Witwatersrand reef. The Balmoral mine is one of the great gold producers, and was always considered °one of the best Rand properties.

Mr G. F. Mitchell, of Balclutha, received a letter last weelc from lus son George, reported to be in hospital at Wynberg, Capetown. It now appears, however. that Trooper Mitchell was at Litest writing in hospital at "Winburg, Orange River Colony. Ho was then nearly convalescent and in good spirits.