The Transvaal.

Manawatu Herald, 24 October 1899, Page 2

The Transvaal.

SUCCESS AT MAFEKING.

Reports have reached Capetown <f a terrific slaughter of B;ers at Mafeking.

Colonel Baden Powell, feigning a retreat, drew a strong force of Boers over some Lyddite mines.

By the explosion of the mines no fewer tban 1500 Boers are believed to have been killed.

Colonel Hore then made a dashing .ortie, and many more of the enemy were killed by the fire from Maxim

guns.

With reference to the capture by 'he Boers of a train and a small British force near Mafeking, some particulars of which were given in a cablegram dated the 14th inst., President Kruger has reported that Lieutenant Nesbitt and seven others were seriously wounded in tbe encounter.

Intelligence has been received that Kimberley was saf? on Tuesday, the 17th instant.

Vryburg and Fourteen Streams have been abandoned, and the police are retiring southward.

The nature of the Boers scheme of operations in Natal has now been discovere.d

It is evident from their manoeuvres tbat the commandos are aiming at making a simultaneous attack upon Ladysmith, the British military base, and Glenco., the next British stronghold, forty miles from Ladyr smith.

On the other hand General White, rhe British commander, will endeavou to prevent combination by tbe enemy's commandos, and engage each detachment separately.

Sir George White declares that fhe Free State commandos opposed to him at Ladysmith commenced hostilities on Tuesday, 17th instant.

Several cavalry skirmishes have taken place between Ladysmith and the Orange Free State frontier — notably at Biauuwbank and Bester's.

The Free State troops have suffered badly in the encounters.

Tho B .er3 have captured a train from Ladysmith which was conveying several British officers and men to Glencoe.

A mouuted rifle oorps at Umvoti, which is largely recruited from the Dutch Afrikander population, has mutinied.

An eccentric person named Baron Gitemsb erg has been court-m artialled and shot as a spy at Pretoria.