The Transvaal.

Manawatu Herald, 14 November 1899, Page 2

The Transvaal.

CAPE COLONY. Aliwal North, the centre of one of the Anglo-Dutch districts of Cape Colony, immediately to the south of the Orange river, has been invested by a Free State commando. Another Free State force, operating in another part of the boundary district, some fifty miles west of Aliwal, has captured Ventersburg, a small township about twenty miles south of Bethulie, where this commando was recently reported to have appeared on the frontier. Information has reached Durban of an engagement having taken place on the Orange river, in which Colonel C. E. Keith Falconer, of. the Northumberland Fusiliers, who was out on a reconnoitring expedition, "was killed. Three other officers were wounded. Colonel the Hon. G. H. Gough, Chief-of-staff to Sir F. W. Forestier Walker — Commander-in-Chief of the British forces at the Cape — with a small force engaged 700 Free State burghers at Belmont, a point sixty j miles south of Kimberley, towards the Orange river. The fighting lasted for upwards of three hours. Colonel Falconer was shot while leading a detachment of his regiment in an attempt to turn the enemy's. flank for the purpose of dis-. covering their laager. KIMBERLEY. Advices have been received from Kimberley dated the sth instant (Sunday last), when the town was still holding out against Commandant Cronje's siege. A great force of Boers, with heavy artillery, have surrounded Kimberley. Commandant Cronje, who is directing the enemy's operations, demanded the surrender of the garrison, otherwise the town would be shelled. The garrison decided to accept the alternative, and the women and children remained within the British lines on the responsibility of Colonel Kekewich. The enemy consequently opened fire on the position, but a report has been received from the commanding officer

to the effect that the place was safe on Wednesday last. An official report has been received concerning the experiences of the garrison at Ladysrhith up to Thursday. It states that up to the time of its despatch the bombardment had done no material damage to the tdwn or its garfisom This Boer's, it is mentioned, under a flag of truce, transferred a number of refugees *o the British side, and afi-r uoing so fired upon the British bearers of the white flaff before they had left neutral ground. The information is given that LadySmith, is 4 a .ily feeing riiade riiore capable of resisting the 1 erieniy's attacks. A heliograph message received from a position south of Colenso states that hopes are entertained of communication With Ladysmith being re-opened. DELAY OF A TRANSPORT. Mews has been received of the breakdown of the transport steamer Persia, when on her way to Capetown with a squadron of the Sixth Dragoon Gilardsj part of the British army corps How, on the water, aboard. Wheri'rte'ar Catie Verde, the westernmost point of Africa, the propellershaft of the vessel broke, and she drifted towards the cdast in dangerous proximity to a reef of precipitous rocks. Luckily the tug Blazer, which was manned by officers from H.M.S. Diadem, put in an appearance when matters were at a vgry critical stage, and towed the Persia to St. Vincent, One of the Cape Verde islands, where the shaft will oe repaired. COLENSON RETAKEN. Colenso, the town on the Tugela river, sixteen miles south of Ladysmith, from which the Boers retired a day or two ago before the advance of & British foi'de from Eatcodrt in an armoured train, has again been occupied by the enemy. ARRIVAL OF TROOPSHIPS. Four additional transports, with 3600 troops aboard, have arrived at Capetown. Two of them have been ordered on to Durban. THE LATEST. Lieut-General Lord Methuen and Major-General Gatacre, two of the divisional commanders, have arrived at Cape Town. A naval brigade with twenty guns has been landed from the warships for the defence of Durban, to replace the Imperial troops and local volunteers > that have gone to the front. The Ministerial press carefully disavows a Radical declaration that Lord Salisbury, in his speech at the GuiW--1 hall, implied that there would be no interference with the independence of either the Transvaal or the Orange Free State after the war.