THE USE OF BARBED WIRE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 6428, 28 December 1899, Page 3

THE USE OF BARBED WIRE.

BOER CONNING.

POSITIONS OF COLONIAL TROOPS. REINFORCEMENTS ARRIVING, (teeeived December 28,9.5 a.m.) Durban, December 27. Barbed wire has been placed across the bottom of the fords of the Tugela river, The guns captured by the Boers at the battle.on the 151b, have been thrown into the Tugela river, Capetown, December 27, The Boers at Modder river do not V reply to Metbuen's shells, fearing to iisclose the positions of their guns, w ' London, December 27. The Daily Ohroniclc correspondent states that the Australian Infantry and Canadian riflemen are at Belmont, and the Queensland Mounted Infantry at the Orange river, Lord Kitchener joined Lord Roberts aboard the Castle liner at Gibraltar. A British cruiser captured a cargo of stretchers and railway 4 sleepers at Delagoa Buy intended for the Boers, Capetown, December 27, The second battalions of the Middlesex and Royal Lancaster regiments have arrived at Capetown. Strong drafts of other regiments and thousands of mules are also arriving, The mules greatly facilitate transport, General Jouberthas again gone to the front. ' President Kroger is suspicious of British spies in the Boer ranks, Three members of the Cape Assembly are implicated in a charge ef sedition. w Lo.vdon, December 27, ®Tlie Daily News states it was Colonel Adye, of White's staff, the officer accompanying Carlton's Brigade, who hoisted the white flag at Nicholson's Nek, and not a subordinate officer, as previously I reported. Before leayiug England Lord Hoberts obtained a promise that the 27th Lancera statioued in the Punjaub should be sent out to Africa. Twenty thousand have volunteered for the Imperial Yoemanry Regiment. Sydney, December 28. The Government, with the consent of the Imperial authorities, have accepted Major-General French's ' offer to volunteer for the Transvaal, a Fighting parson. (Recekei December 28,11.35 a.m). Perth, December 28. The Government ,is prepared to raise tbe mounted contingent to a .indred, men have offered to pay £SO each tofvqrtls the ejpeqses if allowed to join. . Mr Reid, Presbyterian minister at Poulder, has enlisted as a private in ■j the contingent. FURTHER NEWS BY MAIL (Receiced December 28,10 a.m.l Sydnby, December 28, At the battle of'Grasspan tbe enemy bad tlie kopjes strongly trenched, and the distance carefully marked, wbicb enabled tbe artillery to find the rQnge without difficulty. ■ At six in the morning an artillery duel began. The' enemy occupied a large range of kopjes • where ' Mir cannon were posted.' It v)'as tin Allent position, and th'e Boers bit} the exact range, shells {jui'etiiig

right over ~our. men, and shrapnol fulling iucoßfflinlly, but our men stuck gallantly to tlioir guns, and returned tho lire with interest. After an hour tho British guus wero Inkon back a thousand yards to givo tho onomy diilioulty to find the range. After three hours soyoro work tho onomy showed no signs of vacating, Tho infantry ndvancod and tho Boera sont a scathing Kro into thorn. The infantry replied and forced the onomy from their first position, aud tho cavalry charging captured a party of Boors rushing for shojtor. The Lancers camo up to lire on one kopje, but found it alivo with tho enemy, and bad to retire. The ongagomont then bocaino general along tho face'of the kopjes. A fearful engagement look place, Tho marines bore the brunt, and rushed gallantly, oflicer after ollicer falling, but still our men clainbored over the boulders undaunted. The Boers used their rifles with good effect, but nothing human could stop the rush of tho infantry detaohmont. All the rogiinenls helped tho marines and after four hours lighting the enemy wero forced to tlioir last positions. Howover tboy resumed tiro from the kopje but wero soon silenced, A few thousand Boers left cover and fled, but owing to the horses being exhausted the lancers were unable to follow. The • artillery, however, poured shells into tho retreating enemy. Tho battlo of Belmonl, two days previous, was characterised by a brilliant ohargo of tho Scots Guards, who took tho first position after an hours combat. ThoColdstreams,Northumborlands mid Northumptons wero exposed to a death-dealing lire. Tho Boers at first held their position, and tho British advanced at groat sacrifice. Tho Boers wero outflaukod, and retired to the second position, where another desperate conflict with a naval gun drove them out, and they returned on a larger scale, Tho Lincois subsequently destroyed the Boor's ammunition aud rendered the guns useless. THE Nfi\Y ZEALAND CONTINGENT. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Weu ixgtok, Thursday. It is found that three hundred horses will bo required for the contingent. This number is not yot made up, and consequently further contributions of animals will be welcome. Owing to the severity of tho regulations many good men are being rejected, and the conditions will probably bu relaxed somewhat.