CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

Manawatu Herald, 17 March 1900, Page 2

CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

The Transvaal.

LORD ROBERTS.

News has been received that Lieut. General French has seized the Free State Railway six miles south of Bloemfontein.

The same message states that he has cut the telegraph line to the northward of the town.

Considerable opposition is being offered to Lieut. -General French's occupation 6f the hills commandiug Bloemfontein.

Lord Roberts is marching with the third cavalry brigade and a brigade of mounted men to reinforce him. MAFEKING. Authentic reports show that Mafe•ring was still holding out against the enemy on the 6th inst. The latest advices as to the relieving column from the north, under Colonel j Plumer, reports its arrival at Lobatse. Boers from Lobatsi are retreating to Zeerust." Typhoid and diptheria ar"e raging in Mafeking. * The sufferings of the women and children are terrible. The garrison are eating bread made from forage, and their water supply is foul. CAPE COLONY. The British have occupied Boshof, Barkly East and Aliwal North. Brigadier-General Brabant has entered the Free State, and occupied j some hills after a sharp fight, in which I he had twenty casualties. ! " THE FUTURE. Lord Salisbury, in the House of Lords, and Mr Arthur Balfour in th. House of Commons, read telegrams which had been received from Presidents Kruger and Steyn conveying overtures for peace. It was stated by both the Prime Minister and Mr Balfour that they ivitbheld detail? of the overtures, lest by making them public they should "•r.iMd the feelings of the PresidentThe basis of the overtures was tlia t'.'.-s independence of the Republics .-should be ensured. The Presidents also, at a tirrte when the advantage was with their side in iccupying defensive positions in Natal and Cape Colony, asked that an amesty should 'be granted to participants in the war.

Lord Salisbury, in replying to the Presidents' messages, contrasted Great Britain's respect for the conventions which had been entered into with the disregard shown for them by the Transvaal. He referred to the sudden and insulting ultimatum sen' by the Republics and also to their wanton and devastating invasion o; British territory. For many years the Transvaal had of secret made vast preparations of amilitary character. These were aimed at Great Britain, and they had entailed the Empire in a cnstlv war.and caused the loss of thousand of precious lives. ThiS calamity wa? brought about hecause Great Britain had acquiesced in the existeuce of the Republics. Great Britain was not orenared to assent tothe independence of either State. The Prime Minister's announcement was received with cheers. The reading of the Presidents' telegram was received by the Home Rulers in the House of Commons with cheers. The majority of the Peers and Com moners warmly cheered Lord Salisybury's despatch. i The Liberals listened to the Ministe- ! rial announcement in silence, but they admit that the Presidents' demands are preposterous, and think that they are to be interpreted as an apoeal io Europe. Messrs Fischer, Wolmarans and Wessels are leaving Delagoa Bay for Europe on a peace mission. OCCUPATION OV- BLOEMFONTEIN. Lord Roberts has reached Bloemfontein, where he had been welcomed. Lord Roberts cabled to London on the 13th irjstant in the following terms : — "By the help of God and th^ bravery of Her Majesty's soldiers I have taken possession of Bloemfontein. " The British flag has been hoisted over the Presidency, which was vacated by President Steyn. '• Mr Fraser (a member of the late Executive), the Mayor, and other officials, met me two miles from the town and presented me with the keys of the public offices. " The enemy have withdrawn from :.he neighbourhood, and all seeing quiet. " The inhabitants gave my troops a cordial welcome." General Hector Macdonald ordered the pipers of the Highland Brigade to olay when the British troops were approaching Bloemfontein, and the music was sustained for the last i sixteen miles of the road. j