THE WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 54, 14 March 1900, Page 2

THE WAR.

LORD ROBERTS' MOVEMENTS. THE FIGHT AT DREEFONTBIN. BOERS' TREACHEROUS USE OF THE WHITE FLAG, [By Elbotbio Teleuiuph.—Copybiqht.] [pbb pbbss association. ] (Received 13,9.20 a.m.) London, March 12. A large commando hoisted the white flag at Dreefontein in order to escape from the effects of the British artillery fire, while they were retreating across the open veldt with a squadron of cavalry hovering on their ihnk. The British troops advanced, whereupon another section of the enemy volleyed repeatedly, wounding a number of men, The British ran short of ammunition on Saturday through relieving thii infantry of weight in order to facilitate marching, BRITISH NEAR BLOEMFONTEIN. London, March 12. Lord Roberts is now within twenty miles of Bloemfontein. CAPTURE OF. HILLS COMMANDING BLOEMFONTEIN. A LARGE FORCE OF THE ENEMY DEFEATED. PRESIDENT STEYN'S BROTHER A PRISONER. (Received 14, 2.27 a.m.) Iqndon, March 13. Lord Roberts has reached Ventersolei, 15 miles from Bloemfontein. He -uceeedad in turning a position held by 12,000 Boers, with eighteen guns, on sopjej commanding the road to Bloemfontein. General French occupied the hills commanding Bloemfontein on Monday night. He had 60 killed and 320 wounded. President Steyn's brother was captured. HOW KIMBERLEY'S RELIEF WAS RECEIVED AT CAPETOWN. PARTICULARS OF THE MARCH. Received 14, 2.3 am. ' Melboubne, March 13. On. receipt of the news of the relief jf Kimberley, Capetown was decorated with flags All the warships hoisted the white ensign in honour of General French's victory. On the 14th February a small cavalry patrol entered Jacobsdal and round the place full of wounded. A series of small skirmishes ensued. Next lay a battery of artillery drove out the Boers. General French seized three lriftson the Modderßiver, and theii moved rapidly towards Kimberley' Events followed quickly. Lord Roberts' force-answered gallantly to the heavy marching under a succession of great heat, rain, and cold winds. When the artillery drove the enemy *rom Jacobsdal, the latter had to cross a ridge in order to escape, thus affording an excellent mark for the guns, showers oi shrapnel causing heavy lass. The Boer attack on the British convoy had been .;ouutorm:iuded, but the order failed to reach them. The Boors opened on the jouvoy with 15-pouudcrs aud Vickers--Maxims, and had a hot time. Colonel Ridley, with a brigade of mounted men, preveuted the enemy actually approaching the waggons.

.(Received 14, 2.27 a.m.) Melboukne, March 13. Cape files to February 16ihstate that i rennrkabie scene occurred at Capetown on the receipt of the news of the relief of Kimberley. Crowds assembled it Government House aud clieeiod the Groyurnor. Oq the other hand, a conudoruble hostile demonstration took pLce outside the Promier'H c(a>«. The rapidity of G neral French's movement to the relief of Kimberley nonplussed the Boers, who deserted their positions round the beleaguered town, the garrison occupying them. IN NORTHERN CAPE COLONY. ■ THE ENEMY'S PREPARATIONS. @teceived 13, 9.30 a.ni.) London, March 12. The Royal Irish Re ;iment aud the South Australians are in the vanguard it Norval'a Pont. They report that there is an entire absence of big guns on the opposite bank of the river, but that the enemy ha& thrown up entrenchments, aud is laying barbod wire at the fords. ,

GENERAL GATAORE COMMANDS BETHULIE BRIDGE.

(Received 14, 2.3 a.m.) Capetown, March 13. Mnjor-Geoeral Gatacre commands the road bridge at Bethulie. The railway bridge is damaged.

AFFAIRS AT JOHANNESBURG. WOMEN AND CHILDREN BEING REMOVED. A BIG GUN REMOUNTED.. (Received 13, 9.20 a.m.) London, March 12. The Daily News states that a sensation lias been caused by the Boers taking preliminary steps to remove women and children from Johannesburg. The largo Creuzot gun, which w.is taken, from Johannesburg during the earlier stages of the campaign, has now been remounted at the fort there. THE .BBITISHUJSSES TO DATE. (Received 13, 9 30 a.m.) London, Much 12. The following are the British losses to date:— Killed 2419 Wounded .. t § < _ 8747 Missing.. .. \ t \\ 34g2 Died of disease Iqoo ToW - m ~15,677

THE PEACE OVERTURES. WHAT KRUGER AND STKYN HAVB TO HAY. (Received 13, 9.30 am.) London, March 13. The Presidents' overtures for pesos represent that British territory w«c/, occupied strategically aud that the loyalty of colonial Dutch is unshaken; and as British prestige is re-established, they claim independence and an amnesty for loyalists. The war, they say, ««„« of conquest, and they nave resisted to the uttermost. , KRUGER WANTB INFORMATION FROM AMERICA. Received 14,2.8 son. # WASHiuoHW,' March 13. It is understood here that President Kruger is enquiring through America nbout the minimum terms ofltaaoe. BRITAIN WILL SHORTLY DJctABE PEACE CONDITIONS. (Received 14, 2.3 a.m.) London, March 18. The Bight Hon. A. J. Balfour, in the House of Common?, stated/that papers dealing with Great, Britain's conditions of peace would shortly be laid on the table of the Howe, GERMANY S REPLY TO KRUGER, - SHE IS NOT OONOJCRNED IN THB CONFLICT. ... „-., (Received 14, 2.27 a,m.) J Bsbxin, MawhlS. Gormany, in reply to President Kruger, has declined to intervene, on the ground that she is in no*wise concerned in the conflict.

COLONIAL CASUALTIES. DHATU OF COLONEL UMPHSLB7. (Eecdlved 13, 10.30 pm.) Meusoubne, MsjrobiS. A cable has been reoeivednimdiiicing the death of Colonel Umphelby. (Received 13,10.40 p.m.) Melboubnk, March 18. The late Colonel Umphelby was well known, at Australian rifle meetings aa a first-class shot. Hbßunr, March 18. The Governor lia« received a cable stating that die following Tasmaniuw were missing ut Achterlang:—Oorponl Whitelaw, Privates Dennis, Ducie, Gillies, and Wright. THE WAR LOAN. Received 13, 9.30 a.m. Loxdojt, March 12. Sir Michael Hicks-Baach, Chancellor jf the Exchequer, has consulted frith British and colonial bankers rt spooling ' he issue of the *mr lpan", i' >**** (Received'l4, 18*4.) ! I In explaining the Ettimatee, Mr. G. Under-Secretary for War, ceferred to the prospect of a pre- j trrangod scheme for the colonies to participate iu the Imperial dtfeno* whenever an emergoncy of importanot uoeo. The Estimates enabled acon*"V' iDilution of the military efforts at pressure for six m.mln and at half* jre>sure for a further six months. In jm uture the normal garrison in South —- Africa would be twelve infantry bat* tilioos. .>* (Received 14, 2.27 *•»•) , Lo»oos, Mufoli 13. Mr. Wyndham, in the House of Joinmons, explaining the Estimates, mid a welcome would be given to the formation of mounted iufantry, revolutionising a great problem. BOER TREATMENT OF PRISONERS ENQUIRIES TO BR MADE. Received 14, 2,8 a.m. LoDdon, March 13, Mr. G, Wyndham, Under-Secretary or War, bus annouuead that wjth * v-iaw to further action tho Government v.is veiifyiug the reports that the Bier* •v«re treating the South' African troops , worse thin o&ber prisoners. THE AUSTRALIAN COKTIJiGErfti Received 13, 9.30 a.m. MELBOuasK, March 13., There are 4000 applicants for enrol* ment in the Imperial Bushmen's Contingent. ButeßA.ni, Maroh 13. The transport Duke of Portland, which is conveying the But%me}&|Csr,. tingent to South Africa, lost SuhorsU on the run t-> Albany.

' NEW ZEALAND'S AID TO THE ; mm.' x Wellington, March 18. - About 650 horses will be required for the Fifth Contingent, of which twothirds have already been purchased by officers of the Agricultural department in various districts. The Monowai has been charted to nfc. take a portion of the Fourth Contio- , v gent to South Africa. She take*about 200 men and 250 horses. The vessel .'* will be fitted up immediately she cornea out of quarantine. ]'' It is understood that negotiation* for the charter of a steamer to convey the Fifth Contingent to South Africa ',.'..;" are complete. The namo of the venal ■"■' is not divulged, but it is reported to be ■. j the Maori, which arrived from London ?» « on Sunday lat>t. ■* The horses from Wellington camp for " the Fourth Contingent will bo sent ►south by the liuwea on Thuisduy. Ti O .ilonuwai takes the men south on Saturday, when they will join the Otugo and Southland men in camp. ♦

La i >:r. The Committer of the Rough-riders has .£5530 in hand, which is ,£270 short of what is ri quired to coverall , expenses, including some extra horses. It is expected that tho departure of the men for Dunedin next Saturday will be only of a formal character. Lieut. Walker, of Waikato, will cap--.tain the Auckland section, and Captain Abbott, who came down with the men, wiU k probably receive a captaincy with the Fifth Contingent. Lieut. Pringle will have command of the Wellington section. Tha Westport, Greymoutb, and Gis- : borne, quota tp the contingent have arrived in camp. A complaint has been made of the horsemanship of tho Westport members. ■

DukEdin, March 13. At Forbury Park to-day, the principal work was that of extending the camp to accommodate 480 men and 500 horses. The full Fourth Contingent of four companies of 106 men each is expected to be in camp here by the end of the week. Captain Fulton will take command of No 1, or the Otago, company. Captain Harvey will take command of No. 2, or Southland, company, which will be composed of Southland men and other men of the South Island now en route to join. Lieutenants Bauchope and J. R. McDonald are posted to No. 1 company, Lieutenants Keddell and Tubman are posted to No. 2 company, Captain and 4^j utant F.

Stronach is appointed Camp-Adjutant* ■Lieutenant G. W.McDonaldisappointed Camp-Quartermaster, Captain Price and Lieutenants Morris, PrairiJ and Freeman are attached, to the camp for general staff and instruction duties. The arrangements of the Demonstration Committee for the send-off will now be rapidly pushed forward. (_• A large number of shipwrights left Fori Chalmers this afternoon to board the Monowai as soon as she i* released, and fit her up as a troopship. There are now 95 men in the Fifth Contingent camp, five having been rejected on the riding tests. Colonel "Webb has a lengthy emergency list for filling the vacancies. It is understood that no officers will be appointed to the Fifth Contingent. One.officer will accompany each company to South Africa, where the Imperial authorities will officer the companies. i Christchtjbch, March 13. Forty horses for the Fourth Contingent passed through Lyttelton today from the North Island to Duntdin There are now 130 men in camp for the Fifth Contingent. . ' . THE TABANAKI SEC HON. . . . <'■ Applicants for enrolment in the TaranaM section of the Fifth Contingent are coming forward in largei . numbers, some 60 men having already given in their names. His •Worship! the Mayor'informs us that applications are being made from all parts of the province, from beyond Waitara to south of Hawera, many of the prospective volunteers displaying great eagerto take place on Thursday afternoon, ness to be accepted. A general test is and those who succeed in passing will be despatched to Wellington next • week, on Tuesday or Thursday.

HANDINESS OF THE NEW ZEALANDEKS.

Mr. A. B. Patera u ("Bw.p"), in of bis lectors to the Melbourne. Argus, dated Po'fontc-in, 2il)i January, says :—The officer in command cf the New Zealand Contingent, Major E bi:;, invited me to stiy a nigli" at hi 3 camp, a? the place would probably boat ; ack <i and shelled at datvn, and he thought it a pity for me'to rijiss it. So I waistd, and saw the New Zsalanders taken out to construct- barbed-wire entanglements on a creek up which the enemy were expected to advacco. The average Tommy Atkins would be very much at sea when asked to build a barbed-wire entanglement, but the New Zealauders were left to their work, and Major Rimington. went on round the can.p to lay out the positions of the guns, and so on. When he came back the New Zealanders had built a firstclass barbed-wire fence across the creek. It fairly opened his eyes. "How did you manage to do this so quickly ? " said the Major; " I'm used to wire," said one New Zealander; "wire is no> treat to me. I'm a fencer by trade.' The Major was. much astonished at what they had done. We passed the night, with mules yoked-up in care*, ready to start on the first shot, bo:;:-.' fired, and each mao's place v. as alio'.', c d to him. I had selected a good la. ant hole as toy " main posi r :on," as-i it was quite a whoa tLoy failed to att:ck. Instead of tackling us they turned their hi.' on to our guns, which wore operating Rome three milts away. Our —l2-pounders —could not reieh their gun at ail. It threw a shell clean beyond, our guns, and killed the General's orderly, and a shrapnel bullet went through the leg of the General's horse.

THB COST OF AN ABSURD ARMY CUSTOM. The crape-clad widow of brave General Wauehope has given the lie direct to the statement that in the last letter received by her from her gallant husband Lord Alethuen's methods were strongly critised, and her denial must suffice. Uut the fact that General Wauehope did not write to his wife in the strain alleged, and. indeed, sj/oko of Lord Metkuen in his list letter in very kindly terms, does not modify thr- tii.se against his lordship. In spite of ail t-Si'or s to .suppress the facts, it is daily becoming clearer that Lo.d Methirm's ALigersfontein blunder was but the culminating one of a series. It is now witbiu Oiu - knowledge that the two dearlybought and utterly uiuit-cisivo vu-.toi h ■; which Lord Methuen's i'urco aclib,\oi prior to the Mngor.-i.ji.Lein chtek wo.e marred by blunders which would pr bal'ly have meant lmd the Boeis been c:.ub!v ef taking the ofiensive at the ;aom,:. . In one battle the Guards ; ih..-L ; vrcrj in such confusion about uriLa-s that they attacked an entirely diii'e.tn; I>.*>Hion to that assigned to than, and lo,t hesvily in the atteiup'. ilov i' e 111 under arose is not quite clear, bn: t ' §«ms that Lord Methuenand hisCSiicf

'of SiafT (Colonel Maitiwaring, late of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers) vvero not "on terms/' and that the usual forms were not observed.

If further proof wove wanting that Lord Mctliuen has lost the confidence of his command, here is an extract from the letter of an officer (it ought never to have been penned, but was), writing from Modder River camp a week after tho battle:—"There is no doubt about it; there was a wild spirit of mutiny among the men. They were mad at their comrades and their fine old general (Wauchope) being shot down like vermin. They felt, and knew, that the commander had compelled their old general to do what he would not have done himself. Never before has a British general run so great a risk of being shot by his own men, and the officers were in the greatest dread that news would come any moment that he had been shot Among all the regiments here it is

said that" one or two more Methuens and South Africa is lost to England for ever."

Dozens of similar quotations might be made, but no good purpose would be secured. It is, however, painful to think that if Loid Methuen had not been a Guardsman he would have been two steps lower in rank than he is. His command of the Western Army is the outcome of the absurd old custom of making every captain of the Foot Guards at the same moment a lieutenant-colonel in the army.