BOER WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 45, 4 March 1901, Page 3

BOER WAR.

CABLE 1 NEWS (Br Ewotbio Tblegkiph—Ooptmoht.) ■■• ■

large, captures or siook and PRISONERS. DE WETS MOVEMENTS. (Received 2,9.68 a.n.) London, March 1. General Smith-Dorriea and Colonel -. AMenon, who are operating in Eastern Transvaal, report large captures of ■tack, wagons, and prisoners. The enemy is demoralised. BeoeiTed 2, 9 10 a.n. London, Marsh 1. De Wet, Bteyn, Hertsog, and Gommandant Brand, #ith 2000 men, are moving south in the direction of Celesburg, hoping to cross into the Orange River Colony at Norml's Peat. Yesterday the raiders had reached a point out of Phi'ipstown, about midway between Petrusville and Celesburg. Tbe British Government is steadily sending men and horses to South Africa to relieve these who have been fighting any length, of time, and to stake good the waste from casualties and disease. Sir Alfred Milnerhu gonencrth from Capetown to assume the administration of his duties in the new colonies, DE WET FORCED NORTH. i 200 OF HIS MSN OAPIURED. , DETAILS OF THE PURSUIT. \ HAJORITT OF THE COMMANDO DISPERSED OR SURRENDERED. ' DE WET REPORTED AS DEMENTED. I [n» PUSS ASSOCIATION, | 1 (Received 3,4.37 p.m.) London, March 2. 1 Lord Kitchener has returned from < Tfttoiia and telegraphs that Do Wet 1 - baa been foroed north ever the Orange > Biver. Two honored of his followers were ] captured and other stragglers are bring ' captured. I Tbe Times correspondent reports front Hopetoun regarding recent fighting that Colonel Plumer overtook De Wet en February 17th at the Depot westward of the railway. Col. Plumer'* supplies being exhausted he halted at Hatuwpan and en the 18th at West Elsievlie < to refit, leaving three strong patrols to ( hang about De Wet's rear, and watch the river drifts. The patiols behaved splendidly, touch baing maintained ( with General Knox who was enabled to ] gauge the enemy's intentions. The British southern columns were so mar- I ■balled as to prevent a junction by the c invaders frem the sonth and west. i

De Wet tried to re-cross the Orange ! Biver at Bntkkiet, Small parties crossed in a boat but the main commando ware unable to establish the ford, and headed from the river in the direction •f Prietka. They were azain repe'le 1 towards the Orange River drif'. Col ■Plainer having obtained sapplit s, he again rseamed operations, preventing the enemy's passage of Marks' drift and capturing a hundred prisoners, when OawaelOwsn on the 23rd, raptured ihlast of the Boer'a guns from Do Wit's rearguard. Daring the silent watches of th» sight the'enemy slipped by the Kimherley column and recrassd the lavwty.

De Wet with H/rlzog is going to wards Zand Drift.

The majority of the commando hive slispersed or surrendered. De Wet in his fanaticism is repo ted to he demented. He flog* everyb-«dy. Haasbroeek, who c e commando remains compact, refuses to co op ra'e with him.

The correspondent was not aUowed to indicate the new British concentration, as the messige preceded Lord Kitchener's latest despatch. NHW ZKiLAND MKDIOAL OFFICKKS. Wellington, March 2. Sometime ago the Imparial Government asked the Colonial Governments to send four additional medical gentlemen to South Africa. Mr. Baddon at •nee agreed to s*nd one and ccm■tunicated with the other*. SurgeonMajor Barns, of Danedin, who did such excellent eerriee with New Z-aknd's First Contingent and only r»e«ntly returned to New Zealand, has been ■elected as representative anil principal neaieal officer fer New Zealand, and will shortly leave for Capetown, which he will make his base. Dr. Dawson, it is said, will fro with the Seventh Contingent as medical adviser,