The Transvaal.

Manawatu Herald, 28 November 1899, Page 2

The Transvaal.

BATTLE OF BELMONT. Lieutenant-General Lord Methuen, approached Belmont, where the Boers had taken up a strong position last Tuesday at daylight. The forces under his direction amounted to ten thousand men, including 4800 cavalry. The Guards brigade, consisting of four battalions from the Grenadier Guards. Coldstream Guards and Scots Guards, accompanied Lord Methuen. The Boers were found to be in a strongly-entrenched position, their encampment being defended by five guns. The British troops were soon moved into action, and attacked the enemy Three ridges whereon the enemy was posted were stormed in successian. At the last hill the Imperial troops were peppered with shrapnel shell. The infantry, however, behaved splendidly, and supported by the Naval Brigade and Royal Artillery, eventually scaled the heights. The Boers throughout the engagement again fought with great courage and skill. Lord Methuen's victory was eventually omplete. I Forty of the enemy were taken prisoner. I The Boer losses were heavy. A large quantity of the burghers stores and amunition were captured, in ad--1 dition to many horses and cows.

The victory was, however, not i achieved without considerable loss to the British. As in other engagements, the officers suffered severely (two being killed and twenty-two wounded. Fiftyeight privates were killed, and a hundred and thirty wounded. In addition to these casualties) there are eighteen men missing. - i Lord Methuen has reported that the ■ British looses would have been very much heavier had the attack been delayed. 'Boer advance in natal. The Boer commando who passed southward of Major-Generals Sir C. Clery's position and destroyed the rail- j way and telegraph lines at Highlands j station and Northampton road are concentrating still further southward, The movements of the enemy seem to indicate that they intend making a a rush on Pietermaritzburg, the capital of the colony. WITHDRAW!, OF THE ENEMY. In conseqilence of the threatened invasion of the Orange Free State by the British from Cape Colony, many of the Boers are leaving Natal for Bloertifonteitt, the capital of the Free State. In the engagement at Mooi river station, twenty-five miles south of Estcourtj on Wednesday* the Boer comriiandoes who engaged Colonel Barton's force brought ten guns into action when shelling the camp. The English artillery, however, soon silenced the enemy's guns. The infantry then advanced, but the Boers retired. Several naval longrange guns have been sent up from here to the Mboi river* REINFORCEMENTS. Three additional battalions of infantry landed at Durban on Friday. GENERAL BULLER. General Sir Redvers Buller has returned from De Aar, in Northern Cape Colony, and in Consequence of the position of affair in Natal being such as may possibly require his presence, has left on a short visit to Durban. THE TRANSVAAL. > The Boer women are indignant at the secrecy observed by the authorities who refrain from affording them information as to the fate of their relatives at the front. The authorities are understood to dread the effect that may be produced by a revelation of the losses suffered by the Republican troops. Judge Gregorowski, of the Transvaal Supreme Court, accompanied by several officials, have arrived at Delagoa Bay. It is believed that they are on a peace mission, and intend proceeding to Capetown. KIMBERLEY. The forward movement by Lieu-tenant-General Lord Methuen to the relief of the beleaguered garrison at Kimberley has stimulated Commandant Cronje to make greater efforts to capture the town. A vigorous bombardment is being kept up by the enemy. The garrison has made several sorties lately, and sharp fighting has resulted. ATTEMPTED TRAIN WRECKING. Major-General Gatacre intends to arrest a man named Nauransburg, a leading resident of Colesburg, on a charge of treason on account of conspicuous acts of disloyalty. .- Some disaffected residents of the district south of Naauwpoort attempted to destroy a bridge and thus cut off General Gatacre's troops from their base. The scheme was, however detected by the British and was foiled. RISING IN THE NORTH, Major-General Gatacre has reported the existence of a considerable Dutch rising in the Broken Nau district. Many of the disaffected Dutch settlers have joined the Boers, together with a following of armed natives. RUMOURS OF BATTLE. A report has been circulated in Natal that the Ladysmith garrison, under Sir George White succeeded in making an effective attack on the investing Boer army. It is said that he succeeded in capturing » the main positions of the enemy on the heights around the town and taking the guns which bad been m ounted at various points. There has been a great deal of unexplained weeping observed among the Dutch people at Pietermaritzburg and this is regarded as giving colour to the rumoured Boer disaster. LADYSMITH. An official report from Sir Gaorge White has been received at the War Office bearing date 22nd mat. The British command:) states that the defenders are all well and cheerful. THE NEW ZEALAND CONTINGENT. The New Zealanders met with a striking reception on disembarking from the troopship Waiwera at Capetown. They are now encamped at Greenpoint, awaiting the arrival of the Canadian and Australian troops, when they will be welcomed by the Mayor. AMERICAN SYMPATHY. In connection with the action of President Kruger in having .warned the American Consul at Pretoria against affording the Imperial authorities information with regard to the British prisoners of war, President McKinley has informed President Kruger that the United States insists on carrying out its sacred duty of watching over the interests of Britishers. BOER TACTICS. The prisoners captured at Belmont admit that numerous marksmen were detailed to pick off British officers and sergeants. They were, however, bewildered owing to the officers having removed the distinguishing badges from their uniform. During the engagement three officers were killed, and twenty-two wounded. HOSTILITIES IN NATAL. Major-General Hildyard, commander of one of the brigades of Lieu-tenant-General Sir C. F, Clery's army

division now at Estcourt, is heading a sortie in the direction of Willow Grange, eight miles south-east of Estcourt. MAFEKING. Besides the prevalence of fever already reported* the health of the Britisu garrison, under Colonel BadenPowell, at Mafeking, is being effected by the necessity for living underground to escape the shell-fire of the investing force. The besiegers are drawing their lines of entrenchments closer to the town and maintain. an incessant fire. Despite repeated protests by the garrison they continue to drop shells in the vicinity of the hospital. CAPE (COLONY. General French's contingent, which was reported to be at Hanover road has joined General Gatacre's main column at Naauwpoort Junction, whence an advance is to be made along the main Free State railway to Colesberg, the enemy's headquarters in that direction. The colonial cavalry had their first brush with the enemy during a reconaissance which was made at Arundel, nineteen miles north of Naauwpoort, and within another nineteen miles of Colesberg. Part of the Royal Highlanders (" Black Watch ") and a detachment of Cape Mounted Police took part in the same reconnaissance. -' Lieutenant Cox's detachment of New South Wales Lancers are assisting General French, near Naauwport. At Arundel they helped to prevent the Boers capturing a military train.