THE WESTERN FRONTIER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2396, 1 February 1900, Page 24

THE WESTERN FRONTIER.

CAPETOWN, January 24.

During a reconnaissance made from General Methuen' s force on the Modder River on Tuesday, the 23rd, a lyddite shell exploded in the Boer powder magazine and silenced one of £hair big gun.s.

The mechanics in Kimberley have constructed a 28-pounder cannon, and christened it "Long Cecil," after Colonel Cecil, a son of the Marquis of Salisbury. It has a range of 8000 'yards.

January 25.

A brisk artillery duel is proceeding at Kimberley. Mr Cecil Rhodes fired the

new gun, "Long Cecil," with excellent results. - ■ . }

Six thousand men previously employed by the De Beers Mine are acting as soldiers at the spine pay as they received in the mines, besides their food.

Deserters from the Boer ranks declare! that the miserable and inadequate sani-i tary arrangements in the camp at Magersfontein, added to a scarcity of all kinds of food excepting meat, are causing much' ' illness and great despondency throughout the forces of the enemy.

A joint reconnaissance has been made in! the direction of Rooipan by detachments of the British forces on the Modder and Orange Rivers.

Trooper P. Falla, of the Victorian. Mounted Rifles, was wounded at Rooipan^

January 28.

Lojrd Roberts has engaged Burhham 1 , who, as leader of the scouts, distinguished; himself during the last Matabele campaign.

LONDON, January 28.

It is reported from a, Transvaal source that Mafeking was relieved on the 23rd! inst.

In his despatches to the War Office General Methuen repeatedly regrets his lack of cavalry and horse artillery.