The Transvaal.

Manawatu Herald, 15 March 1900, Page 2

The Transvaal.

VICTORY AT DRIEFONTEIN. Major-General Broadwood's cavalry and Lieut.-General Kelly- Kenny's div" sion had a severe and successful engagement at Driefontein, south of Abraham's Kraal, on Saturday. Forty Boers were taken prisoners and many left dead on the field. The following report dated Driefontein, Sunday, has been received from Lord Roberts :— " The enemy opposed us throughout yesterday's march, and owing to their intimate knowledge of the country gave us considerable trouble. ft The Welsh and Essex expelled the enemy from- two strong positions at the bayonet's point. " The Boers suffered heavily, 102 of the dead being abandoned." The Boers at Driefontein numbered six thousand. . They had newly arrived from the south, and their mobility in moving the guns was more remarkable than ever. Broadwood, discovering the enemy's strength on the kopjes posted mounted

troops on a kopje facing their centre, and waited Kelly- Kenny's arrival. The enemy, with three guns anS two Vickers Maxims, shelled freely uacl fought obsanaLely. They evacuated and re-occupied positions with subtlety, concealing thHr intentions, and withdrawing thtir guns only when they were likely to be captured. These contsant withdraw als fatigued our cavalry horses. The Essex, Yorkshires, Gloucesters, and Buffs, were conspicuous in the fight. The First Australian Horse with Scots, Greys advanced to within eight hundred yards of the enemy under a heavy fire. One trooper was wounded in the shoulder, and another fractured his leg through his horse being killed under him. The New South Wales Lancers, with Porter's Brigade, were under shell fire. The New South Wales Mounted Rifles displayed great gallantry, and attempted to capture one of the guns which outranged those of the British. The bluejackets arrived too late to participate in the engagement. ' The Welsh in the evening carried the enemy's central position at the bayonet's point. Our cavalry then turned the enemy's position. After the enemy's position had been turned, the New South Waies Mounted Rifles, under major Knight and Captain Antill, with Le Gallais's brigade, did 9plendid service. The New South Wales ambulance, under Surgeon Fiaschi, were engaged all night Collecting the wounded* Lord Roberts reports that throughout Saturday's march the conduct of his troops was admirable. The wounded include Colonel Urnphelby (Victoria)} who was dangerously injured in the abdomen. The Boers fled northwards under cover of the night. The Australian cavalry alone were able to pursue them". After the battle Lord Roberts resumed his advance, and arrived at Dasoogal. MAFEKING, Boer prisoners affirm! that the 1 siege of Mafeking has been raised. REBELS v. LOYALISTS. Rebels at Barkly East and Aliwal North are siibrriiftingj Loyalists at Aliwal North arrested the Boer landrost, after a big fight at Vanderwalt's farm in which many rebels were killed and Wounded.

BOER TREACHERY. The following is the full text of Lord Roberta's communication : — I liftve telegraphed to the Presidents as follows i — " Another instance of the gross abuse of the white flag and the raising of hands in token of surrender was witnessed at East Driefontein by staff officer's and myself; resulting in the wounding of several officers and men. " If such abuse recur I will be reluctantly compelled to disregard the white flag entirely.. " A large quantity of explosive bullets of three kinds ,was found in General Cronje's laager: also after every engagement. " Your Honours' troops have -committed such breaches of the recognisd usages of war and of the Geneva Con vention that they are a disgrace to any civilised Power. "A copy of this telegram has been sent to my Government, requesting that it be communicated to the neutral Powers." AFFAIRS AT POMEROY. A force consisting of Bethuen's Mounted Infantry, Umvoti Rifles and Natal M ninted Police, with three' Maxims, heavily engaged the enemy at Pomerov, on the gth instant. The Boers possessed too many big guns. Betbune was unable to dislodge them without artillery and retired south of the Tugela. One Britisher was wounded; the Boer loss was considerable, A LOVING CUP. The Russian newspapers have opened subscription lists for the presentation of a loving cup to General Cronje. OVERTURES FOR PEACE. President Kruger and Steyn have invited European Powers to intervene to secure an honourable peace. The overtures have met with a chill ing reception, and are admitted to be inadmissible. LORD ROBERTS. Lord Roberts has reached Ventersolci, fifteen miles from Bloemfontein. He succeeded in turning a position held by twelve thousand Boers with eighteen guns on kopjes commanding the road to Bloemfontein. General French occupied hills commanding Bloemfontein on Monday night. The casualties (? British) were 60 killed and 320 wounded. President Steyn's brother has been captured. , BRITISH LOSSES. The latest War Office return of British losses since the beginning of the .var is as follows : — Killed 2419 Wounded 8747 Missing 3482 Died of disease ... 1029 ! Total 15.677 TALK OF PEACE. It is understood that President Kruger is inquiring through the United States Government about the minimum terms of peace. The German Government, in reply to President Kruger, has declined to intervene, on the ground that Germany is in nowise concerned in the conflict. Mr Arthur Balfour, First Lord of the Treasury, in the House of Commons* stated that papers dealing with Great Britain's conditions of peace would shortly be laid on the table of the House. CAPE COLONY. General Gatacre commands the

road briJge at Bethulie ; the railway bridge is damaged. >,