THE WAR

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 31, 6 February 1900, Page 2

THE WAR

]By Electric Telegraph.—Oopimoht.] [pbb pbess association*.]

THE RECENT FIGHTING ON THE TUGELA, HEAVY LOSSES OF THE BOERS. (Received C, 8.4G a.m.) Native deserters from the Boer camps report that five Boer field-cor-nets were killed during the resent fighting on the Tugela River, the enemy's casualties totalling 1000, while I seven of their guns were disabled. The Boers, they say, are very despondent.

TEE 6PION KOP REVERSE. FATB OF A DISLOYAL NATIVE. Received 5, 11 p.m. Dujuban, February 5. Colonel Thorneycroft reports that whon Spion Kop was surprised a native who was warning the Boer pickot to waken was bayonetted. The roads leading to Ladysmith along the line of the British advance have baen dug into trenches. GENERAL WOODGATE'S WOUND. „;? ; '; & Li> (Received 6,1.40 a.m.) London, February 5. The injuries received by General WSoodgate at Spion Kop consist of a wound over the eye, caused by the fragments of a shell.

A MESSAGE FROM LADYSMITH. THE GARRISON READY FOR ANY ATTACK. 'PLENTY OF PROVISIONS. (Received G, 11.40 p.m.) Durban, February 5. Ladysmith bas'heliographed the following message :—" We were elated on Saturday on hearing General Buller's guns actively booming. The enemy are massing near the towD, and are bringing their guns on to Surprise Hill. Wd are quite ready, if attacked. We are all well. There are a few Boers north-oast of the town." Two inhabitants who escaped from Ladysmith have arrived at Maritzburg, and reported that there are sufficient provisions in the town for a considerable time. Fresh meat is supplied daily.

GENERAL BULLER3 MOVEMENTS. HE IS SAID TO HAVE CROSSED THE TUGELA. NOTHING DEFINITE KNOWN. i \ THE WAR OFFICE SILENT. ALL WILL BE STAKED ON THE ' COMING BATTLE. WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD LADYSMITH FALLEN. Received 0, 1.30 a.m. Losdox, February 5. Definite s-atomi>nts have heon made at Diirban that General Buller has crossed the Tug; la River, Some allega that he has gono in the direction of Acton Home?, and others that he is easi of Zwartskcp. Thi Times declares th'.it these statements aro premature. The War Oifiee is sl>nt in regard to I General Bullur's movement >. Mr. Winston Churchill, the war correspondent, declares that alt will be staked on the coming battle. The spirits of the troops wero never brighter. Jhe Times announces that tho Ladysmith gariison is resigned, but determined. | The Daily News siys larga Bwr reinforcements mm being detrained before Ladystuith. The Daily Telegraph declares that had Lidyemith fallen during the attack on January President Kruger would have visited Europe to petition the Powers to sivo the Republic.

IN THE CAPE COLONY. NEW ZEALANDER3 AGAIN TO THE FIiONT. i Received C, 10.35 am. Capetown, February 4. Tho New Zoalanders, with sime of Rimington's guides and a squadron of L'fe Guards, swepStho hillnon General French's extrsma right flank and ocuupied several positions. The Now Zaalanders rushed a kopjj, expelling the enemy.

GENERAL FRENCH'S FORCES. 7000 BOERS ENCLOSED AROUND COLE3BERG. VALUE OF AUST KALIAN MOUNTED TROOi'S. THE STRENGTH OF THE ENEMY. (Received fi, 1.30 a.m.) Capetown, February 5. General French's troops enclose seven thousand Boers in the hills around Oolesberg. His lack of naval guns ii severely felt. The Australian mounted troops at the Modder Eivor are described as likely to be invaluable in reconnoitring. There are twenty thousand Boers between the Moldor and Kimberley, and 800 rebels from Barkloy East have reinforced Dcrdrecht, where the Boer forces total 2200. There are 1000 Boors at Jamostowu and 5000 at Stormberg.

'RELEASE OF A BRAVE BOER OFFICER.

A KINDLY ACT BY LORD ROBERTS. (Received fl, 11.10 p.m.) Capetown, February 5. Fie!d-Marshal L-jrd Roberts wrote to General Joubert, the Boer Com-mander-in-Chief, proffering thu reloiif i> of Commandant) Protorious, who was wounded and captured at Elands Laagte and had his log subsequently Amputated, Lord Roberta described him :-.t. •a bmvo toldicr. ProSorkju.-:' wife, iu thanking General Robert-, nskcd that her husband bo =o,at to MagtM^'ontciu.

THE BRITISH CABINET.

A OHANGEIN PORTFOLIOS SUQCHBTBD (Received 5, 10.35 a.m.) London, February 4. Sir Edward Clarke, late member Cor Plymouth, recommends Mr. Chamber*. lain to resign the Colonial Department in favour of Lord Salisbury, and that Lord Ronebery should replace Sir Alfred Milnor as Governor of Capo Colony.

BRITISH REINFORCEMENTS. (Received 5,8.50 a.m.) London, February 4. The Fourth Cavalry Bj-jgaj|e which il proceeding to South Africa" lonsista of 2528 men, with six field and fivt machine guns.

A WHARF ON FIRE SUPPOSED TO BE THE WORK OF BOER SYMPATHISERS. (Received 6,1.35 a.m.) Melbourne, February 5, A fire has occurred at the William*. town wharf. It is suspected to hart been the work of Boer sympathiser*. It destroyed six trucks of oompreawd i hay for South Africa and-a ehed containing five hundred tons of hay? Tbt damage amounts to £SOOO.

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMB. Received 5, B«iiiuto. LoNDcwr February 4, The Daily Telegraph Shilling Relief Fund totals £ 115,000. In the House of OcininonrttoSUght Hon. W. St. John F. Brodrick, UnderSecretary for War, stated that Gnat Britain had surrendered no rights with regard to the search of vessels for contraband of war. , The Hotchkiss battery which Lord Armstrong is presenting** New Zealand has been shipped to Capetown. Messrs. Tioline and Phararyn have each given £IOO towards the New Zealand Bushmen's Fund, Fibruary 6. The Rev. Charles Clark, who ia m route for Dunedin r preached a p»trietio sermon in aid of the War Fond to 2000 people in the Town Bali: Hesaid it f was a war for. freedom); equality, and the raising oftOaran nitdM to a higher level. SYDWt.FebrnfwVfS. The Typographical Society hat voted £2O as a first instalment for the relief of distressed printers in South Africa. (Received 6,1.10 a.m.) Sidney, February 5. The Imperial authorities have asked the Premier to ; place orders for 100 army service waggons, stipulating that they must piss inspection at Woolwiob. x.

AUSTRALIAN BUSHMEN'S COfflN- 1 | BENT, } (Received 5,10.80 md.) ' ' Mklbouenk, The Government ba« chartered thf J Euryalus to take the Bushmen'u Oon- I tingent on her return from the Gape, 1 the luiperUl Government paving expenses. .4t NEW ZEALAND SECOND CONTINGENT?! LEFT ALBANY FOR CAPEToWff.

(Receued 5, 10.30 a.m.) Aluant, February 6. Tho Waiwora, with the New Zmland Contingent, sailed for Capetown on Friday night. '

OUR THIRD CONTIH6EHT. Hokitika, February & Captain Martin, of the Totara Riflia, will have provisional charge of tan WesUanders for the contingent. They ineludo four or five young miners tad * roo of Liout.-Colonel Bonar. Ninacs Mncandrewa and* Johnston h.vo_ volunteered if a nuriing staff ii required. Tho Waitland troop left at 2 o'clock, and were accorded a great eend-o&V thero being a monster turn-oat ef tin public. The Volunteers, wiff fixed imyonets, escorted the men to tfci railway Htation, where the Mtyor.-wnnty Chairman, aud the Rev. Mr. Wood delivered addresses. The crush was so Great that the men had some difficulty in reaching their carriage. A largo number of friends accompanied the train to Groymouth. I Dunedin, Febr«aty 5, Up to no;>n today, 77 horses war* given or promised tb the Ofcago orgenising committee, anS th« subscriptions since Friday total £ISOO. Throe Danadin Hospital nurses have volunteered, and two or three are expected from the (■outh. Men aro offering freely,; tea came in in as many mmutus this morning. Wklunotow, February 5. Tho Executive Committee expected that the Government would take charge of the Rough-rider? if tho money was handed over, but this tha Defence I> ip:irtuent has dcolin'ed to do. As 1 1 !ia mou are to <p into camp to-morrow, and no provision was made for securing ritiocs, the Coamitteeis taken aback, acd has appealed to the Premier to carry out the promise in his telegram last week.

A cheque for £I OOO was tendered the Government to-day, and the funds now amount to close on X2OOO. Brsidw this the horses will all be given,.*nß Rome of the men are prepared to Contribute min«y in addition. Auckland, February 5. The AuckUud Hoeing UMir.giive£sQ towards the Third Contingent Fund.