CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

Manawatu Herald, 12 April 1900, Page 2

CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

— * The Transvaal. SURRENDER OF BOERS. Major-General Clements, during his recent march through the south-west-ern portion of the Free State — from Norval's Pont by way of Philippolis and Fauresmith to the vicinity of , Bloemfoutein — received the surrender ! of four thousand Boers. LOSS OF HORSES. Five guns and ten thousand horses are expected to arrive at the Cape during the next week. Two thousand horses have just reached port. As showing the urgent necessity for the replenishment of the stock of horses, it is announced that ten thousand were lost during the advance of the British army to Bloemfontein. The remounts which are now reaching Lord Roberts's army are described as being splendid animals. | IMPROPER PRACTICES, Soft-nosed ' and split-lipped bullets were used by the enemy in the engagement at Boshof, near Kimberley. The prisoners captured were mostly Frenchmen, Germans and Hollanders. REDDERSBURG. Later information concerning the capture of three companies of the RoyaHrish Rifles and two companies of Ninth Mounted Infantry at Reddersburg, thirty-five miles south by east of Bloemfontein, shows that the Boer forces, numbering five thousand, were under Commandant De Wet. On the day following the engagement (Thursday) the Boer leader was further reinforced by bodies of Free Staters who had previously surrender. The district is infested with spies. Some of the loyalist settlers had previously quitted the locality, fearing reprisal at the hands of the Transvaalers. The captured column belonging to Lieut.-General Sir William Gatacre's division, and when surrounded by the enemy were returning from a reconnaissance at Dewetsdrop towards headquarters at Springfontein. The force had no guns with them and were exposed for twenty-four hours to tropical storms. The captured troops occupied a hillock, which was indefensible, but fought to their last cartidge. LORD ROBERTS'S CAMPAIGN. It is estimated that forty thousand of Field Marshal Lord Roberts's troops j will shortly be able to advance. He only await* the arrival oi thicker uniforms for bis men, on account of j the cold, before sweeping northwards and to the east. The railways to the south of Bloemfontein are being strongly guarded. The "Times" says that the Boers will sotm bitterly regret their policy \ of provocation. MISCELLANEOUS. A contingent of bluejackets from H.M.S. Monarch has been sent to Bloemfontein. Another of President Steyn's brothers was captured during the battle at Karee siding north of Bloemfontein, on tfarcb, 30th. The brothers of the Hon J. W. Saucer, Commissioner of Public Work in the Cape Cabinet, have been arrested as rebels at Barkly East. • The husband of Mrs Patrick Campbell, the celebrated British actress, was serving as a sergeant in the

Imperial yeomanry,v eomanry, was killed in last week's engagement at Boshof, northeast of Kimberley. President Steyn declares that the action of Great Britain in imprisoning part of her Boer Captives at St Helena will justify the Republics in placing their British prisoners in the depths of the Johannesburg mines. Mr Fischer, a member of the Free State Executive, has been fully empowered to negotiate for peace. GENERAL BRABANT'S COLUMN. With regard to the position of Briga-dier-General Brabant, who was last week cslied upon to surrender by the enemy at Wepener, in the south-east of the Free State, it appears that he has a force of three thousand men and two fifteen-pounders, six seven-poun-ders and four Maxims. It is thought that he will be able to hold his own it Basutoland is not invaded. The Boers, however, threaten to cross the Caledon river, and by invading Basutoland invest General Clements's position. Sir Godfrey Lagden, the British Commissioner, has counselled the Basutos to check the invasion of their lands by making a demonstration on the border of their territory. The natives are eager, and strongly determined to resist invasion. MOVEMENTS OF THE ENEMY News has been received that a strong Boer commando, travelling without baggage, is rapidly raiding the country south of Bloemfontein. The settlers who have surrendered on the advance of the British army to the capital are being ill-treated. Many have been murdered in cold blood. , Lord Roberts has issued a proclamation that he will exact from Presidents Kruger and Steyn full reparation for any acts of inhumanity which may be committed. Two commandoes appeared in the south-eastern corner or the Free State and are threatening Rouxville. Colonel Allen's force comprising four companies of the Irish Rifles and two volunteer companies, which was in this locality, has retreated south to Aliwal North, on the Orange river. The retreat was accomplished, without bloodshed, but a rearguard action was fought with a number of burghers who had previously surrendered. These settlers re-armed and opposed the retreat in force at Walsekop, fourteen miles west of Rouxville. COLD WEATHER. Owing to the cold weather which now prevails in South Africa, Lord Roberts is affording shelter in the military camps to the Free Staters who surrender. The cold weather is being felt by the British soldiers, many of whom have been attacked by pneumonia. MAFEKING. The latest information with regard to the position of affairs at Mafeking indicate that the garrison were safe and cheerful on Ist inst. On March 23rd the investing Boers abandoned their advanced trench to the east of the town and trekked outi wards across the veldt. ! The enemy, however, concealed five . hundred men in a hollow with three I guns, but as Colonel Baden- Powell had noticed the movement he declined ' to fall into the ambush prepared. After the abandonment of the trench Sergeant Page, of Cape Police, examined a mine he had laid near by ! prior to the siege, but discovered that 1 the dynamite had gone. Suspecting that the enemy had mined the trench, he made further search and unearthed : a copper wire, which be cut. The j wire was connected with 2501bs ot dy- | namite under the trench. I Lord Roberts is urging Colonel i Baden Powell to persist in the defence of Mafeking till the middle of May. Colonel Baden Powell has announced that it will be possible to do so if rigid economy is observed. The Boers report that on the sth they surrounded and shelled a band of armed Kaffirs escaping from Mafeking and killed 31. THE EIGHT DIVISION. A Reuter message from Capetown states that portion of the Eight Division, which had been despatched to Port Elizabeth, has been recalled to I land at Capetown. I Major-General Sir Henry Rundle, commander of the Eight Division, has been ordered Kimberley on special duty. OUR THIRD CONTINGENT. The third contingent of New Zealand mounted infantry, under Major Jowsey, has sailed for Beira, in Portuguese East Africa, to join General Sir Frederick Carrington's Rhodesia Field Force.