BOER WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 19, 21 January 1901, Page 3

BOER WAR.

) RELEASE OF BRITISH PRISONERS-. EAGER RESPONSE TO CALL FOR [ VOLUMXEEKS. VICTORIA SENDS 1000 MEN. [PBB PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Received 19, 8.52 a.m. Londos, January 15. The British prisoners held at Helvetia and Belfast have been released. Pietoiia is bjw full of troops. Sir Alfred Milner's departure for Pretoria is indefinitely postponed. Yecmanry, volunteers and militia are eagerly responding to the formation of their proportion of the voluntte.s and artillery required for the Cape. (Received 16. 9.33 a.m.) Melbourne, January 19. The Government received a cable from Sir Alfred Milner covering one from Lord Kitchener. The latter expresses his pleasure at tbe increase in the new Contingent, and would be grateful for a further 500. The Government has decided to send 1000 men. DETAILS OF FIGHT AT VANTONDERsHOK. NEW ZEALANDERS DEFEAT 800 BOERS. ESCAPE OF BOERS A ,ON. Received 19, 7.3 i j. London, January IS. Only one hundred colonials joined Kruitzinger's commando. Details of Colonel Calville's engagement show that during the march from Nfcw Denmark to Valaklaaget, seven hundred Boers attacked the baggage guard consisting of three hundred of the Rifle Brigade, and fifty Standerton Police. Siraul'aneously, three hundred Boers eharged the Cavalry, c«nstituting the rearguard, and forced them back, but the enemy Aid, on seeing the bayonets ef the Riflemen hidden in the hollow. The British Battery did good execution. Col. Colville had one killed, and fifteen wounded. The New Zealanders defeated eight hundred Boers westward of Vents; sburg. Seventy Boers jumped from the transport an arriving at Ceylon, and to k r&fuge on board a Russian steamer bound for Odessa. No effort was made to detain the vassal. STATE OF DE WET'S MERCENARIES. NATIVES SUPPLYING FOOD.

PORTUGUESE DEPORTING REFUGEES 'BOERS ATTACK A TOWN & THREATEN ! TO DESTRuYiALL HOUSES. (Received 20, 4.38 p.m), j London, January 19. I A released trooper states that Da [Wet's commando consists chiefly of foreigners. Their clothes and boots 'are worn out:, but they have splendid horses. The natives are supplying them with mealies and fruit. The Portuguese are transporting to Lisbon 900 Boer refugees at Delagoa. General Tucker has been appointed t# command at Bloemfontein, General Hunter being invalided. General Clements commands the seventh division. The Boers suiroiif-ded Dauielskiul on the sth and attacked the place for five days, threatening that unless it surrendered they would destroy all the houses, including the shelters for women and children flying the white flag The 80. rs ultimately withdrew to Rietfontein. ADVANCE OF WJSTERVI RAIDERS , CHECKED--BITUATION IN ViIDLAND SECTION GRAVE. VICTORY AT VENTERLBURG. DELAREY DRIVEN SOUTH. CONSTERNATION OF DISLOYALISTS. HEAVY PENALTIES FOR OARRYING ARMS, ANOTHER DEATH FROM ENTERIC. (Reoeived 20, 4.38 p m.) London, January 19. The advance of the western raiders is checked, the Boers retiring to Cabinia, where the main commando remained. The situation in the midland section of the colony is grave. The Australian Bushmen participated with the Highlanders in the victory under Colonel Gray, at Yentersburg. One Britisher was dangerously wounded. Four dead Boers and two weunded were found, together with m»Dy riderless horses. Lord Methuen to the westward of Taungfl attacked and drove Delarey, with a thousand men, to the southward, losing two killed and five wounded. The announcement of the disarmament of civilians came as a thunderbolt to the disloyalists. The penalty for contravention is fixed at seven years imprisonment, or a fine of £SOO with two years hard labour. (Ruceived 20, 4.52 a.m.) London, January 19. General Henry Co'villo is plaeed on '.fce r tirod list from yesterday. New Zealand Rough Rider T, 0. Martin died at Pretoria of entcri:. SIXTH CONTINGENT. APPOINTMENT OF OKFICEKS. Wellington-, Januaiy 19, Lieut-,-Colonel Banks, who is to command the Sixth Contingent, arrived in .•■am[i this morning. Additional appointments are:—Lieut. Markhum, of '.lie Federal Contingent to be captain of • lip Auckland Company; Captain ]{. C. Smith (Eanpinra), Lieut. A. l{o.-e v Wellington), Lieut. 11. M. William on xnd Jjiuut. ?>l. Jont-.i to hold commissions, but the companies aro not yet assigned. It is under.-.tood that Lieut. -Colonel Watt, of Wanganui, is to receive command of a company. A camp report is current that Captain Fulton, who is on sick leave, and was appointed to a company, lias been prohibited by his medical adviser from going back to South Africa.