THE TRANSVAAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 3558, 3 May 1901, Page 3

THE TRANSVAAL.

SIR HENRY DESfAc 1%. United Press Asso'ciation—Per Electric - Telegraph—Copyright. Received 9.21 a.m., May 2nd. LONDON, May 1. * A Blue Book har been issued containing Ifientenant-GeneraT Sir Henry Oolville's despatch describing his unsuccessful attack npon Cronje's laager at Paardeberg on February 18th. The despatch, which was discovered in a pigeonhole in the War Office, Bays: —"General Lord Kitchener, directed me to send Major-General SmithBorrien and all available fresh, troops to irutlrp- tn determined assault on. the laager, and to send Colonel Aldworth across the drift, the Canadians and Highlanders cooperating. He delivered the attack with extraordinary courage and determination. I regret that it resulted in the death of Colonel Aid worth and the loss of a considerable number of officers and men." DAILS' FIGHTING WITH SMALL PARTIES OF BOERS. Received 9.21 a.m., May 2nd. LONDON, May 1. It is stated that Commandant Kruitzinger's force has recrossed the Orange river. Slight daily encounters are reported with small commandos in Cape Colony under Scheeper, Malan, Swanepoll and Fouche, the enemy being much harassed. Piefc De Wet, ohairman of the Boer Peace Committee, reporting from Bloemfontein, emphasised Commandant Theron's refusal to recognise the status of the peace envoys. The report also states that ministers of the Dutch Reformed Church refused to act in the interests of peace, unless the independence of the Republics is acknowledged The transport Ulstermore, with the Western Australian Sixth Contingent, has arrived at Durban.

SYDNEY, May 2. The Krupp guns captured by the NewSouth Wales Contingent from the Boers arrived by the Tongariro. SMART ATTACK OX BERGPLATTS. THE BOERS SCATTERED. Received 10.27 p.m., May 2nd. LONDON, May 2. General Grenfell attacked the Boers at Bergplaats, near Haenertsberg, facing the enemy's last "Long Tom," which opened fire at 10,000 yards. Kitchener's fighting scouts advanced rapidly to within three thousand yards when the Boers blew up the Long Tom and fled. Ten were captured. The other British column killed ten Boers, wounded six, captured six, and thirty thousand rounds of small arms ammunition, while sixty Boers surrendered. The British lost four killed and seven, wounded in the various skirmishes. Received 10.30 p.m., May 2nd. Britain being averse to establish a preoedent has rejected Germany's claim for a lump sum of £SOOO as compensation for Germans expelled from the Tran' r aal. TLe oommisaion appointed by Lord Lansdowne

last month to investigate the claims of deported foreigners is examining individual claims. BOER PRISONERS AT MADRAS. Received 12.14 a.m., May 3rd. LONDON, May 2. Five hundred Boer prisoners have Arrived at Madras- They will be sent io Bellary, a strongly fortified inland town and military station. Per Press Association. DUSTED IN, May 2. It is now understood that the Tongariro, with the. members of the No. 3 Contingent returning-from South Africa, will not reach Otago Heads till Wednesday morning.