NEWS FROM THE SEAT OF WAR.

Colonist, Volume XLIII, Issue 9821, 23 June 1900, Page 2

NEWS FROM THE SEAT OF WAR.

! Lord Kitchener's Narrow Escape/ London. June 21. The scene of Lord Kitohener's recent escape from capture was a kopje Biding north of Kroonstad. The Boer Commandant De Wet, with a force of 900, got in close proximity to Lord Kitchener's sleeping car, upon which the enemy was aiming his rifles and big guns, when Lord Kitchener saddled up and: galloped to the Rhenoster river, where 1300 British troops were encamped. Capture Two Boer GunsColonel Seaton's Mounted Infantry, on the 19th inst., captured two guns from Commandant Duplessis' command in the direction of Rustenburg, in the Western Transvaal. Fight at Eerste FabrickenBrilliant Generalship* 3 A Fierce StruggleDetails of the fight at Eerste Fabrieken show that 'there were displays of splendid Generalship, and a severe struggle. A British Battery endeavored to seize a gap in the enemy's line, but a body of Boers galloped to within six hundred yards of the guns, dismounted, and raked the Battery with a heavy fire. The Battery was saved by the Twelfth Lancers charging. Simultaneously the Boers attacked their right flank, but fled demoralised when the Household Cavalry charged them. General Buller's Advance- r Heavy Marching by British- ! General Buller, in his general forward movement, has reached Zandspruit (there is Sandspruit midway between Volksrust and Standerton, which is probably here referred to), and it is hoped, with the assistance of General Hunter's force from the west, to sever De Wet's Free Staters from Botha's Transvaalers. Lord Boberts praises the marching of General Hamilton's column, which covered 400 miles in 45 days, with ten days for halts, and 28 engagements fought. Also the City of London Volunteers, who j travelled 500 miles in 51 days, halted two days, and fought 26 engagements. "After the War. i Settlement to be FinalLondon, June 20. The Duke of Devonshire (Lord President of Council) in the course of a speech while presiding at a meeting of the Women's Unionist Association, said that the Government did not intend that the Boers should by political intrigues obtain in future what they had lost by force of arms. The Hon. J. Chamberlain, who also spoke, declared that any attempt to confer improper freedom upon the Boers would be silenced by the overwhelming opinion to the contraryThe settlement, he proceeded to remark,, must be final, and no seeds of mischief must b 9 left. Colonial Horses for War Purposes. Lieutenant-General Sir F. W. ForestierWalker has" reported that the Australian horses are the best for cavalry purposes, the English animals being next, and those from the Argentine third. The Cape horses are best for mounted infantry, Indiaa and Australian being next. The Australian horses delivered In South Africa cost £55 per head, the Argentine remounts £26, and the English horses £70 to £75. General Items; London, Jane 19. : Lieutenant Harrison of the New South Wales Mounted Infantry, has died of wounds received in the fight at Eerste Fabrioken. The railway tunnel under Lang's Nek, which the Boers had blown up, has been repaired by the British Engineers, and reopened to traffic. Jane 20. Eight hundred of the rebels at Kuruman inquired the terms on which their surrender would be accepted. They were told that it would have to be unconditional. . General Eloff and two hundred others who were captured by the Mafeking garrison during the last assault on the town, have been lodged in gaol at Kimberley on their way south.