CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

Manawatu Herald, 3 April 1900, Page 2

CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

The Transvaal. LORD ROBERTS. It is not expected that the British advance from Bloemfontein Will take place for some days. The march to Kroonstad, where the Boers has massed their forces, will occupy a week. KRUGER. President Kruger, in an interview in the" "New York World," said there would be hundreds of thousands of victims before the Boers would prove victorious, and a free and independent Transvaal Republic established. In consequence of the 'death of General Joubertj the Twkrisvaal Goverriiiierifi announces thai President Kruger will personally tak*e supreme command of the Republican forces. President Kruger has convinced the Boers that 150,000 foreign troops have already landed to aid the Republican army. IN THE WEST. A strong Boers force sharply bnt fruitlessly attacked the British force under Lord Methuen, at Warrenton, on Wednesday last. The British shrapneP fire • was magnificent. COMMANDEERING CASH. The Transvaal Governernment has commandeered half a million sovereigns from five batiks in Pretoria. Half of the number was taken from the / Standard Bank. OLLIVIER'S COMMANDO. It is now explained that owing to the horses in General French's cavalry brigade being unfit he did not pursue Commandant Ollivier's commando in its march northwards from Ladybrand towards Winburg Eroonstad. GENERAL CLEMENTS. Major-General Clements, to whose brigade various Australian contingents are attached, had a peaceful march through the south-west of the Free State in his journey to Fauresmith. The Free Staters regard the Australians as being homely like themselves, and have complimented the colonials on their fighting qualities. The English residents in the district entertained the Australians, who are immensely pleased with the country. j During General Clements's march South Australians and West Australians were attached to the right flanking colnmn, the Victorians, New South Wales troops and Tasmanians being on the left flank. The horses and men are in good condition. The Tasmanians gave a smoke concert at Philippolis. THE FREE STATE. Information has been received that a Boer commando marched southward from Clocolane to Ladybrand, a distance of about twenty miles. Tbey subsequently took up a strong position at Plaatsburg in the direction of Maseru, evidently expecting an attack from that quarter. OPERATIONS TO THE NOBTH. Major-General Tucker, with a portion of Lieut-General French's cavalry, is at Glen, on the Modder river, some seventeen miles north _of Bloemfontein, and on the road to j Kronstad. i The Boers are concentrating at Brandfort, some thirty-eight milea north of Bloemfontein, and consequently about thirty-one miles from the British force at Glen. It is expected that fighting will take place at_ Brandfort, which is about eighty miles south of the Boer main position at Eroonstad. FIGHTING AT KAREE. Lord Roberts reports to the War Office from Bloemfontein that owing to the enemy's activity on his immediate front and their hostility towards the Free Staters who have surrendered, he instructed MajorGeneral Tucker (Commander of the Seventh Division), Lieut. -General French (with the First Cavalry Division) and Colonel Le Gallais's Horse to operate against the Transvaalers. The result was successful, the enemy being expelled from their position, about fourteen miles south of Brandford. The total casualties; suffered were about one hundred, including one officer killed and seven wounded. The enemy were posted on kopjeb which afforded them a good vantage ground, and a severe fire was encountered by the attacking, force. The infantry regiments were pushed to the front, and kept the enemy engaged w£ils the cavalry executed a splendid turning movement, and eventually compelled the Boers to yield. Major Knight's detachment of New South Wales mounted infantry with Colonel Le Gallais's Horse, attacked the right flank of the enemy, which tßlted on a long chain of kopjes. he firing was heavy, and the steepness of the kopjes prevented the mounted force from advancing until the infantry's frontal attack had been developed. The first Australian Horse and

Captain Cox's troop of New South Wales Lancers assisted General French in the flanking movement, displaying great coolness under a heavy shell-fire, many of their horses being killed. Reports from Bloemfontein show that the enemy are leaving Brandfort and are trekking northwards. LORD WOLSELEY. It has been arranged that Lord Wolseley, Commander-in-Chief of the British army, sjiall retain his position until after November if Lord Roberts has not returned from South Africa. GENERAL JOUBERT. The body of the late General Joubert lies in state at Pretoria. He desired to have a private funeral, without military honours. The interment takes place at Rustfontein farm. _> Her Majesty the Queen cabled to Lord Roberts directing him t # : convey her condolence to Mrs JouWt. and to assure her that she regarded her (Mrs Joubert's) husband as agaallant soldier and an honourable foeman. British prisoners at Pretoria have sent a wreath in recognition of the merits of the late general. METHUEN'S COLUMN. Field-Marshal Lord Roberts has recalled Lord Methuen's force which had arrived at Warrenton, some forty-five miles north of Kimberley, on its way to the relief of Mafeking. Lord Methuen has been directed to return with his "force to Kimberley. ! The apparent deadlock on the Vaal 1 river, is interpreted, by military] critics as a feint to persuade the Boers that they are preventing the relief of Mafeking. Lord Methuen and Lord Chesham , (with the Imperial Yeomanry) were at Likatlong when recalled. The other forces in the vicinity suffice for the actual necessities of this position. A SECRET MISSION. Colonel Drummond, with 8000 mounted men, three batteries of artillery and pontoons, traversed the Barkly West district, north of Kimberley, on Monday. Their destination is a secret. MISCELLANEOUS. The restoration of the railway line to Norval's Pont is completed. The Duke of Norfolk, who has accepted a commission in the Sussex Yeomanry, has resigned his office of Postmaster-General. Portuguese troops are guarding the Basotso border, as a precaution against retreating Boers coming into Portuguese territory. English farmers at Ficksburg, in the Eastern Free State, have been ruthlessly commandeered and imprisoned. It is stated by the " Daily Mail " that the British are permitted to send men and stores to Rhodesia via Beira, a seaport in Portuguese East Africa. Mr Michael Davitt has reached Kroonstad. the Boers' headquarters in the Free State. He announces that he intends to make a prolonged stay at Johannesburg.