NEWS FROM GENERAL FRENCH.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9940, 17 January 1900, Page 3

NEWS FROM GENERAL FRENCH.

BOERS DRIVEN BACK AND THEIR CAMP DAMAGED. A BRIDGE DESTROYED BY THE BRITISH. BOERS PUNISH AN ENGLISH 1 DOCTOR. (By Electric Telegrapli.— Copyright.) (Per United Press Association.)/ Received January 17, 9.20 a.m. CAPETOWN, January 16. Further particulars aro to hand relative to the recent engagement between a section of Major-General French's troops and the Boers near Rindsburg. It appears that during a blinding duststorm tlie British, camp slingers at Font«iu_wero shelled by the enemy, who immediately retired to cover on the neighbouring kills. The British Dragoons and Field Artillery pursued the retreating foe and drove them- from the vicinity, greatly damaging thejr camp. An English doctor, commandeered by the Boers, attempted to deseit, with the result that he has been sentenced to four years' imprisonment. Major-General French shelled and wrecked tha Colesberg Road Bridge, ill order to embarrass the retreat of the enemy. BROKERS AND THEIR CLERKS VOLUNTEERING. A GERMAN MOBBED. Received January 17, 9.30 a.m. LONDON, January 16. No lcsy than 31 meniberi, and 81 brokers' clerks of the Stock Exchange have volunteered for aetiva service. A German member, who is also connected with a leading shipping company, was mobbed by his British confreres for not keeping berths open for those of their number who are proceeding to South Africa. fa SUCCESS OF BRITISH SCOUTS. A FURTHER ARMOURED TRAIN FOR THE FRONT. CAPETOWN, January 16. Remington's scouts eluded the Boers, and visited Norvul's Point and obtained information A fourth armoured train has left Durban. LONDON, January 16. Twenty-four of the largest hotels in French-Italian Riviera offer accommodation to the British wounded. The War Office corrects the information that Victor Jones, of the Queensland force, was killed at Sunnyßide. It was Arthur Jones, of Camperdown, Victoria. A SEIZURE AT DELAGOA BAY. Received January 17, 9.40 a.m. : DURBAN, January 16. ', The Delagoa Customs officials seized a field signalling apparatus consigned to Pretoria. A GENERAL ORDERED TO THE > ' FRONT. j Received January 17, 1.13 p.m. LONDON, January 16. Major-General Sir Frederick Carrington has been ordered to South Africa. Recehcd January 17, 9.4 oa.m. ADELAIDE, January 17. Dr Leith Napier, medical officer of tho Contingent, was thrown from his liorse at the camp. His skull is fractured, and ho is in a critical condition. THE "SEND-OFF" FIXED FOR SATURDAY. WELLINGTON, January 17. Two o'clock on Saturday afternoon is the time fixed for the demonstration in connection with the "send-off" of the Contingent. Tlie Postmaster-General lias authorised all Mayors in tho colony to frank letters and telegrams on business in connection with the Patriotic Fund or the "send-off" to the Contingent. THE DEFENCE OF 3IAFEKING. A despatch in a Cape paper from MafeMng at the tinio the place was isolated says : — Martial law has been proclaimed to-day in Mafeking, and every man today is a soldier. On Thursday the enemy crossed the border, aud at a quarter to 4 cut off our. communication with tho south. The foreman of the Maritzana Siding spoke to us until evening, describing the movements of the Boors between Maritzana and Maribogo. Tlio news that the wires were cut to the south was received by tho town with calmness. We had made up our minds some time ago 1 to btand off the Boers' for all we were worth, and even the Town Guard, who • are, after all, only civilians, showed a spirit worthy of the imitation of many a soldier. At sunset this guard paraded, and Colonel Baden-Powell addressed them in one of his characteristic speeches. A scene of very rare enthusiasm then followed, and three cheers for the Queen were given with a heartfelt heartiness, and were followed by three cheers for the colonel. The confidence of Mafeking in the officer who iB cornffianding its defences is remarkable, and the Town Guard, composed of barbers, drapers, lawyers, merchants, and a hundred-and-one trades anu professions, muster at each alarm (o its sand-bag breastworks, keenly confidont that 8.P.L., as lie is familiarly called, would capture the enemy's guns and drive tliem before him like chaff before the wind. MAGERSFONTEIN, near Kiniberley, the scene of tho late groat battle, is the beautiful estate of Mr John Bisset. Perhaps the finest shooting in South Africa is to be obtained on the estate. Mr Bisset is a very enterprising and successful ostrich and stock farmer, and, anticipating troublous events, recently removed all his stock to safer quarters in Kimberley. A portion of his homestead is situated within the Free State bordor, the remainder being in colonial territory, the ' border lino lunmng through the building. BOER SPIES. A letter from a person on board a transport steamer, Madiera, says- — Two Boer agents were arrested on the Bntou tinder suspicion of plotting to blow up the ship when in port at Madeira. We carry 100 tons of Lyddite shells.

[ OPINION Or THE BOERS. [ One of tuo "Devons" writes Home from Ladysmith • — Tha Boers are a I'.iH c lot 01 men, and aro not half bo bad js t'icy are painted. All these outrages \ra committed by bands of outlaws, who leaemble our own sanfi^ of Hooligans.