The Boer War.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 1, 2 January 1901, Page 3

The Boer War.

THE ENEMY CAPTUBE HELVETIA. REOCCUPIED BY BRITISH. FAMINE PRICES AT~KIMBERLEY. London, Dee. 31. The Boers on Saturday captured Helvetia, a strong position on tha jUachadorp-:Hy<den-berg railway, held by a o£ Liverpool regiment, whose casinalbesi were fifty, besides two hundred made prisoners. Rev. Steyler has openly preached a «edi* tious sermon in the principal Dutch churcn congregation left the building. One hundred and fifty prisoners, captured chiefly during the operations against De Wet in south Thabanehu, have arrived at oapeto'l'he Boers, in the early morning, surprised Helvetia, rushing a 4.7 gun, but later British at Swart kopjes shelled the enemy out of Helvetia. , The Boers surrounded the captured gun with their captives and withdrew it. j- o ammunition was captured. It is denied at Brussels that Riuger advised Botha to submit to the British. A convoy of 35 waggons was captured on Christmas Day west of Vryburg. The Boers have occupied Vosburg, and aro virtually besieging Zeerust. , o . . They threatened Carnarvon until repulsed. General Settle is assisting General Macdonald and Colonel Jones in the operations against the invaders in Cape Colony. The British under Colonel Reeves reoccupied Helvetia. ... Major-General F. W. Kitchener with a small force is pursuing the Boers who captured Helvetia. Famine prices prevail at Kimberley. Major-General Colville, interviewed in London, said he courted an inquiry, declaring that he was unwilling to become a scapegoat because Lord Roberts’ staff bungled at L He cited other instances ol incompetence of Lord Roberts’s staff. DUTCH FARMERS ASSISTING THE BRITISH. THE QUESTION OF COLONIAL TROOPS. Lontdon, Dec. 31. Tho farmers in the Yenterstad district are co-operating with tho British against the roaming commandos. The Dutch Capo churches observed Sunday as a day of humiliation and prayer. It is understood at Durban that Lord Kitchener cannot officially ask the colonies to send more troops, but wishes it to be known that Canadians and Australians arriving at Natal will be eligiblo for immediate enlistment in irregular corps, proceeding to Johannesburg for six months’ service. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Dr T. N. Tcwatcr, who was Minister without portfolio in Sehrienei-’a late Ministry, on a cliar"o of making a seditious speech at a secret Afrikander meeting hold at Graafricnct before the war, assuring Afrikanders that Klcyn and DeWct would shortly invade the colony, and that it was the duty of the Dutch to rise.