The Transvaal War.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 6531, 2 January 1900, Page 2

The Transvaal War.

LATEST CABLE NEWS.

Presi AsmcintioiL-Electric Telegraph.—Copyright

FIGHTING NEAR MAIMING.

Durban, December 30. A very sudden change has taken place in the climate of Natal,

The rainfall liiih beon followed by extremo heat, and the thermometer record in Ladysmith is reported at 101 dogrees in tho shade, The waters of the Tugela river are risttifc in consequence of the rain. This will facilitate General SirHedvors Bnller's scheme to catch those Boers who have lately come across to tho south side of the river,

Tho British cruiser Magicienue (which recently compelled a French vessel to submit to inspection olf Dolagoit Bay; has captured the German East African stoamor Buudesrath at Delagoa Bay. The vessol had a quantity of contrabandof waraboiird,and in addition herpassengersincludedthrdoGerman officers with twenty men, all drossed in kharkee, who intonded to join the Boors. The Bundersrath has been sent to Durban pending tho sittingofaNaval Prize Court.

The owners of the trader deny that sho was carrying contraband, Baron Von Bulow, the Gorman Miuistor for Foreign Affairs, has promised to intorposo. Sir George White, the Commauder of the British troops at Ladysmith, has recovered from his attack of fever.

Capetown, December 81

Boor reports from Mafeking state that Lord Cavendish Bentinck and Lord Edward Cecil (son of Lord Salisbury) were wounded, and that lifty-livo casualties occurred in a daring sortie made by, the garrison from aii armoured train provided with Maxims on the 24th inst.

London, December 30,

Tho special correspondent of the Morning Pod at Chievoley, tbe headquarters of the British army under General Sir Redvors Bailer, says Hint from the movements now in progress it is inferred that a greatevent is impending, Referring to tho movements of the enemy, he says that the Boer commandoes which were posted to the south-west of Colenso have recrossed the Tugela river. The laagers to tho northward of Udysniith have heen moved nearer to the town, and the enemy is likely to bring stronger pressure to bear upon the garrison,

The latest message received from tho beleagured town states that the bombardment of the besieging artillery has of late been unusually vigorous.

There are indications of a further rainfall, which, if it continues, will lill the Boer trenches,

The 19th and 28th Batteries of Field Artillery havo arrived at Capetown, but were at once ordered to Durban.

Since the recent great battle at Magersfoutein, the Boers have been persistently endeavouring to cut the lines of communication between Lord Metlmen's position at the Modder river and Cape Colony. They have recently been seen in the vicinity of De Aar, the British military base in Cape Colony, about seventy-live miles south of the Orange river, and about fifty-live miles west of Coleberg. A Reuter's message now states that asharp skirmish has occurred at West Camp, eight miles from De Aar, between a Boer commando intent on cutting the lines and a detachment of British troops. The troopers of the Yeomanry will receive new Lee-Enfield rifles. They will carry no side arms. Tho Duke of Norfolk, PostmasterGeneral in the Salisbury Miuistry, who is fifty-two years of age, is the latest distinguised recruit to the Yeomanry. The Honourable Artillery Company of London—the oldest existing volunteer corps in Britain-has offered to provide a battery of fifteenpounder guns to accompany the Lord Mayor's new corps of volunteers. The War Office has accepted the offer,

The Government, when making the appeal for ten thousand men for the new Imperial Yeomanry, authorised a statement that one of the most pressing needs of the commanders in South Africa is a large proportion of mounted men, which is necessary in order to givo the fullest effect to the admirable qualities shown by the regular infantry. Ten thousiud men are now assured for the Imperial Yeomanry force raised by Lord Chesham,

The Prince of Wales, the Colouel-m-Cbief, has contributed a hundred guineas towards the equipment of the force, and the London Stock Exchange has given one hundred horses. l)r Creighton, Bishop of London, in preaching at a supplication service at St. Paul's Cathedral said:-" War is not good for us supposing we always succoed on our own terms, in our own way." The Rev. Hugh Price Hughes, exPresident of thu-Wosleyan Conference, favours instead of a day of humiliation and prayer in connection with the war, a day of thanksgiving for the readiness shown by Britons to surrender even life itself to eusure freedom and justice for their kinsmen.

The Duke of Connaught is to succeed Wold-Marshal Lord Roberts as Commander of the British troops in Ireland during the latter's absence in South Africa.

The British Government has accepted gifts of horses for use at the Gape from the native rulers of the States of Mysore, Jadpur and Cashmere, in India.

_ Dr Leyds, tbe oflicial representative of tbe Transvaal in Europe, bas written to the Egyptian agitator Mustopba Kiamil urging him to shake off British coutrol.

Svusbv, December 81. One of the New South Wales Unuers who was present at tbe battle of Belmont, writing to a friend from tbe front, states that Trooper Byrne, who was reported missing, was cut off duriug a reoonnaissance. Byrne, however, returned to the British camp next day with a Boer prisoner, whom he bad captured after.au exciting experience.

NEWS BY MAIL. (Jiecated January 2,9.10 a.m.) Hobabt, January 1. The Waiwera. arrived to-night with Cape files to the 9th December. particulars received of the Kimberley fight show that theenemy were completely routed and the whole of their supply of artillery, ammunition, gunpowder, gun lumber waggon, and spare oxen were cap-' tured.

_ Major Turner then attacked the ridge were the four redoubts wero arranged. Three were captured after severe lighting, but the enemy receiving reinforcements umdo a desperate stand by the fourth. In leading the meu against the last work, Major Turner was shot.) through the head aud killed on the spot.

This was tbe hottest part of tbe mgagement, and as it was evident

it could only be captured by a lerger; force with the point of the bayonet, the British withdrew, The losses were twenty-two killed and tweuty-eighfc wouuded. Two of thej wounded have since died,

The' Boers clung teuaqiouly ta.j their cover, and their losses are nnknowi], ' -" I

Mafeking reported "nil well "on tbe sth, although riddled with bullets. Everybody keeps under shelter like rats in a bole,

Tbe Boers sent a waggon loaded with dynamite down a circular rail- 1 , way to explode in Mafeking, butfor-T^ tutiately it went'off too soon, although every building was violently shaken.

WANT OF ORGANISATION.

PRESS ATTACKS ON THE. BEITISH WAK OFFICE.

(Rmwd January 1,12.25 a.m.)

Capetown, JanuarviS The great delay that has WEn place in arranging, adequato transport equipments considerably hampers the mobility of the columns under Sir Redvers Buller and Lord Methuen, in Natal and on the western frontier respectively. It now appears that sufficient waggons and mules to furnish the first army corps with two days' supplies from tho baso can only be got ready for service by the middleof Janujiy. In addition to this, the second line of equipment for furnishing the army corps with supplies for three days is practically unprovided for.

Unless facilities can be obtained locally, it is feared that great dificulty will be experienced in providing transport equipments for the later divisions of the army which have arrived, and for the volunteer regiments.

London, January 1,

Tbe daily Mail, in commenting upon the want of organisation displayed by the authorities, declares that the reluctance of Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, Chancellor o|2the Exchequer, to provide money «pre the actual declaration of war is responsible for the delay in transports. 'Me Times attacks tbe War Office

for having neglected to keep army supplied with thp mostmodeaW guns, ' ™'

The English authorities have declined to purchase American transport waggons, fearing that such action would raise international objections. The newspapers urge that contracts for the supply of waggons should be let to colonial firms.

Tbe bombardment of the town is still being proceeding, On Wednesday last aii exploding shell, thrown from one of the enemy's guns, killed Captain Dalziell (P Captain A. F. Dalzel, of the Devonshire Regiment) and wounded seven lieutenants who were in a mess tent.

The rising of the Tugela river liai isolated a commando of 400 Boers on Inhlawe Mountain and one or two other hills, Inhlawe is on the south side of the stream a few milesieasfc of Colenso,. Mr

Major-general French's latest report,

BOER HUItOUR. ißeixM January 2,9,4) a.m.) Berlin, January 1,

The capture of the German Bfceamer Bnndesruth by tho British ship Magicienne is calmly commented on in Germany. Capetown, 'January 1. Major-General Frenchreports that the Boers entrenched at Rendsberg audColesbnrg; theenemyfeared the British cavalry would cut their lines of cummunication.

European officers are arriving at Delagoa Bay weekly and proceeding to Pretoria,

Six large Armstrong guns and sixteeu ammunition carts were lately received at Pretoria via Delagoa Bay as agricultural impkments. f Complaints are being regard to the corruption of tugese officials, :

; ••' Durban, January 1, The Boers investing Ladysmith fired unloaded shells into the be-' seiged town containing the compliments of the season/and plum pudding.

Capetown, January 1. A force of reconnoiting cavalry, after six hours engagement with the Boers uortb of Dordreobt, retired when the Boers were reinforced by artillery. Major-General French's mobile force oufc-manwuvred the Boers, position, compelling them to vacate Rewsburg. A strong force of artillery and cay&lry is now following them to Oolesburg. The enemy have thrown up fresh fortifications at many points from CblenßO to Springfield.

The Colonial troops have been ordered to wear helmets, owing to the present head gear causing them to be mistaken for the enemy at Arundel.

A BOER RETERSE. fl

A DISABLED NEW ZEALANDBR,

(Reeded Jannnry 3,9,10 a.m.)

Hobart, January 1. On November ■ 12th the Boers attacked Child's Redoubt, three miles west of Kuruman and after six days fighting retired, losing heart at uot being able to take the position. The Boers lost thirty-five killed and many, wounded. Trooper Hunt of the N.Z. Contin* gent, who hurt his spine slipping on the deck of the transport ship is returning home by the Waiwera, SUCCESSFUL SORTIE FROM LADYSMITH.

Durban, January 1. It is reported that a body of troops made a sortie from Lady, smith on Friday last, and carrying a neighbouring hill at the poiut of the bayonet, captured one of the onemy'yi guns.

TROOPER BRADFORD DEAD^ ißj/ Telegraph.—Press AssocktWi The Governor has received arable stating that Trooper Bradford of the New Zealanders,who was recently wounded, died at Bloerafonteiu, on December 29th, from nnmngitis,