THE TRANSVAAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 3508, 21 October 1899, Page 1

THE TRANSVAAL.

Capetown, Oct. 17. The Free State troops hold the railwaybetween Kimberley and Orange Eiver, a distance of over 80 miles. A proclamation against treason has been issued at Aliwal North, one of the most northerly towns of the Cape, close to the Free State border. Many disloyal Boer farmers are attending a religious festival at Vryburg, The coal mines north of Gleucoe have been abandoned to the Boers. The Boers attacked an armoured repairing train north of Mafeking. Two Boers were killed and three wounded. Nino British were wounded. A native report states that the Boers were badly defeated in the attack on ngLarge quantities of supplies are beitg shipped from Jndia for Durhau. A .Press censorship of Tra;i.?vaal news has been established at Aden as well as nt the (Jape. This interferes with KrugerV co in m uni cations.

The defenders of Kimberley have aokpd for as-d stance.

An armoured train, rcooiiuoifcring at Spytfontein, killed five and wounded seven Boers, 'the British were unhurt. Several Boer spies have been arrested at Ladysmith. The Zulu chief Dmizulu offered assistance against the Boers. Sir A. Milner, on behalf of the British Government, replied : —" Keep quiet yourself; do not disturb the Transvaal Zulus."

Johannesburg refugees declare that the Boers rushed into war only because they were buoyed by the hope of a general rising of Cape Dutch. Nine thousand Kaffir miners, commanded by two Englishmen, walked from Johannesburg to Ladysmith, over 200 miles. The Boers loote.l Ingago and lugogane on the Natal border, and are robbing refugees, including Basutos. The Boers are subdividing their forces and entrenching the various mountain passes. Colonel Sir W. P. Symons, commanding at Ladysmith, reports that the Boer horses are in a wretched condition, and the men worn out. The British destroyed the highway bridge at Hopetown, on the Cape-Kimberley railway, near the Orange border. A Uitlander mounted corps, 1000 strong, has been formed at Durban. October 18. It is reported from Pretoria that the Boers under Cronje are bombarding Mafeking, and have cut off the water supply. The Boers have captured the telephone at the Modder river railway, and by sending false messages vainly endeavoured to trick the British at Kimberley to revealing the position of the troops there. A breakdown in the transport arrangements is impeding the advance of the The railway from Lang's Nek has beep destroyed in order to prevent the British from attempting operations by means of armoured trains. All foreign Consuls at Pretoris have enjoined their countrymen to observe neutrality. The Fatherlands Consul in Natal has issued a siini}a.t proclamation in Natal. The Boers have destroyed the railway at Lobaski, about 50 miles north §f. Mafeking* and at Aasvogelkop, and also captured Taungs, a small town with a fortress on the railway betweeu Kimberley and Vryburg. ■ '

Capetown, Oct. 19. British cavalry patrols are engaged with the enemy's advanced forces in the vicinity of Actonhomes. At Besters there were some casualties. General White is sending ont supports, and a battle is imminent. General Joubert at Newcastle is also forwarding troops to Besters and Glencoe. The Boer commandoes from Vryheid are approaching Rorke's drift. London, Oct. 17. The Mansion House Refugees' Fund amounts to £75,000. The Queen contributed 500 guineas. Dr Tanner, member for Cork, speaking at Cross-Haven, made insulting references to the Army, when a Royal Engineer knocked him down. The whole of the 25,000 British Reservists recently summoned to join the colours have responded to the call. The third battalion of the Grenadier Guards and the first battalion of the Coldstes,oi Guards leave Gibraltar for South Africa on the 25th. October 18. """Mr Chamberlai','in view of Boer threats of the murder of English, warned President Kruger that he would be held responsible for aots contrary to eivilsation. The Globe 6tates that the Boers have oftewd ;CSOOO for Mr Cecil Rhodes, dead or alive.

A Center's message states that the German steamer Kaiser, being chased by the British crusier Thetis, and fearing capvure in thy Red Sea, unloaded 4000 cases of ammunition at Port Said. The Kaiser's passengers for the Transvaal included a mnuiber of German officers. The ammunition was resuipped for Hamburg. The special session of Parliament to deal with the Transvaal question has opened. The debate on the Address in reply showed that the official Opposition co-operate with the Government in regard to the question of British pavamounLcy. Mr John Dillon moved an amendment, impugning Great Britain's right to interfere, which was negatived by 222 to 54, including 14 Radicals. Lord Salisbury said that Great Britain would never reoceupy the position she had occupied in the Transvaal for the last 18 years. He hoped that British paramountcy would be consistent with a large measure of autonomy. Sir Henry Cauip-bell-Bannerman said that the Cabinet's dealing with the Transvaal was a game of j bluff. Mr Balfour replied : "We have the ( cards and intend to play them. Reinforce- : ments are being sent to protect our possessions." He added: "The self-governing colonies are with us, heart and soul. The Empire's conscit nee is with us." The Government ask for .£10,000,000 supplementary to the Army Estimates. It has transpired that Sir Alfred Milner j forced Mr Schreiner to sign the treason i proclamation or resign. Advice from Pretoria pretend that President Kruger resisted issuing the ultimatum, but was outvoted by the Executive. London, Oct. 18

Mr Chamberlain, writing to the London correspondent of the New York Tribune, acknowledges America's recognition of the justice of Great Britain's policy in South Africa. He says that her motives for interfering in the Transvaal are parallel with those which led America to interfere in Cuba, the main difference being that Great Britain is chiefly championing Britishers deprived of their promised rights. The British cruisers Niobe and Diadem have been ordered to proceed to the Cape. Great Britain has accepted an otter by the American Atlantic Transport Company of the gratuitous use of a marine hospital ship. Lieutenant Fitzpatrick, of the New South Wales Artillery, has been ordered to the Transvaal. In the House of Lords, Lord Loch, late High Commissioner in South Africa, said that it would be a wise step to annex and disarm both the Transvaal and Orange Free State. October 19. It is estimated that the British vote of of £10,000,000 will provide for 35,000 men beyond the number voted for. Ottawa, Oct. 17. A Canadian officer will command Canada's

Volunteer Brigade, comprising 1000 marksmen. The brigade embark for SouthAfrica on the 25th. The French Canadians are enthusiastically joining the Canadian Transvaal Contingent. Ottawa, Oct. 19. Canada has offered to supply a corps of physicians and nurses. Sydney, Oct 18. The Imperial Government have accepted tlit) offer of a field hospital. Sydney, Oct. 19 The Council agreed to despatch the troops. The House is Btill debating the qutsnou. Melbourne, October 19. The Contingent have been served and h.iv practising villi the new - 303 MartiuiEi: field Wilie. AIBLBOUKNE, Oc . <9 Two steamers are to be placed on the bovtii on account of the Imperial G-ovoru-cr;' nt, ior the regular transport ot supplies of fodder and feed stuffs to South Africa. BsießANic. Oc' J 9 The steamer Cornwallis has been chartered to coQvey the troops, and leaves on the HBih inst. . Hob art, October 19. ' The offer of 80 Infantry for the Transvaal . ' has been accepted. j Wellington, Oct 18. | The Premier read in the House this evening a cable from the Secretary of State for War, that the colonial troops from the date of their embarkation come under the Imperial Army A. t. The Contingent will be fully supplied with books, papers, and games, on the i voyage. Mrs Penton's call for these having been liberally responded to. She has also received 50,000 Vanity Pair cigarettes from the American Tobacco Company and 501bs of tobacco from Sagood, -on & Ewen for the use of the men on the voyage.

The Contingent were entertained at a social by the Women's Social and Political League, and at a performance of the " Forty Thieves" at the Opera Hpusp. The officers of the Contingent wero entertained at a dinner by the officers of the Wellington Garrison. Eeplying to the toast of The Contingent, Major Eobin made a very eloquent and patriotic speech. He said that he had every confidence in his men, and felt sure that they would perforin in a manner reflecting credit upon themselves and the colony. Eeferring to the great labour that had been entailed in preparing for embarkation, he expressed the hope that the Volunteers would bo kept in a groatec state of preparedness, and if a similar crisis happened in future it would be found easier to accoutre 2000 • men than it had been to despatch the present Contingent. Orrjstchtjrch, October 19. The following private, cable has been received here this morning, dated Durban 18th ; -™ln another attack on the Cape border, the Boors were repulsed with great slaughter. It is reported that 400 were killed. Our own casualities were nil. \

Among those accepted for the Transvaal is an old South Canterbury boy, Alfred Hedges, who has been in the North Island some time. He is a son. of the late Mr , Gaorgo Hedges, aad ma rnofcjjor and sisters

live in Timaru, and two of his brothers at Milford. It is is also reported that the services of Sergeant Byrne, of Timaru, have been accepted.