THE TRANSVAAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 3559, 13 March 1900, Page 1

THE TRANSVAAL.

Capetown, March 8. The operations round Colesberg tried the Australian troops and their horses to the utmost. Lord Kitchener inspected them, and said that he highly appreciated their excellent work, and complimented them upon their general efficiency. The Boers who are besieging Mafekmg are raking the streets of the town with a new siege gun. Typhoid and dysentry are prevalent in the town. Mr Steyn assured Mr Hales, tne Western Australian correspondent, that the capitulation of Pretoria would be preceded by events which will astonish Europe. March 9. A Russian Jew was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment at Kimberley for signalling to the enemy. „ . Major Walter Adye, of the Natal Field Force ; Herbert Capel Cure, of the Gloucestershire Regiment: and Lieutenant Barberry, of the Irish Fusiliers, who were taken prisoners by the Boers, have ■ been released owing to their being incapacitated for service. The courtesy and kindness shown to General Cronje and other prisoners have pleased the Boers. London, March S.

The Capetown correspondent of the Times says that an explicit Ministerial statement that the annexation of the Republics is intended would infuse new life into the loyalists and damp mischievous agitation. The Ladysmith Boers attribute their retreat to the Commandant’s withdrawing from the key of the position. Commandant Dewet abandoned a gun, immense quantities of forage and many tents, as he dreaded that the British would cut his line of communication with Bloemfontein. Poplar Grove, Lord Roberts’ headquarters, is twenty miles eastward of Osfontein. The residents of Kimberley declare that the Boers killed the British lying wounded during Major Scott Turner’s sortie from the town in December last. The flying column sent through Zululaud, under Colonel Preudergast, consists of the King’s Rifles, Mounted Infantry, Mounted Police, and Maxims and quickfirers. The column invaded the Transvaal towards Catasa. Sixty Boers were caught in au ambush. Three were killed, and the rest scattered. March 9.

Lord Roberts reports on Wednesday “that the Boers yesterday abondoned their dinners. We captured Krupp cannon ami several waggons. Two brigades of cavalry and the Horse Artillery under Major-Gen-eral Kelly-Kenny march to-day ten miles eastward from Poplar Grove.” General Clements has seized A orvars Pont. The Boers blew up the bridge over the river, their rearguard being on the northern bank. General Gatacre’s force is at Burghersd°rp- . The mounted troops at Osfontein tar outstripped the supporting infantry. The enemy extended south-east and fired volleys at the cavalry at 800 yards range. General French then swept southwards, again outflanking the Boers. After again volleying they continued to escape headlong. The police from Bloemfontein are powerless to prevent the Free Staters -becoming demoralised. They declared that they were unwilling to fight longer. Lord Roberts threatens Bloemfontein, and a line running to Norval’s Pont. Louis Botha commands GOOD men at Glencoe. The 6th Army Division leaves for South Africa on the 16th iust. The batteries do not accompany it as Lord Roberts considers that they are not needed, Sixty thousand volnnters and militia will mobilise during the summer on Salisbury Plains. The Queen will create a new regiment to be called the Royal Irish Guards. Fifteen transports embark 14,000 troops before the 20th inst. General White, and Lieutenant-Colonel C. E. Duff, of the Kings Royal Irish, have been ordered to Stormberg from Ladysmith. Major-General Sir Archibald Hunter has been appointed to command the 10th Division of the Army Corps. During the enemy’s flight from Osfontein on the 7th, a cart containing the Russian and Netherlands attaches collapsed, compelling the attaches to join Lord Roberts’ force.

Fifty-thousand Kaffirs have been commandeered, and are entrenched at Pretoria. The greatest secrecy is maintained respecting the defence works of the city, Mr Leyds is hurrying hundreds of skilled Continental artillerists to Pretoria. During the Osfontein engagement President Kruger and President Steyn occupied positions far in the rear, and attempted fruitlessly to stem the retreat, which resembled a partridge drive. Commandant Dewet was in supreme command of the Free Staters, Lucas Theyer and Schalkburger being in disgrace. President Kruger was wearing a bandolier and carrying a rifle. He recently inspired the burghers in Natal by declaring that he wanted to have a shot at the enemy himself. He asserted that the struggle would be ended in a month, either by arbitration or intervention. Detachments of New Zealanders have been sent to Carnarvon, and of South Australians to Vosburg. March 10.

The Queen inspects 2000 of the Grenadier Guards and of the Scots Guards belonging to the Eighth Army Division to-day. Tiie war loan was issued at 981. The bonds bear interest al per cent,, redeemable at par in 1910. A deposit of 3 per cent, must accompany applications. The hat closes on the 15th instant. After the Osfontein retreat. Lord Roberts destroyed several boxes of explosive bullets, marked by the Boers “manufactured for the British Government.”

Mr Hales, describing the reconnaisance of the Tasmanians under Captain Cameron near Colesberg last month, writes as fallows: —“Lambie and I dropped behind Cameron’s troops to compare notes. Forty jjoerp suddenly dashed out of a ravine and demanded our surrender, but we refused, and tried fa gallop through the Boers. They fired a volley, and Lambie fell (lead with two bullets in his head and one in his heart. A bullet grazed my right temple.” Mr Hales found Lieutenant Dowling, who commanded the New South AA’alos Lancers’* patrol which was ambushed near Rensburo', in Bloemfontein Hospital. He sras blind in his right eye, and wounded in the arm ,and Jog- “ The Absent-minded Beggar ” was issued with General Orders during the seige of Ladysmith, and was read on parade. It caused immense cheering. Sharp fighting preceded Wednesday’s retreat. The Boers’ rearguard showed a bold front, and thus enabled the remainder to inspan. The majority fled south and came to Colesburg and Stormberg, the rest going in the direction of Ladysmith. President Steyn and President Kruger were under shell fire during the retreat,

President Kruger with tears attempted to rally his forces. Lord Roberts reports that the euemy confessed that they were unable to withstand the British artillery and such a formidable force of cavalry. General French, who is ten miles ahead of the main body, reports that his front is clear. The disorganisation of the enemy is confirmed.

Reuter’s correspondent states that the Transvaalers equally with the Free Staters are disorganised. The Times’ correspondent expects the early submission of the Free State. General Joubert has gone to Pretoria. Berlin letters state that he has resigned the command of the army, owing to a quarrel with President Kruger.

A desperate attempt of the Boer prisoners to escape from Simontown by making a tunnel, was discovered and frustrated. The entire population - of- Carnar-you-en-tertained the New Zealanders.The Daily Mail states that President Kruger and President Steyn have made audacious overtures for peace to Lord Salisbury, on the basis of the independence of the Republics as a sine qua non. The Standard says that the Government will shortly authoritatively reaffirm the impossibility of any peace perpetuating political and military independence, whence the present sanguinary conflict arose. After the war Britain will dictate, but will make no bargain. London, March 10.

A letter from President Kruger was found in a Commandant’s hag among the stores captured by the British on the Tugela. The letter, which is dated January 17th, stated: —“ If Ladysmith is relieved the Boers’ cause will be indeed doubtful and precarious, but if Ladysmith is captured by us we will secure peace and independence.” , j- j. So presumptions were the euemy tnat they actually sene trucks to convoy the garrison to Pretoria. b General White is still feeble from attacks of fever contracted during the siege. He has left Ladysmith for Stormberg. the leave-taking of bis troops was a touching OU On arrival at Pietermaritzburg General White was presented with au address bj the corporation. In reply he remarked that the garris®n of Ladysmith, when supplies became short, measured their rations in the hollow of their hands. In all their hardships and trials the troops were cheerIt is unofficially stated that Britain replied to Kruger and Steyn that the campaign will continue until the growing prospects of restored peace are fuitlier strengthened, enabling Britain to formulate A review of troops by the Queeu iu the private grounds of Buckingham Palace attracted vast crowds, stretching to 1 aadington. ~ . ° March 11. Major-General Broadwood’s cavalry and Major-General Kelly-Kenny’s division had a severe but successful engagement at Drilfoutein, south of Abraham’s Kraal, on Saturday. Forty Boers were taken prisoners and many left dead. Melbourne, March IX.

The Bushmen’s Contingent sailed for South Africa by the Euryalus. They rpdo through the streets. There were enormous crowds aud intense enthusiasm. AVilson’s Promontory, March 9. The Undaunted, from Lyttelton, passed here. LORD ROBERTS AND THE PRESIDENT. AVellington, March 1. _ Cape files contain telegraphic communications between Lord Roberts aud the Presidents of the Transvaal and Orange ■Free State. The latter says “ AVe learn from many sides that the British troops, contrary to the recognised usages of war, are 'guilty of destruction by the burning and blowing up with dynamite of farmhouses, and the devastation of farms and the goods thereon, whereby unprotected women and children are often deprived of food and cover. This happens not only in places where barbarians are encourged by British officers, but even in Cape Colony, and in this State where white brigands come out from the theatre of war with the evident intention of carrying out a general devastation without any reason recognised by*the customs of war, and without in any way furthering the operations.” Lord Roberts replied “ I beg to acknowledge your Honour’s telegram, charging British troops with destruction of property contrary to the recognised usages of war and with brigandage and devastating. These charges are made in vao-ue and general terms. No specific case is mentioned and no evidence given. I have seen such charges made before now in the press, but in no case which has come under my notice have they been substantiated. Most stringent instructions have been issued to the British troops to respect private property as far as is compatible with military operations. All wanton destruction or injury to peaceful inhabitants is contrary to British practice and tradition, and will, if necessary, be rigorously repressed by me. I regret that your Honours should have seen fit to repeat the untrue statement that ‘ barbarians have been encouraged by British officers ’ to commit depredations. In the only case in which a raid has been perpetrated by native subjects of the Queen, the act was contrary to the instructions of the British officer nearest to the spot, and entirely disconcerted his operations. The women and children werp restored to their homes by thp agency of the British officer in question. I regret to say that it is the Republican forces which have in some cases been guilty of carrying on the war in a manner not in accordance with civilised usage. I refer especially to the expulsion of loyal subjects of Her Majesty from their homes in the invaded districts of this colony, because they refused to be commandeered by the invader. It is barbarous to attempt to force men to take sides against their own sovereign and country by threats of spiolation and expulsion. Men, women, and children have had. to leave their homes owing to such compulsion, and many of those who were formerly in comfortable circumstances, are now being maintained by'charity. Tljat war shquld inflict hardships and injury on peaceful inhabitants is inevitable, but it is the desire of Her Majesty’s Government, and it is my intention, to conduct this war with as little injury as possible to peaceable inhabitants and private property, and I hope your Honours will exercise your authority to ensure its being conducted in a similar spirit on your side.”