CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

Manawatu Herald, 2 January 1900, Page 2

CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

— — « j The Transvaal. LADYSMITH. Sir George White heliographs that he can safely hold Ladysmith for six weeks. The Tugela river is rising, which facilitates the catching of the enemy south of the river. Sixteen thousand are between Colenso and Springfield, and 8,000 south of Ladysmith. The enemy are erecting fresh fiegfe guns in lieu of those destroyed during the British sorties. Sir Redvers Buller awaits the arrival of the siege train before advancing. The Boer artillery practice at Ladysmith and Magersfpntein is improving. They command Three Springs and Spy font ein. Great depression exists amongst the enemy.. Their last reserve forces have been summoned, and there are many deserters from the ranks. He advises the British to employ a quarter of a million troops, and many guns and a larger mounted force. The rain has j been followed by extreme heat in Natal. The thermonmeter shows 184 in the shade at Ladysmith. General White is suffering from slight fever. WITH LORD METHUEN. The Boers are entrenched many miles to the west, rendering a turning movement on the part of Lord Methuen almost impossible. There is a heavy rainfall in the Modder river district. The farmers are friendly and attend Lord Methuen's market. MISCELLANEOUS. The presence of the whole of Sir Charles Warren's division in Natal is i nterpreted as an indication that Cape Colony is quiescent. Sir William Stokes, surgeon-in-ordi- j nary to the Queen in Ireland, proceeds to South Africa as consulting surgeon to the army. The Queen has sent Christmas felicitations to the troops, and expressed herself delighted with their conduct and bravery. The Boers are recuiting in America under the disguise of agents of the Red Cross organisation. The British Consul at New York received 5000 ofters to serve in South Africa, but has replied that volunteers must enlist in England. The German authorities in West Africa are taking steps to prevent the Boers recruiting in German territory. SOMETHING TO BE EXPECTED. The special correspondent of the "Morning Post" at Chieveley, the headquarters of the British army under General Sir Redvers Buller, says that from the movements now in progress it is inferred that a great event is impending. Referring to the movement of the enemy, he says that the Boer commandoes which were posted to the south-west of Colenso have crossed the Tugela river. The laagers to the northward of Ladysmith have been moved nearer to the town, and the enemy is likely to bring stjonger pressure to bear "£>on the garrison,

'*■ The latest Message received from the beleaguered town states that the bombardment of the besieging artillery has of late been unusually vigorous. There are indications ofa further rainfall, which, if it continues, will fill the Boer trenches. The 19th and 28th Batteries of Field Artillery have arrived at Capetown, but were at once ordered on to Durban. Sir George White, the Commander of the British troops at Ladysmith, lu.s recovered fropi his attack of BOLDNESS OF THE ENEMY. ! Since the recent great battle at Mf-lj fiersfonteip, the Boers have been persif.B tently endeavouring to ciit the lines 0.1 communication between Lord Methtien's position at the Modder river arid Cape Colony. They have recently been sent in the vicinity of De Aar, the British military base in Cape Colony, about seventyfive miles south of the Orange river, and about- fifty-five mile 9 -west, of, Colesberg; . | A Reuter's message now states that' a sharp skirmish has occurred at West Camp, eight miles from De_Aar, between a Boer commando intent on cutting the railway lines and a detachrtlent of firifish troops. ENGAGEMENT AT MAFEKiNd. Boer reports from Mafeking state that Lord Cavendish Bentinck and Lord Edward Cecil (son of Lord Salisbury) wet'e wounded, and that fifty-five casualties occurred in a daring sortie niade by the garrison from an armoured train provided with j Maxims on the 24th inst. '