CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

Manawatu Herald, 14 April 1900, Page 2

CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

« The Transvaal. THE FREE STATE. Many of the Boers who recently surrendered at Rouxville, in the south-east of the Free State, the landdrost of the district amongst their number, have again taken up arms. A large commando of Boers is stated to be in laager near Donkerpoorts, a station on the Free State railway six miles north of Nonval's Pont. Again, it is reported that a force of two thousand of the enemy is marching on Springfontein, thirty-three miles north of Norval's Pont, where the eastern railway line of Cape Colony junctions with the Free State main line. Lieut-General Rundle's Eighth Division, which has been landed at Capetown within the last few days, has been diverted to this district. AT WEPENER. Colonel Dalgety, of the Cape Rifles, is now in command at Wepener, the town on the Basutoland border that is being hard pressed by the enemy, Brigadier-General Brabant having retired to Aliwal North, on the Orange River. Wepener is isolated and threatened by a force of two thousand Boers, with four guns, which is laagered five miles north-west of the, town. There is, however, a good 6tore of provisions on hand. Fighting went on all day on Monday last, and the garrison succeeded in checking the Boer attacks. Both sides lost considerably. Next day the enemy were reinforced and at latest advices they were attempting to surround the town. There is now abundant confirmation of the statement that the arms recently surrendered by the Free Staters were obsolete, and that many of then have again taken up their Mausers and rejoined the rebels. BOERS NEAR THE ORANGE RIVER. Boer commandoes in the southern part of the Free State arc seeking a

strategic opening, and now threaten Bethulie, on the Orange River, midway between Norval's Pont and Aliwal North. LORD ROBERTS. , s British troops are leaving Natal in order -to reinforce Lord Robert's army. A brigade of British troops is rigorously guarding all lines of communication. BOER ARTILLERY. The Boers have received thirty new guns, some of which are of large calibre. The weapons, it is believed, landed at some port on the west coast of Africa as machinery, and it has taken three months to convey them overland to the Transvaal. CRORJE. General Cronje has arrived at St. Helena. LORD METHUEN. There are indications that the vanguard of Lord Methuen's Mafeking relief force has reached Vryburg. 127 miles north of Kimberly, and 96 miles south of Mafeking. His troops have advanced to. Zwartzkopjesfontein, towards Hoopstad. The Naval Brigade is bombarding the Boer positions. COLONEL PLUMER. Information has been received that on March 31st Colonel Plumer's force of Rhodesian Horse had an engagement with {he enemy within six miles of Mafekifig.\ Daring the fighting Colonel Plumer was slightly wounded in the arm and his horse was shot. The enemy outnumbered his force, of whom ten were wounded. The force retired northwards in an orderly manner. The' enemy's loss was serious. IN NATAL. Reports received from Natal state that a Boer commando of two thousand men, with eighten guns, is stationed above Pbmeroy, thirty-five miles east of Ladysmith. One of the Boer big guns is in position four miles north of Elands Laagte, the scene of one of the earliest battles of the war, sixteen miles north-east of Ladysmith, and another in the vicinity of Wessel's Nek, eight miles further north. A further strong force is entrenched at Helpmakaar, twelve miles north of Pomeroy. Another report states the enemy is still in strong force in Northern Natal. LORD KITCHENER. Fifteen thousand troops, under Lord Kitchener, guard the railway between Bloemfontein and Norval's Pont. Great precautions are being taken lo protect Bethulie bridge. The Boers hold the Free State east ot the railway. LORD ROBERTS. Lord Roberts' movements are being impeded by heavy rains. Steyn and Fischer's correspondence has been discovered at Bloemfontein. It shows a general rising of the Dutch was intended to follow the fall of Ladysmith. Lord Roberts has arrested and sent to Capetown many influential and disaffected residents of Bloemfontein. GENERAL GATACRE. General Gatacre is returning to England, and other changes in Brigade commands are imminent. THE FIFTH CONTINGENT. The Waimate has arrived at Albany. She lost two horses. Both transports have sailed for the Cape. NEW ZEALANDERS IN SOUTH AFRICA. The following names of members of No. 1 Contingent are supplied by Major Robin in the report ot those in the hospital and likely to be invalided to New Zealand:— A. R. Taylor, E. J. Smith. Sutherland. J. Walker, S. Arnold, J. Barty, C. Edwards, J. T. Taylor, W. Parkes, and J. Cabot. The foregoing are in addition to those sent three weeks ago.