AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Waikato Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 651, 16 May 1900, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

(Received May 16, 10.20 a.in) Sydney, May 16. Mr C. Spooner, the Evening News war correspondent, and a well-known Sydney pressman, died of enteric ferer at Bloemfontein. BOERS CHECKMATED BY BUNDLE, MANY FREE STATERS CAPTURED. OTHERS SURRENDERING. LADYBRAND DISTRICT CLEAR. BOERS CONCENTRATING AT HEILBRON AND ON THE VAAL. DULLER SECURED HELPMAAKER. ENEMY OUTFLANKED BY THE CAVALRY. BOER POSITION ON BIGGARSIiERG TURNED. DULLER OCCUPIES DUNDEE. (Received May 16, 10,10 a.m.) London, May 15. General Rundle has checkmated the Boers, who were attempting to advance southwards along the Basutoland border, and is now returning. Many Free Staters were captured and are surrendering. The enemy has evacuated MacQuatting’s Nek, and the Ladybrand district is clear. Oh; Boers have retired to Lind* le y-

The commando from Harrismitb is going to Bethlehem, and the Boers from Vrede, and Frankfort are concentrating at Heilhron. The cavalry division under Lord Dundonald and General Bethuen, having outflanked the Boers, Bailer's main force was enabled to secure the Helpmakaar plateau, thus turning the Boer position on Biggarsbcrg. The cavalry pursued the enemy’s left wing within seven miles of Dundee.

General Hildyard has occupied Indoba Hill.

A later report states that General Duller occupied Dundee. Kroonstad reports that the Boers are withdrawing from Biggarsbcrg and the south-western borders, and concentrating on the Yanl Eiver.

Trooper Payne, writing to his brother at Hawert, says:—“As an instance of the deadly effect cf lyddite, on the top of a hank was a team of 14 mules, harnessed to a waegon, everyone of them lying on the ground dead and m t a mark on them. In a cave in which a lyddite shell had burst there were fifteen bodies.

After the relief of Kimberley Mr Cecil Rhodes was interviewed by an American journalist. It would appeared that the Imperial OHicer and the Citizen soldier did not “hit it” too well, Mr Rhodes said Although 111 men wetc ki led during the siege (all of them of the local soldiery), nut one announcement of a death in those ranks was issued from headquarters. On the other liami, thcie did appear under the heading V.R. and the British lion and unicorn, a pronunciamento to the effect that owing to the loss of a mule by death, the strength of the troop to which it belonged must be decreased by one.” A veiy general impression exists, both among Volunteers and Kimberley people who took part in the defence of that place, that General Cionje did not succeed in removing from Magersfontein the heavier of his guns, and that if < diligent search is made they will be found buried in the Magersfontein trenches. A very distinct statement has, indeed, been made to the effect that Cronje buried his dead over his heavy guns. It has been suggested that by the use of delicate magnetic instruments the position of any large mass of buried metallic substance may be determined ; and if cannon are buried at Magersfontein, they may le and made use of some day to our disad^^H Paderewski has given his woishippers a severe lashing. Hesaic^^^ “ 1 hear so much on every side about sympathy for the Boers and so much hatred for those noble English. Do people know’ what these Boers are ? Those Boers are boors, ignorant, superstitious, intolerant, hypocritical, mean, and despicable. General Joubertisthe only gentleman among them. Oh ! I tell you the English represent light and liberty. All the prop’e of the Continent are against them, not because they love, the Boers, hut because they hare the freedom the English has given to the world, and which America inherits from England. It exasperates me to hear Americans, who ought to know belter, speak so harshly against the English. I am conlindent the English will conquer, because they represent progress and civilisation, culture and freedom,”