The Transvaal.

Manawatu Herald, 10 March 1900, Page 2

The Transvaal.

CAPE COLONY. In the fight Aliwal North the •aeniy used explosive bullet 3 and 'thers covered with verdigris. They also fired a volley at the 'ied Cross Ambulance, wounding ome of the bearers. N TAL CLEAEED. General Buller reports that Natal la clear of tho enemy. OSFONTEIN. ,Boers w ho are facing Lord ■.ibberts's position as Osfontein are counting guns and entrenching themselves. BOERS DEMORALISED. Mr Hales, the Western Australian var correspondent, who was recently iptured at Colesberg, has been >leased from Bloemfontein. He reports that the Boers' are creating the British wounded in their lands splendidly. In his opinion the enemy's forces .re demoralised. THE WAR LOAN. In the house of Commons the -esolution covering a war loan of .35,000,000 has been agreed to by 161 votes to 26. Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, Chancellor of the Exchequer, declared in a speech in the House that he looked to the Transvaal as the first source for the redemption of the loan. AT LADYSMITH. There are eight hundred typhoid fever patients under treatment at Ladysmith. At an auction sale held at Lady- . inith on the 21st February a tin of ••■ndensed milk realised 10s, eggs .3s a dozen, fowels 18s each, a pound if marmalade a guinea, a plate of potatoes 19s a plate of tomatoes 18s, % pound of coffee 17s, and half a oound of tobacco 655. BATTLE AT OSFONTEIN. Lord Roberts has turned the Boers •eft flank as Osfontein, and the enemy [ are in full retreat. Lord Roberts telegraphed from Osfontein yesterday that the enemy occupied a position extending four miles north and eleven miles south of the Modder river. Major-General Colville's Guards Division acted _>n the north, and Lieu tenant- General Tucker's cavalry on the south. The cavalry outflanked the enemy, and so opened the way for Kelly-Ken-ny, who advuuced without firing a shot. The enemy retreated in a northeasterly direction, closely follbwed by

cavalry, horse artillery and mounted infantry. The forces under Lieut. -General T:ic!-™-. Major-General Colville and Majnt-.r;- npr.nl Pole-Caro.w meanwhile crossed the rive, at Polar's Drift. Lord Roberts says that he intends to establish his headquarters at the . drift in the evening. The day, reports the General-Com-mander-in Chief, was very successful, the enemy being completely routed. The fighting was on our side confined to the cavalry, who did exceedingly well. The British casualtes numbered fifty. The position occupied by the Boers at Osfontein was extremly strong, and cunningly arranged, with a second line of entrenchments. Lord Roberts states that a direct -attack on his part would have caused heavy loss among bis troops. The turning movement which wa? carried through was necessarily wide, and the horses were tatigued. Commandants De Wet and. Delarsy commanded the enemy's forces. MISCELLANEOUS. The Ameer of Afghanistan . at a recent durbar, expressed his wiili ngnessto send fifty thousand soldiers to assist Great Britain in South Africa. Owing to the insanitary condition of Ladysmith, resulting from the siege, it has been found necessary to abandon the old site of the town for the present. For three days after the recent capture by the Boers of a British convoy at the Reit River, Lord Roberts's army lived on fresh meat, witl porridge made from the bran in stoctfor the use of the horses. Supplier art. now, however, plentiful at Osfontein The Boers who lately retreated from Colesberg still occupy hills south of the Orange river. The Boers who took part in the 1 engagement at Osfontein numbered io,ooo.