THE TRANSVAAL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10120, 23 August 1900, Page 3

THE TRANSVAAL.

CARDNA TOUND GUILTY OX ALL CHARGES. (By Electric Telegraph— Copyright.) (Per United Press Association.) Received August 23, 1.30 p.m. LONDON, August 22. Cardna was found guilty on .-11 charges, and bcnfencc was deferred. PARTICULARS OF NEW ZEALANDER.S WOUNDED. (Per United Press lesoriation ) WELLINGTON, August 23. Tho Premier has received the following cablegram from Capetown, dated ?2nd August — "The following are particulars of tho New Zealand wounded at Ottosdorp on August 19th —Captain Fulton, back. Lieutenant Collins, left wrist, Sergfcant Hickle, flesh wound, back, Vincent, right knee; Sutherland, right hip and ankle, McCartney, right hip and thigh; Bartlett, right, "leg, severely wounded, McAnley, nesh wound, back, Robertson, abdomen; Corporal Alexander, right foot, slightly wounded; Bolton, groin, dangerously wounded; Baxter, sccident right foot, slight. APPRECIATION OP GENERAL BULLER'S SERVICES. Active steps are being taken in Natal to mark the deep appreciation of colonists of the great and distinguished services which General Buller has rendered to the Empire. The circular issued by the Central Committee in Pietermnritzburg^ with the subscription lists says — "Natal has exceptionally strong reastns for thanking General Buller. When he was sent to take chief command in South Africa, the Imperial Government had not fully realised tho extreme gravity of tho situation. On his arrival at Capetown, General Buller was faced by a state of affairs to cope with which required unusual skill and foresight. The Boera Lad raided Natal beyond the Tugela; they had invested Ladysmith. wherein was a largo body of Her Majesty's troops, tho majority of the Natal volunteers, and many of our colonistß. There wag imminent danger that the capital would be attacked, and that the Boers would fulfil their boast that "they would occupy Durban." At that time it was gonorally believed that it was only necessary Ladysmith should fall, and Maritzburg be taken to cause the wave of insurrection to spread throughout South Africa. "Before General Buller left England it is understood that a scheme was com- ' pleted which provided for the opera- | tiona against the Boers being directed ' from the Cape Colony. This strategy, I it) was assumed, would compel tho Boers , to evacuate Natal. Had General Buller | followed thia course, he would have satisfied tho demands of what British and Continental militery experts con- , sidered good strategy. On the other ■ hand it is clear that by doing so he j would havo left Natal to be overrun by | the Boers, and the consequences would ' have been disastrous to this colony. I "With a moral courage that cannot be ' tco highly ppoken of, for he challenged iho adverse criticism of the experts of > his own profession, and thus endangered j J-hat dearest of all things to a soldier— \ ms reputation— he decided lo abandon the schema which the rules of recognis- ' ed strategy laid down, and chosp to act rather according to the dictates of humanity and the demands of colonial prestige, trusting that the Imperial Government would speedily (jia=p the true position, and act accordingly. Eventi> pJoved that he was justified in his action and in hi 3 faith in the Imperial Government ; he saved Natal from ruin, and Lord Roberts was despatched to carry on the larger scheme which tho necessities of the case demanded. i "The history of General Buller's work in this colony is too well known to require recital here. It is a common knowledge that he had a herculean task to perform. He fought and failed. He fought again and succeeded. One feature of General Buller's conduct stands out above all others, and should bo sufficient to earn for him tho everlasting gratitude of every loyal colonist in Natal — ho risked his reputation to save this colony, to relieve the devoted men in Ladysmith, and succeeded. He has now driven the enemy from Natal. All through the campaign ho has displayed, in a marked degree, those qualities which are recognised as sovereign gifts, patience and fortitude, energy and foresight/ -