CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

Manawatu Herald, 25 November 1899, Page 2

CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

The Transvaal.

General Sir Redvers Buller has warned the Boers that compensation will bo exacted for" all British property destroyed in the Transvaal.

Major-General Gatacre's forces are advancing northwards from Queens- • ■■. < recapture Aliv/al North and Lol^sncrg.

There are at the pre;jnt time 8000 Cape volunteers under arms.

Colonel Baden- Powell, who is in command of the garrison at Mafeking has repdrted that the number of the besieging force is decreasing* although the enemy still continue to shell the town. FURTHER BOER ADVANCE. The Boer commandoes who recently came down over the Tiigela river and took possession of. the townships of Ennersdale and Weeuan, have succeeded in isolating Estcourt, where Major-General Sir C. F. Clery had mobilised a column 14,000 strong, for the relief of Ladysmith; -

Part of the enemy's troops have apparently pissed southward behind the Mooi Heights and operating along the river of the same name, have lestroyed the railway and telegraphic lines north and south of the Mooi river stationi

This point is twenty miles south of the Estcourt, about fifty miles south of the Tugela river and the same distance north of Pietermaritzburg, the capital of Natal.

The new"s received front the British centre at Estcourt on Tuesday indicated that the general in command was aware of the presence of the enemy to the southward and was pre> paring to engage them. LOOTING IN NATAL.

The Boer commandoes who are spread out in foraging companies in different directions suddenly made an appearance at West Maritzburg. The stables and breeding grounds of the Natal Stud Company, which are situated in the vicinity of the town • ship were looted and 300 blood horses driven off.

The captured animals were valued at £15,600.

INCREASED GARRISON AT MARITZBURG.

The Boer foraging parties have spread over an enormous area of country, and several strong commandoes are now raiding farms and villages within thirty miles of Pietermaritzburg. , In consequence of this new development in the enemy's tactics, the garrison at the capital has been increased by 10,000 men. ENGAGEMENT AT MOOI RIVER. The enemy's forces have moved closer to the British Hnes at Estcourt, and are now mounting their guns in positions which command the cantonments of General Clery's army. The commandoes who appeared at rhe Mooi river were in great strength, and had, in addition, a number of heavy guns. Three thousand of their number were engaged in shelling a strong British camp in the neighbourhood of the station, but retired when the Imperial troops under Colonel Barton effectively replied. The enemy succeeded in cutting the telegraph lines and destroying the railway at Highlands and at, Nottingham road, The latter place is five miles to the southward of Colonel Barton's position. The tactics of the enemy thus striking so far to the south are regarded by military authorities as extremely hazardous. They have probably been prompted by the necessity of pillaging for food supplies. A combined British movement is imminent.

3RITISH TROOPS MARCHING

NORTHWARDS.

Lieut.-General Lord Methtuen. whose column halted a day or two 3go on the Orange river for reinforcements by a Naval Brigade, reached Witteputs on Tuesday, The troops are now advancing on Belmont, on the main line to Kimberley, towards which Colonel the Hon. G. H. Gough is also converging. The Biers, who recently retired to the M odder river, have returned to Belrjiont in strong force.

Major General French, who commanded the British forces at the battle of Elands Laagte on October 21— and who escaped from Ladysmith just prior to the isolating of the garrison in order to join Sir Redvers Buller at Capetown— is at Hanover R>aad with 3000 sabres. Major-General W. F. Gatacre has arrived with a strong force at Naauwpoort. Bath these forces threaten Colesbery, in Northern Cape Colony, which lias been made the headquarters oJ the invading Republican forces. SCENE AT DURBAN. A number of the troops who are quartered here were pelted (? presented) by the populace with fruit, tobacco and newspapers. ANOTHER TOWN CAPTURED. The Free State troops who have been in occupation of Aliwal North for some time have now posted some of their force at the town of Lady Grey, about twenty-five miles to the eastward, and a short distance south of the Orange river. AMERICAN GENEROSITY. In consequence of the report that a number of the British prisoners at Pretoria were suffering from scurvy through being supplied with indifferent rations, the American Consul here made inquiries into the manner in which the Boer prisoners of war ware being treated. He discovered that they were receiving every attention— in fact, that they were living in luxury. He has therefore authorised his colleague at Pret-ia to advance the cash necessary to provide for their requirements to the Imperial officers and men in captivity.

THE NEW ZEALAND CONTINGENT ARRIVES. ORDERED TO CAPETOWN. A cable message was received from the Agent- General by the Defence Department yesterday announcing that the troopship Waiwera had arrived at Port Elizabeth on Monday but the vessel had been ordered to convey the New Zealand contingent on to Capetowrij THREATS OF EVICTION. The Boer commando in possession of Pomeroy, to the eastward of Ladysmith, has boun threatening the German farmers in the district who refuse to swear allegiance to them with evictioii. A MUNIFICENT COLONIST. Sir Julian Salomons, Agent- General for New South Wales, in London, has ! forwarded to the Lord Mayor a donation of £io,ooo the anonymous gift of an Australian resident 4 KIMBERLEY. News from Kimberley state that on the i6th a sortie was made by the garrison on the besieging commandoes. In the fighting whijih ensued twenty of the enemy were killed and several positions captured. ACTIVITY AT ALDERSHOT. The London " Daily Mail " states that the Sixth Division of the British^ army is mobilising at Aldenhot.

THE CAPE DUTCH.

A considerable number of the Ca pe Dutch have broken out in rebellion and are joining the Boer army.