The Transvaal.

Temuka Leader, Issue 3814, 5 November 1901, Page 1

The Transvaal.

London, Oct. 31. Replying to Canon Gore’s attack on the Boer concentration camps, and his suggestion of their removal to tho sea coast, Canon W. J. Knox Little, after visiting South Africa, declares that everything possible was done to properly conduct the camps, mitigate hardships, and avert disease. Removal to the coast was impracticable, and would intensify the evils. Lord Milner has visited the camp at Merebank, and is satisfied with the arrangements. A Cavalry Brigade proceeds to South Africa in the middle of November. Great Britain has compelled the Boer factory at Lorenzo Marques to reship to Hamburg 300 tons of saltpetre ex the German steamer Herzog. Nov. 1. De la Rey, with 1000 men, on the 24th attacked Colonel Vondonop’s rearguard, but was repulsed, leaving 48’dead and five captured, including Commandant Rechetts, who was wounded. Hans Joubert, a member of the Volksraad, was killed, and Commandant Lemmed wounded. Sir Herbert Maxwell states that the late Queen Victoria in 1881 told the members of the Cabinet that they were all wrong ; that there should be no convention with the Boers, but fight. Forty Boers surprised ten Georgetown scouts at the Doom river. Seven scoots escaped. The three others losing their horses took refuge in a house. Finding resistance hopeless, one scout "with his hands up, went out, and was killed instantly. A Boer spy, in the uniform of Rimington’s Guides, was arrested on the train at Stormburg. Colonel Dawkins’ recent successes were due to night marches without baggage. Block houses have been placed every 200 yards along the railways in the disaffected districts, with Kaffir hounds between. The National Review has published what is purported to be Sir Redvers Puller’s telegram to Sir George White, suggesting the surrender of Dadysmith. &ir Redvers Buller denies the accuracy of the telegram. Mr John Murloy, speaking at Arbroath, condemned a war of extermination and the sullen desperation of the Government against the Boers. Prince Arthur, only son of the Duke of Connaught, who holds a second lieutenant’s commission in tho 7th Hussars, lias been ordered with his regiment to South Africa. The Rev. Mr Wilcocks, a Dutch Reformed Church minister at Mafekiug, has been sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment ou a charge of inciting to rebellion. Seven Hungarian Protestant Bishops and several hundred pastors have sent a petition to King Edward to stop the war. Kearney, who figured in connection with the agitation for the condemned Fifth Victorians, is a youth, and the son of a minister at Geelong. He started the movement to petition the King, but it was his action in Australian over the matter that influenced the King’s decision. Nov. 2. One thousand Boers under cover of a mist got to very close quarters and determinedly attacked Colonel Benson’s column at Brakeulaagto, north west of Bethel. The Boers rushed two guns, and both sides suffered heavily. Eight British officers were killed, including Colonel Benson, and 14 wounded. Fifty four men were killed and 160 wounded. Colonel B -xter, from the constabulary lines, with relief reached the column unopposed. Lord Kitchener, in reporting this engagement, assumes that the guns were recovered. [Bethel is about SO miles eastward from Johannesburg, and 35 miles north from Standerton, on the Transvaal Natal railway]. Colonel Kekewich, marching for two nights, surprised Vanalbert’s laager, north easternwards of ,Rustenburg, capturing three wounded and 74 unwounded, including Commandant Klopper. Captain Decarteret, of the New Zealand mounted men, is convalescent, and has resumed duty. New York, Nov. 1. Wealthy Hollanders in New York are establishing a Boor Hollander colony of 300,000 acres in the State of Wyoming. Irrigation works and a beet sugar factory are already being started in the colony.