The Transvaal.

Manawatu Herald, 24 March 1900, Page 2

The Transvaal.

REBELS. Lord Kitchener, who is directing the operations for pacification of the district in Cape Colony to the northwest of the main trunk railway, has occupied the town of Prieska, one of the centres of disturbance, situated on th 3 Orange river ninety miles west of Hopetown Railway Station. The rebels in the town surrendered. Lord Kitchener, on occuping Priesda, took 33 prisoners and secured 200 stands of arms, in addition to a quantity of supplies and explosives. The Transvaalers who were in the district escaped northwards across the river. KRUGER. President Kruger, in the course of an interview, said he did not expect outside help in the war. Forty thousand Boers were now fighting, and would conquer or die. He would accept no convention with Great Britain. What he claimed was absolute independence and the granting of an amnesty to disloyal colonists. It is stated that on another recent occasion Mr Kruger admitted that he I would not be able to keep the field for ! a month. 1 It appears that upon hearing [that the rebel colonists were to be tried for treason, President Kruger made threats v/ith regard to British soldiers now held as prisoners at Pretoria. To this Lord Salisbury replied that if one soldier were injured the President would be held persoanlly responsible.

The President pretends to despise Lord Salisbury's threat. PRESIDENT STEYN. Lord Roberts haa cabled to the War Office as follows :— " President Steyn, in replying to my proclamation is circulating a notice that any burgher signing a declaration of neutrality will be treated as a traitor and shot." PLUCKY OFFICERS. Prior to the capture of a train of torty waggons and two engines at Springfontein, Lieut.-Generat Gatacre despatched two officers — Captains Hennessy, of the Cape Police, and Turner, of Montmorency's Horse — on a reconnoitring expedition. They trollied along the line at nightfall, and singlehanded disarmed fourteen Boers and overawed the engine-driver. DESTRUCTION OF A BRIDGE, In retreating from Bloemtontein, the Boers destroyed the Glen-siding bridge across the Modder river, about twenty miles north of the Free State capital, on the main line of railway. RHODESIA FIELD FORCE. It is reported that Major-General Sir Frederick Carrington, who was lately sent out to South Africa without definite command, is about to form a field force of five thousand men to protect Rhodesia, and that it is for this work that 2500 Australian bushmen will be employed. The Premier of Queensland has suggested to the President of New South Wales, as a large number of bushmen are offering and the transports will hold 2600, that that number be sent, as the new force asked for by the Imperial Government instead of the two thousand originally requisitioned. THE FIRST CONTINGENT. A report received by the Govern ment from. Major Robin shows that so far the first contingent has lost by death or sickness seventeen of its number. Troopers Patterson and Burroughs died of enteric fever, and the following have been invalided and have already returned to New Zealand, or will do so ; — Sergeant Gwatkin, . Troopers Jenks, Gaudin and A. K. Taylor, Hunt (injury to back on board ship), R. \ Young (injured to back through a fall from a horse), J. Hutford, R. Wallace and J. Regan. In addition to the I above, Saddler J. Aitken is missing, and Sergeant Bonnd has been disabled by a kick from a horse, and will probably be in the hospital for a month, MISCELLANEOUS. A grave at the Pieter's Railway Station, Natal, nine miles south of Ladyj smith, with a cross erected over it, has fcjeen found to be full of explosive bullets. Lieut. Cecil Lamb, one of the special service officers sent from New South Wales, has beeen appointed a staffofficer on the lines of communicaiion. and Provost- Marshal at De Aar railI way station. ! Captain C. St. Clair Cameron, of the Tasmanian Mounted Infantry, who was lately wounded and captured at Rensburg, has cabled from Bloemfontein that he is back in the British camp, and his wound is progressing satisfactorily. The Boers are surrendering in Basutoland. Great Britain is issuing a proclama- j tion that personal penalties will be inflicted for wanton damage to mines. Major-General Brabant has sent a torce of four hundred mounted men to Rouxville, in the Orange Free State about twenty miles north of Aliwal North, on the Orange river, where Britishers, Boers and natives were being commandered for service by President Kruger's orders.