The Transvaal.

Manawatu Herald, 19 December 1899, Page 2

The Transvaal.

COLENSO. LieutcColonel Barton, with the aid of 38 guns, bombarded Colenso on Wednesday. The Boers did not reply, lying low. They are, however active at Grobbersklodp and Springfield, Where Major-General Clery is expected to make an attack. In order to check the retreat of the Boers -before Sir Redvers Buller's re« lieving army, Sir George White has destroyed by explosives the Modderspruit bridge, a few miles north west of Ladysmith, on the road to Glencoe. LORD METHUEN'S FORCE. Eight thousand men, half his, command, were engaged on the nth. The lack of water largely compelled Lord Methuen to retire four miles to the Mpdder River. Major-General Wauchope was shot close to the Boer trench, receiving bullets in the chest and thigh* Some light infantry entered the trenches, capturing six Boers. Colonel Hector Archibald MacDonald, of Soudan frame replaces Major-General Wauchope. The guards destroyed the picket, numbering forty, including a member of the Volksraad. A prisoner states the Artillery entirely cleared the upper entrenchments at Magersfontein. Word was passed to the Boers to prepare to withdraw daring the night. The enemy's casualties exceeded 1000. DISLOYALTY SPREADING. Disloyalty is spreading am.mgst the Dutch in Urutati River, Victoria East and King Williamstown district. The loyalists are arming themselves. CAPE COLONY. Information has been received that a commando of 1800 Boers was intercepted while advancing in a south-easterly direction past Arundel, in the direction of Naauwpoort. An engagement took place, in which the enemy was repulsed. The casualties numbered forty. The Fortieth Battery of Artillery has reinforced General Gatacre's column at Storkstroom. MORE HIGHLANDERS TO BE SENT OUT. Lieut.-General Sir Charles Warren who is to command the Fifth Division of the Army, has arrived at Capetown. The first portion of the Sixth Division, which will be under LieutenantGen sral Thomas Kelly Kenny, sails tomorrow. The Government is actively mobilising the Seventh Division, and arranging for the despatch of Eight and Ninth Divisions if necessary. In consequence of the delay that took place in conveying the First Army Corps to Capetown, the newspipers are insisting upon the employment of rapid transports. In order to restore the Highland Regiments, which suffered so severely at Magersfontein on Monday, to their original fighting strength fresh drafts of Highlanders will embark for the font to-morrow. A second Canadian contingent is ready for service in South Africa. The first contingent from Canada — now assisting in keeping open the lines of communication on the western frontier — numbers one thousand. The Government is preparing another siege train and organising a special mounted corps, representing Great Britain and the colonies. WRECK OF A TRANSPORT. The transport steamer Den ton Grange has gone ashore at Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, off the West Coast of Africa. She has on board thirteen traction engines, 142 ambulance and other vans 170 waggons and a quantity ot forage. The Denton Grange is discharging her cargo. ANOTHER REVERSE. General Sir Redvers Buller, the Commander-in-Chief of the* British Army in South Africa — who has bean directing the operations for the relict of Sir George White's beleaguered troops at Ladysmith — has telegraphed to the War Office stating that his force.met with a serious reverse at the hand of the enemy on Friday last. In his official communication General Buller reports that having m>ved his tull strength northwards from Frere to Chievely, a distance of six miles, and within seven miles of the Tugela river, he ordered a general advance towards Colenso at four o'clock in the morning. ' As the Bulwer Bridge had been destroyed by the Boers it was necessary to force a passage of the river by either of the two fordable drifts in the neighbourhood. In order to accomplish this the army was divided into three sections under the respective commands of MajorGeneral A. Fitzroy Hart, Major-Gene-ral H. J. T. Hilyard and Major-Gene-ral N. G. Lyttelton. The intention was that General Hart's brigade should attack the left drift and General Hilyard's brigade the right road, while the remaining division under General Lyttelton operated in the centre, supporting either of the others. The attack was accordingly made in the manner indicated, and a general engagement soon developed. Early after the battle commenced it was seen by the Commandant that Major-General Hart was unable to force a passage of the left ford, and he ordered that, officer to withdraw his brigade, but the troops had already attacked the enemy with great gallantry. Though no particulars are yet given ; by Sir Redvers Buller as to his losses, '

he says that he fears the Connaught Rangers (88th Foot, Lieutenant-Colo-nel Charles Edward Harman), who were leading the left brigade, suffered heavily. An alteration was then made in the manner of conducting the attack, and Major-General Hilyard was ordered to occupy Colenso station. At this stage of the engagement General Buller states he heard that the 14th and 16th Batteries of Artillery, with six Natal twelve-pounder quickfirers, under Colonel Long, which he had sent back to the attack, were silenti It appears that Colonel Long, desiring to obtain a more effective range had advanced nearer to the river, the I banks of which were swarming with armed burghers. When the artillery reached their fresh position the Boers opened a galling fire at close range, killing all the horses attached to the batteries and thus compelling the enemy to staad to their guns. Continuing his report General Buller informs the Wat Office that as the enemy's fire increased the waggon teams got shelter with some of the troops in a donga (or dry water-course.) By a desperate effort one of the Commandant's aides-de-camp, Colonel Schofield, succeeded in saving two guns. 1 Id order not to allow of any further sacrifice of life in a continuance of the gallant attempt to force a passage of the river without artillery support, General Buller withdrew his troops, the rear-ward movement being made in good order. Ten guns were abandoned by the British forces, and the shell fire of the Boer artillery destroyed one. " I hope the proportion of MajorGeneral Hart's severely wounded will prove small," concludes the Commandant's report. " The batteries of artillery, however, suffered severely. Lieutenant-Colonel the Earl of Dundonald, of the First Life Guards, and Major-General Barton checked the anemy who developed a pressing and severe attack on the right." Out of his available force of 30,000 men, General Buller was accompanied in the attempt to cross the Tugela by 12,000. The losses suffered by the army are reported to be as follows : — Killed 8z Wounded 667 Missing 338 Total - ... 1087 As in all previous engagements during the campaign, the commissioned officers suffered heavily, 39 being wounded. Among those dangerously injured were Lieutenant-Colonel Long, who commanded the abandoned artillery batteries, and Captain the Hon. Frederick H. S. Roberts, ot the King's Royal Rifles (60th Foot.) IN THE WEST. A sharp engagement is reported to have taken place on Wednesday ten miles east of the Orange river station, when a body of mounted infantry frustrated an attempt to destroy the Kimberley-Cape Colony railway line at Zoutspann Drift. KIMBERLEY. News has been received that Colonel Kekewicb, who is in command of the garrison at Kimberley, made a sortie from the beleaguered town on the 9th inst. (two days before the battle of Magersfontein) and shelled the Boer position at the north of the town, silencing a cordite gun. LONDON. Consols have fallen 10s since Wednesday last. The market fluctuated, but is now rallying. As a result of the reverse sustained by General Sir Redvers Buller in Natal, the War Office will at once despatch the 6th and 7th Divisions of the Army to the Cape. It is also proposed to at once despatch more ordnance to make up for the artillery lost during the battle. The number of guns now left in Natal is 1087. The tone of the British press in commenting upon the further reverse to British arms in South Africa is generally calm and virile. Military critics are convinced that the General will have time to gather his forces, and are also of opinion that the Boer commandoes are not likely to initiate an attack. Amid the general depression that exists in Great Britain consequent on three successive reverses, there is widespread admiration at the heroism shown by the troops, and a universal letermination to achieve success at all costs. The Hon. W. H. Long, President of the Board of Agriculture, speaking at Liverpool, hinted, when referring to South African war, that the Cabinet had considered the question ->f utilising the militia and volunteers abroad. The hon. gentleman also referred to the help given by the colonies, describing their practical loyalty as a magnificent example of patriotism. If, he said, a hundred thousand men were wanted at the front they would be forthcoming. Hundreds of militia officers are applying for admission to the regular force and several militia regiments have unanimously volunteered for service. Sixty volunteer corps have also offered their services. NEED FOR MOUNTED TROOPS. In connection with the operations in Northern Cape Colony, General French, the Cavalry Brigade Commander, has telegraphed that golden opportunities are awaiting mounted men aX Arundel, near Colesberg. Similar advices have also been received from other districts in the north. PROMPT STEPS IN AUSTRALIANew South Wales is preparing to send 600 men to the Cape. Victoria will despatch 500 and South Australia and Tasmania 100. j The Premier of Tasmania (Mr Neil . Lewis) telegraphed to Mr Lyne that no mounted men are available in that colony. A half squadron of New South i Wales Lancers has volunteered, including practically the whole of the

men who recently returned from Eng* land in the Nineveh after having refused to go to the front.