WAR AT THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

Evening Post, Issue 224, 26 October 1865, Page 2

WAR AT THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

Hostilities have broken out between the burghers of the Orange Free State and the Basuto chief Moshesh. Since the settlement of the boundary line the Boers by their overbearing tone and harsh conduct had irritated the Basutos and provoked hostilities. Demands were made upon Moshesh and his son Mollapo which were considered to be unreasonable. Those demands were disregarded, and the immediate result was the proclamation of war by the Boers. The Basutos were prepared, and, not waiting to be attacked, became the assailants, and by their inroads upon the Free State one of its districts hud already become devastated. Every farmhouse in the neighbourhood of Snriihfleldhad been burnt down and many Boers were killed. A large body of Basutos were within five miles of bniithfield town, which, if attacked by them, was expeoted to fall into their hands. One hundred thousand sheep, and large droves of horned cattle, had been captured by the Basutos aud driven across Caiedon into Basuto land. Though war had been deliberately proclaimed, the inhabitants of the Free State seemed ill-prepared for a severe struggle. Moshesh wafe said to be able to summon twenty thousand warriors, and, if deated, could collect hia tribes in the comparatively inaccessible ravines of the Maluti range of mountains, not far behind his capital, Thaba Bosis, where, from the nature of the ground, he might bid defiance to any force brought against him, and, watching his opportunity, Bend forth guerilla bands to retaliate upon his enemies. Moshesh had issued a manifesto giving his version of of the quarrel, lie threw the whole blame upon the Boers, and promised to give strict orders that if the victory was given to him,, no Englishman w bo- remained on their farms in the Free State should be molested, and that their property should be respected. He did not wish to fi^ut with the Queen or any of her Majesty 'B subjects, but only to protect his people froru the aggressions of the Free State Government. Upon the proclamation of war by the Boers reaching Cape Town, the governor warned (he colonists against taking any part in the struggle. A body of Basutos,. under David Masoefa, sou of Moshesh, had murdered all the men and male children of a tribe of Bastard half-castes under a flag Of truce, taking away a large number of women. They left 6? women and female children without food or clothing. The Basutos had shown the same spirit to the Boers, massacring all the men and male children who were captured. Tne President of Transvaal had urged his men to proceed to the assistance o£ the Free State, and a great many were going, together with a large number of Dutch farmers from Cape Colony. The Basutos had invaded Natal, and the British troops had been moved to the frontier.

—^^*^ MM^ IMMMM '^^^^^^^^^ The latest news received from the Free State announced that the Boers had routed a large body of Basutos, and recovered a considerable quantity of stock.