THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume 23, Issue 47, 23 November 1899, Page 20

THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA.

The war news of the week consists in reports of minor engagements that have taken place outside Ladysmith, Maf eking, and Kimberley. The following are the principal items of news received since our last issue :—: — The intensity of the bombardment of Ladysmith has increased, but General White is confident that he can hold out until the arrival of reinforcements. It was reported from Durban on Thursday that there were 10,000 British troops at Estcourt, about H miles from Ladysmith. This force is said to be short of artillery. An armoured train with half a company of Dublin Fusiliers and half a company of Durban Light Infantry went, reconnoitring in the direction of Colenso on Wednesday week, when they were attacked by an ambushed Boer force. The Britishers were subjected to a withering fire, and suffered severely. One hundred of the latter were missing. Heavy rifle firing, followed by an explosion, was heard in the direction of Ladysmith on Thursday. The explobion was caused by the destruction of a bridge near Colenso. Two thousand Boers, with six seven-pounders and two French guns, are at Ennersdale, south of Ladyamith. They will be reinforced by a large force from the vicinity of Ladysmith. The combined forces will operate against the column, under Major-general Hildyard, which is being despatched to the relief of Ladysmith. It is reported that on Thursday, the 9th inst, the Boers to the noith of Ladysmith, covered by heavy shelling on the part of their artillery, occupied the kopjes and ridges adjacent to the British position on all sides. Their attack was hottest between the junction of the Free State and Newcastle railway lines. The splendid fire of the Rifle Brigade, Johannesburg Volunteers, and Kings Rifles twice repulsed the tenaceous attacks of the Boers. The British reserved their fire until the Boers reached the edge of the trenches when the Rifles poured volleys into their ranks. This action astonished the Boers, who bolted, the shells from the artillery completing the rout. The Boers lost about 800 men. A sortie by General White on the 14th provoked a general engagement. News received at Capetown from Kimberley on the 15th inst. stated that the bombardment of the town at a range of 8000 yds still continued, but was proving futile. Mafeking was reported to be completely invested and subjected to heavy artillery fire, but little damage had been done. About the beginning of the month the Boers opened a heavy artillery fire on Kopje Corner close to Mafeking, and were allowed to approach quite close when the South African police opened fire with Maxims which did considerable execution on the enemy, who were simultaneously caught by a shrapnel fire from the town. The Boer casualties were set down at fully 100. Later on Colonel Baden-Powell made a night attack which preventel the enemy from continuing the construction of trenches. A column is on its way from Capetown to relieve Kimberley. A second column will operate in the direction of Bloemfontein. General White, who is in command at Ladysmith, on Monday, 18th inst., reported ' All well.' His runner, leaving on Wednesday, the l.">th inst , reported that the garrison was buoyant. The enemy on Tuesday, the 14th inst., were repulsed and punished while attempting a closer investment of Ladysmith. The Boera have occupied the township of Weenen, .">."> miles north-north-west of Maritzburg. Twenty- six transports, with 27,000 men, have arrived at Capetown. When all the troops now being mobilised will arrive at the seit of war, General Buller will be able to operate with upwards of 100,000 men. The second battalion of the Royal Irish Fusiliers ha& arrived at Capetown, and will join the force at Estcourt under Major-General Hildyard. It was reported during the week that General Joubert had been killed, but the report has turned out to be unfounded. It was reported that General Buller had gone ti Natal, but liter accounts show that he is at Do Aar Junction on his way to Kimberley. The total British prisoners of all ranks at Pretoria is 1338. The Catholic Bishop at Caps Town wired to Father Ogle at Mafeking that if the sisters of the convent desired to leave the town they could do so. All of them have, however, elected to stay and nurse the wounded.