CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

Manawatu Herald, 6 January 1900, Page 2

CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

The Transvaal.

REPULSE OF THE BOERS.

The advance of the Boer commandoes towards the line of railway rutfning from the Orange river to Kimberley, their object being to interrupt communication with Lord Methuen's army, culminated yesterday in a hot engagement at Sunnyside about twenty miles north-west of Belmont.

The Boers were, as usual, in possession of a number of kopjes, running north and south.

Leaving the natives who accompanied his column as carriers and tfivers under guard, in order to prevent them divulging his movements. Colonel Pilcher, in charge of a detachment of the Northumberlands (sft Foot), having also with him the Queensland Mounted Infantry (Major Ricardo), 200 Canadians with two guns and forty mounted men, marched to within four miles of the enemy's position. The Canadians were ordered to attack the Boer laager at the foot of the northern spur with their guns. The Northumberlands and Queenslanders in the meantime worked splendidly on the left, taking advantage of all available cover.

Two shells were promptly landed amongst the burghers' tents from a range of 1500 yards, this being the first intimation they had of the British advance.

The Boers hurriedly lined the kopjes and opened a hot fire on the advancing lines.

Their fusilade was, however soon subdued, the Canadians shelling the hillsides from a thousand yards with wonderful accuracy. Major Ricardo and Captain H. G. Chauvel led the Queensland Infantry in delivering the front attack, the Australians demoralising and routing the Boers from ther position. The enemy's laager was captured and forty prisoners taken, besides which the dead and wounded were left behind by the retreating commando. Lieutenant A. G. Adic, of the Queensland Infantry, was severely wounded while patrolling before the attack. The loyalists in the neighbourhood are jubilant at Colonel Pilcher's victory. Sir Alfred Milner, Governor of C-'.p Colony, has cabled his congratulations to the Government at the success <■. the colonials in action. He, states that Troopers Rose, MacLebd and Tones, of the Queensland troop, were killed. AN IMPORTANT POSITION SECURED. The casualties that betel Lieut. - General French's troops in the fighting at Rensburg that preceded the retirement of the Free State Boers to Colesberg, consisted of the loss of three men killed and seven Further reports from Northern Cape Colony with regard to General French's expulsion of the Boers from Colesberg on Monday states that the enemy numbered four thousand. During the action they used a British fifteen-pounder, which was served with Woolwich ammunition. It is supposed that this was ont of the guns abandoned by Sir Wmiam Gatacre after the defeat of his coluuu, at Stormberg. A thousand of the enemy, with twr> guns, fled northward to Norval's Point across the Orange river. They were followed, however, by the British troops, and General French now commands the road and bridge leading into the Free State. GENERAL JOUBERT'S ARMY. The reports of British scouts who | have reconnoitred the region to the westward of Colenso show that thr Boers occupy strong positions from the Upper Tugela to Acton Homes, eighteen miles west of Ladysmith. It has also been ascertained that they have formed anew camp near Springfield, twelve miles west of I Colenso. The entrenchments of the enemy between the present British camps and Ladysmith have a front extending tor sixteen miles from east to west. THE FIGHTING NEAR COLESBERG. Additional information with regard to General French's expulsion of the Boers from the country near Colesberg on Monday last show that after the enemy had been dislodged from the hills they disputed the entry of the British troops into the town, having in the meantime received reinforcements. General French, however, stills holds the captured positions, and the latest news states that the Boer commandoes are gradually retreating

It appears that when General French s column was at Rensburg, prior to the marching to Colesberg, a traitor started a food train, from which the engine had been detached, down a declivity towards the Boer lines. Finding it impossible to check the runaway the artillery promptly opened fire on the cars, which were destroyed by this means, and thi supplies prevented from falling into the hands of the enemy. BOERS AGAIN IN COLESBERG. In now appears that the Boer commandoer re-entered Colesberg on Monday night. On Tuesday morning General French reported that if a small, number ot reinforcements were sent to him he would be able to dislodge the enemy. Meanwhile he i£ manoeuvring outside the townBRAVERY OF THE COLONIAL i FORCE. I V\ ith reference to the defeat of the Boers at Sunnyside by the Canadian and Queensland Infantry " Fighting Fifth" (Northumberlands), under Colonel Pilcher, it has been ascertained that the occupants of the laager consisted of colonial Dutch. During a British advance four Queenslanders were patrolling under Lieutenant Adie, when suddenly they were confronted by fourteen Boers, who wounded the Lieutenant in the first volley. Private Butler gave the officer his horse, and Private Ross, whose horse bolted, returned to Adie's help, but received a bullet in the calf of one of his legs. He was, however, not killed, as previously reported. When Colonel Pilcher ordered a general advance the enemy's sustained fire was ineffectual.

At two o'clock in the afternoon a company under Captain P. W. Pinnock (of the Queensland troop) worked completely round on the left, and the enemy's fire ceased, a white flag being hoisted.

Thirty-five of the enemy surrendered to Captain H. C. Chauvel, (Queensland). The bulk of the commando fled and the position formerly held by them was occupied by the victorious British who on Tuesday entered the town of Douglai, Major Ricardo, of the Queensland force leading.

The inhabitants of tbe place were frenzied with delight, shaking hands with the soldiers all round. Their enthusiasm increased when they learned that their deliverers were Australians and Canadians, besides Imperial troops. No Victorians were engaged in the action. ' The Queenslanders behaved magnificently while under fire, chatting and laughing together. A machine gun in charge of Captain Cecil Pelham, of Queensland, did excellent work. MISCELLANEOUS. General Sir Redvers Buller, who is conducting the operations in Natal, for the relief of Ladysmith, has requested the authorities at Durban to send two hundred stretcher-bearers to the British camp at Chieveley. In connection with the recent seizure at Delagoa Bay of the American vessels Beatrice, Mashona, and Maria — which were alleged to have contraband of war aboard — the United States Ambassador to England has been instructed to obtain redress from the British Government.