FIELD-MARSHAL ROBERTS' ARMY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 53, 10 March 1900, Page 2

FIELD-MARSHAL ROBERTS' ARMY.

THE OSFONTEIN ENGAGEMENT. (Received 9, 9.10 a m.) London, March 8. Tha Boera who took part in the engagement at Osfontein numbered 10,000. Poplar Grove, Lord Roberts' new headquarters, is twenty miles eaatward of Osfontein. A NEW ZEALANDER MISSING. Received », 10.16 a.m. London, March 8. Saddler Aitkeß, of the New Zealand Mounted Infantry, was reported a* missing after the Oafontein engagement.

REPORT FROM LORD ROBERTS. THE BOERS ABANDON DINNERS. BRITISH CAPTURE A CANNON AND WAGGONS, (Reqeived 9,11.30 p.m.) London, March 9. Lord Roberts reports on Wednesday:— "The Boers yesterday abandoned their dinners. We captured a Krupp cannon and several waggons. Two brigades of cavalry and horse artilleryi under General Kelly-Kenny marched to-day ten miles eastward from Poplar Grove." r. BRITISH SEIZE NERVAL'S PONT. ' ■ •!'. . > THE FREE STATERS DEMORALISED. LORD ROBERTS THREATENS BLOEM--FONTEIN. (Received 10,1.60 a.m.) Lohdon, March 9. General Clements seized Norval's Pont. The Boers blew up the bridge over the river, their rear-guard being on the 1 northern bank. General G&tacre's force at Burghersdorp and the mounted troops at : Osfontein far outstripped the supporting infantry. The enemy extended tothe southward, and fired a volley at the cavalry it 800 yards range. General -French then swept southward, again outflanking the Boers, who, after again volleyifig, continued to escape headlopg, fleeing eastward. The police from Bloemfontein are , powerless to prevent the Free Staters . becoming demoralised. They have I declared that they are unwilling to fight any longer. Lord Roberts threatens Bloemfontein and the line running to Norval's Pont.