CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

Manawatu Herald, 29 March 1900, Page 2

CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

The Transvaal. BOER ROMANCES. Boer leaders are circulating the story that the Russians have captured and occupied London. Also that General Gatacre has been defeated with great loss. REINFORCEMENTS. Twelve thousand British troops landed at Capetown last week, and four thousand more sailed yesterday ( BRITISH ENTRY INTO PHILIPPOLIS. The halt of General Roberts at Bloemfontein is due to a cautious effort to secure peaceful transition of authority. Lieut. -General Clements, who set out from Norval's Pont for Bloemfontein by way of Philippolis and Fauresmith, having with him three columns, including Australian and Tasmanian troops, has arrived at Philippolis. Tasmanian troops and Rimington's Scouts were the first to enter the town. Later, Lieutenant - Genejal Clements arrived, escorted by the Dragoons, with drawn swords. After the commander of the force had read the usual proclamation, the burghers surrendered their arms and took the oath of neutrality. When Lieut. • General Clements entered Philippolis he read a proclamation to the burghers announcing that those swearing neutrality (if they had taken no leading part in the policy of the Republics or hostilities against the British) would be allowed to return to their farms. He also stated that the late Government at Bloemfontein would never be re-established. The burghers listened carefully, and then surreddered their arms. The Landdrost and sheriffs were reappointed to their offices. A number of Colesberg rebels, who had taken shelter in the town, were arrested. Reuter's Telegraph Agency states that the resistance being offered at Kroonstad (where General Joubert is said to be concentrating a strong force) and elsewhere, is designed to cover the Boers' ultimate withdrawal to Transvaal territory. The Boers before returning north from the boundary of Cape Colony and the Free State destroyed the railway bridge over the Orange river at Bethulie. The line has now been diverted so as to cross the river by means of a waggon bridge. General French, who has been in the eastern districts, has now returned to Bloemfontein, having received l many submissions. [ MAFEKING. Another report from Mafeking dated 13th inst. states that the garrison captured twenty-six head of the enemy's cattle. Many of the natives shut up in Mafeking retuse to eat horseflesh, and are starving. Colonel Baden-Powell reported on the 13th inst. all well, and that the. cordon of investing Boers was much relaxed. A relict force of Kimberley Light Horse, under Colodel Peakham, has advanced to eighteen miles north of Christiana, or about forty miles north of Fourteen Streams, where Lord Metbuen is opposed by the enemy. Lord Methuen is completing his transport arrangements and gathering stores at Fourteen Streams, with a view to making a rapid and effective advance. STRENGTH OF THE ENEMY. 11 The Times " states that, according to a moderate and trustworthy estimate the Boers have had two thousand of their number killed in action. Their total casualties— exclusive of several thousand Free Staters who

have returned to their farms— have amounted to fifteen thousand. Henceforth the Republic will not muster above thirty thousand men. JOUBERT'S POSITION. Military authorities hope the Boers will fight at Kroonstad, as the position is not a strong one, and the plains beyond render pursuit easy. BRITISH PROCLAMATION. Field- Marshal Lord Roberta's proclamation calling upon the Boers to surrender, and recommending them to trust to the clemency of the Bjitish, does not apply to the rebels. He offers leniency to the burghers who were misled by President Steyn if they reconsider their action and disarm. THE ENEMY AT GRIQUATOWN. A force of about 400 Transvaalers have re-occupied Griquatown, in Griqualand West, about eighty miles to the south-west of ,Kimberley. The Boers seized and imprisoned loyal residents of the town. A column of British troops has lefHCimberley to expel the invaders. In connection with the report that rebels were entrenched between Van Wyk's Vlei, and Kenhards, in Northwest Cape Colony, a British advance force, consisting of detachments of New Zealanders (No. 3 contingent) and Canadians has left Van Wyk's Vlei, and is advancing northwards. RUMOURED BATTLE. Commandant Ollivier's force of Boers supported by fifteen guns, is reported to «ccupy a position north of Ladybrand, which is situated in the east of the Orange Free State. Other reports from Ladybrand say that Commandant Ollivier has deserted his laager, and that his forces are flying wildly, with Lieutenant-General Gatacre's cavalry in hot pursuit. The Free SJtaters threaten to shoot CommandantOHivier for grossly deceiving them. REINFORCEMENTS. The eight division of British troops under Lieutenant-General Sir H. M. Rue die, which left England between £he 16th and 20th inst., will be landed at Port Elizabeth and East London. BOER MERCENARIES. Foreign steamers are landing 500 Boer recruits monthly at Delagoa Bay. MISCELLANEOUS. Correspondence has been published which shows that Mr Schreiner, Premier of Cape Colony, declined the Mayor's request to strengthen Kir- j berley in June and August of last year. Rebels are entrenched between Kenhardt and Van Wyks Vlei. Van Wyks Vlei is forty or fifty miles north-west from Carnarvon where the New Zealand No. 2 contingent was last reported. Kenhardt is seventy miles further north-Lieut.-General Forestier- Walker has arrived at Norval's Pont from Capetown. A message sent by Reuter's Agency states that long-range guns are required for the defence of Pretoria. The Duke of Norfolk, PostmasterGeneral in the present Administration is going to the front as an officer of the Sussex Yeomanry. Sir Alfred Milner, High Commissioner of British South Africa, while travelling northwards through Cape Colony, was welcomed at Molteno and Dordrecht, while Mr Schreiner, the proBoer Premier of Cape Colony was hooted. Colonists in Natal are excited to a dangerot»«kgip*Jn view of the Hkelihood of *h% A il«kiyal element of the pdfjtff&ffon escaping punishment altogether. Many of the Transvaalers doubt the utility of making further resistance to the British armies. •