THE WAR AT THE CAPE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 2, Issue 277, 24 February 1881, Page 2

THE WAR AT THE CAPE.

(Per s.s. Tararua, at the Bluff.) Capetown. Jan. 21. The revolt in the Transvaal continues to excite earnest attention amongst the colonists. Strong feelings have been manifested, and various meetings held, at which the state of affairs has been discussed and sundry resolutions passed. The general feeling in Cape Colony among the Dutch and African population seems one of sympathy with the Boers, combined with loyalty to British rule. In the Free States sympathy with the Boers is of an active nature, but it is hoped that armed help will not be given by the Free States to the rebels, although there is little doubt that they have assisted them with money. The sympathy with the Boers which prevailed in Natal has undergone a strong revulsion, owing to the reports of atrocities committed by them during the attack on Potchefstroom, also on the 94th Regiment. The Natal Mercury publishes an article in which it is stated that the last spark of sympathy with the Boers has been quite obliterated, and a decided acrimony has taken its place. From Basutoland there is little to report. A series of slight engagements occurred between the Basutos and colonial forces, in which the latter were always victorious. From Transkei intelligence has been received that the Pondo Chief Bekamera says there has been enough fighting. The official report from Captain Lambert, of the 21st Scots Fusiliers, shows that Captain Elliott, paymaster of the 94th Regiment, was brutally murdered by a Boer escort. Captain Lambert had also a very narrow escape. On January 13th a regiment of Infantry Irregulars, two hundred strong, left Capetown, and sixty more with forty mule-drivers for the Transvaal on the 14th instant. According to the correspondents of the Natal Metcury, the Boers were forcing Englishmen, under pain of being shot instantly, to join the rebel forces.