KITCHENER'S NARROW ESCAPE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 9095, 13 March 1901, Page 3

KITCHENER'S NARROW ESCAPE.

BOTHA EXPECTED TO SURRENi^K GENERAL COLVILLE'S SUSPENSION. LORD ROBERTS BLAMES HIM. < ANOTHER BOER TRAP FOR KITCHENER FAILS. (Electric; Telegraph— Copyright United Press Association.) (Received March 13, 9.16 a.m.) LONDON, March 12. Particulars have been published of Lord Kitchener's escape at Balmoral on January 23rd. Referring to this incident, an officer narrates that a pilot engine had gone over the line and reported all clear. Lord Kitchener ordered two heavily-laden -' trucks attached to the pilot engine to retest the suspected spot. When they reached the Bpot they were blown to pieces. One hundred concealed Boers rushed the shattered trucks, and found the mangled remains of the engine-driver only. The result of the negotiations between Lord Kitchener and General Botha is hopefully awaited at Pretoria. It is thought that Botha will surrender even if De Wet declines. In the House of Commons Mr Brodrick explained that Lord Roberts had gravely censured Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Colville. He was blamed for not attempting to save the guns lost at Saunas Post, and subsequently neglecting to help Colonel Spragge and the Irish Yeomanry near Lindley. (Received March 13, 9.25 a.m.) The railway from Pretoria to Delagoa Bay is now clear of Boers. The Boera recently surprised a squadron of the 18th Hussars escorting Lord Kitchener. All the Hussars escaped excepting fifteen veterans, who were captured. - One thousand Australians reached Capetown yesterday. They proceed to the front immediately after the arrival of the horses. - General Colville's friends are widely blamed for raising the debate and establishing his incompetency. General Colville was reinstated to the command of Gibraltar, without Lord Roberta's know- j ledge. . -. . The Boers in the Eastern Transvaal are short of ammunition, and are burying their artillery. Fifty of Commandant Trichart's Boers, hoping to capture provisions, undermined the line at Heidelberg and shot the Kaffirs in an adjoining kraal to prevent their divulging the fact. When the trolly arrived, a charge of dynamite placed under the line exploded. Three British were killed and two injured. Colonel Pilcher has cleared the country from Orange River to Bloemfontein, cap- - taring 33 Boers and three thousand remounts. " , i Colonel Gorringe, having secured fresh remounts, is pursuing Kruitsinger eastwards' of Sheldon. The Boers collected large supplies at DC Th^re™us De Wet message was a. mutilation. It should be that De Wet declared he would not see his brother Pie*. A number of former burghers at Brandfort and Kronstad would have; to be enrolled to defend themselves against th |tey^r'speaking at Phfflipolis after the failure of the invasion- of Cape Colony, admitted that there was no chance of regaining the country.